[VBG] I’ve had a couple of emails now asking, so I thought this deserves a blog post. 

So can I download the CTP of Viridian publicly now?  No, I don’t think so.   I haven’t seen anything so far on any of the usual blogs, Microsoft Downloads or Connect.  If we read the Presspass announcement this morning: 

…The (CTP) of Windows Server virtualization is coming soon with the initial release candidate of Windows Server 2008

So I can only assume we are close.  All the “big blogs” have already posted that RC0 of 2008 has been release to TAP customers (typically this is the first big step in the release cycle).  With a bit of digging we find MVP Andy Malone’s post: 

Anticipation is running high for the first release candidate of Windows Server 2008. It won’t be long before Beta Testers will be able to download it. A release candidate normally represents a feature complete version

For a release of Viridian this makes sense if we think about it.  Running a beta of Viridian on a feature complete build of Windows has got to be more stable than running a beta on a beta.

So as for a public download date, I don’t know — I don’t work for Microsoft :)

…but I’m going to guess we are still a few weeks off, but I really have no idea.  Now that VMworld is here, lets see what other announcement Microsoft have up their sleeve.