Although Beta 3 of Windows Server “Longhorn” was expected sometime this month, Microsoft has instead issued a new Community Technology Preview.

The update is available to beta testers, and the build number remains in the 6001 series, according to the Windows Connected weblog.

Longhorn Beta 3 is the last major milestone before Microsoft completes its new server operating system, which is still due before the end of the year. The feature-complete release is slated to include the Windows PowerShell command-line environment, as well as introducing virtual server capabilities.

“This CTP is the build that we will be asking beta customers to test and evaluate and then let us know if we are ready to ship Beta 3 and has all the features\functionality that customers will see in Beta 3,” Microsoft senior product manager Helene Love Snell told BetaNews.

“The April 2007 CTP is another milestone on the march to Beta 3, which is still on track for the first half of this year, and it includes a number of enhancements to existing server roles and features, plus some UI changes – most notably in the Server Manager tool and the addition of PowerShell,” Snell added.

source-betanews