[Fwd: Proactive: Windows Server 2003 SP2 being released to Update Services on June 12 - Be prepared]

FYI from our Microsoft rep.

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: [UC-MCCA-V] Proactive: Windows Server 2003 SP2 being released to
Update Services on June 12 - Be prepared
From: "Taylor Kao" <taylork_at_microsoft.com>
Date: Thu, June 7, 2007 5:39 pm
To: "UC-MCCA Discussion List" <uc-mcca_at_uci.edu>
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 Please forward this email to the appropriate contacts at your campus.

Thanks,
Taylor

Just an important reminder: Windows Server Sp2 will be advertised
beginning June 12th on Windows Update, Automatic Update, and consequently
on Windows Software Update Services (WSUS). You should use the SP2
Blocking mechanism SP2 blocker
tool<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=fc145b0b-c148-445a-82ba-9b2f3aef6e60&displaylang=en>
to keep this update from showing up on your available updates list if you
want more time to test or do not want SP2 to be applied through this
mechanism. Below is a preliminary FAQ for your benefit.

Windows Server 2003 SP2 FAQ
To support customer inquiries about Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 - the
following FAQ section should provided the needed answers.

Why should I upgrade to Service Pack 2?
In addition to packaging publically released security updates and
customer-requested updates into one convenient package, SP2 provides
several enhancements designed to heighten security, reliability, and
performance in Windows Server 2003. For more information, see the Top Ten
Reasons to Deploy Windows Server 2003 SP2 at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsserver/sp2/top-reasons.mspx

How will I be able to apply Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 to my
computer?
There are two ways. 1) An update will be available for free download for
existing installations of Windows Server 2003. 2) The SP2 updates will be
incorporated, or slipstreamed, into Windows Server 2003 moving forward.
This will allow the upgrading of Windows NT 4.0 Server or Windows 2000
Server SP4

What operating systems does this service pack apply to?
SP2 update applies to:
O Windows Server 2003 All Editions (32-bit x86)
O Windows Server 2003 Itanium-based Editions
O Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions
O Windows Server 2003 R2 Editions
O Windows Server 2003 Storage Server R2 Edition
O Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition
O Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Servers R2 Edition
O Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

Is SP2 a mandatory update through Windows Update?
No, SP2 is an optional update from Windows Update site. On June 12, SP2
will also be offered via Automatic Updates (AU). Even on AU, SP2 will not
install automatically until the End User License Agreement has been
accepted.
Customers who wish to test SP2 for a longer period and would like to
prevent SP2 from installing from AU can download and install the SP2
Blocking Tool at the Microsoft Download Center. The tool will ensure SP2
is not offered from AU for 360 days. Organizations do not need to deploy
the Blocker Toolkit in environments managed with an update management
solution such as Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or Systems
Management Server 2003 (SMS). Organizations can use those products to
fully manage deployment of updates released through Windows Update and
Microsoft Update.

Does SP2 provide updates to the new components that came with Windows
Server 2003 R2?
Yes, SP2 applies needed updates to the R2 components of Windows Server
2003 R2.

Do I need to upgrade to Windows Server 2003 R2 or Windows Server 2003 SP1
First?
No, Service Packs are cumulative, meaning SP2 contains all previously
released Security Bulletin Updates and installs all individual hotfixes
released since Windows Server 2003 RTM.

Does SP2 change the non-R2 machines to R2 SP2 machines?
No, it will not upgrade Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2003 R2

Why does this update the Windows XP Professional x64 Edition?
Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
were introduced with the release of Windows Server 2003 SP1, all sharing a
common codebase. It is this common codebase that allows SP2 to provide
updates to all versions of Windows Server 2003 and the Windows XP
Professional x64 Edition.

Since Windows XP SP2 was already released long ago, what will Microsoft
call this Service Pack for Windows XP?
It is called Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Service Pack 2.
In August 2004, Windows XP Service Pack 2 was released for the x86
editions of Windows XP. This was before the Windows XP Professional x64
Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions were released in March 2005,
sharing a common codebase. Windows XP Service Pack 2 patches the x86
editions of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional
x64 Edition Service Pack 2 patches the x64 version of Windows XP.

SP1 required a lot of application testing? Should I expect the same from SP2?
No, customers can expect a much simpler upgrade process with SP2. Windows
Server 2003 SP1 addressed known vulnerabilities to Windows Server 2003 by
tightening the authorization needed for some services and disabling others
all together. In some cases these security enhancements resulted in
unexpected behavior from applications.

Are new editions available?
Yes. Volume-licensed customers receive all Datacenter editions:
O Windows Server 2003 R2, Datacenter Edition with SP2
O Windows Server 2003 R2, Datacenter x64 Edition with SP2
O Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems

Korean Fair Trade Commission order:
O Windows Server 2003 R2, Standard Edition KN with SP2
O Windows Server 2003 R2, Enterprise Edition KN with SP2
More information about the Korean Fair Trade Commission order can be found
at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923408

Are additional localized versions available?
Yes. Nine new localized versions are available for Windows 2003 and x64:
German, French, Korean, Chinese Traditional, Chinese Simplified, Spanish,
Italian, Russian and, Portuguese (Brazilian). Windows XP Professional x64
Edition will continue to be supported in only English and Japanese.

Will Service Pack 2 help me prepare for Vista?
Yes. SP2 includes Windows Deployment Services (WDS) that prepares your
servers for deploying Windows Vista. In fact, WDS will be required to
support the deployment of Windows Vista and Windows Server codename
"Longhorn"

Are there security improvements which allow me to segment my network and
protect high-value computers?
SP2 offers firewall per-port authentication, which secures traffic between
the extranet environment and internal assets that are protected via IPsec
domain isolation.

Are there new Wi-Fi security measures?
SP2 includes Wireless Protected Access 2 (WPA2), which enhances the
wireless client software with support for the next generation of wireless
security. WPA2 is FIPS 140-2 compliant, utilizing Advanced Encryption
Standard (AES) encryption, 802.1x authentication, and will cover all
versions of 802.11 devices.

Are there performance improvements?
Yes. You'll see performance improvements in the following areas:
O SQL Server 2005 under intensive workloads.
O The Scalable Networking Pack supports new hardware that allows customers
to scale Windows networking to multi-gigabit link rates and across
multiple CPUs.

Is management easier with this Service Pack?
Yes. You can take advantage of a new event log event to address certain
situations in which the Cluster Service Account becomes excessively
restricted by domain policy. Also included is the new Microsoft Management
Console 3.0 (MMC) which supports richer functionality in snap-ins.
Additionally, MSConfig now contains an additional tab which provide a
single launching point for common support tools that will ease the
discoverability of common diagnostic functionality

Will the enhancements to administrative tools affect management of the
local computer?
No. The purpose of the administrative tools enhancements is to assist
administrators who need to manage their computer from a remote location.
Administrators and users who are using these tools to manage the local
computer are not affected.

Does SP2 include the .NET Framework 2.0?
No, it does not.

 Should you have any questions about this product update, please contact
the following for support:

 1. Product Support Services in the United States at 1-866-PCSafety
(1-866-727-2338) - No charge call

 1. Updates to the security bulletins and discussions concerning WSUS and
security bulletin issues can be found at:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx

http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/

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