Most amid all the client-side excitement about the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC, see my review) is the fact that Windows 7's stable mate, Windows Server 2008 R2, is also on the same delivery schedule. So it should come as no surprise that Microsoft's Server team also completed its RC milestone for Server 2008 R2.

Looked at broadly, the Windows Server 2008 R2 RC is a chance for Microsoft to signal to its customers that the product is being finalized and has hit the home stretch. "This is an indication to customers that we're done," Microsoft group product manager Ward Ralston told me during a recent briefing. It's time to kick tires and evaluate it." Microsoft is also ready to start talking performance for the first time, and while the number of performance comparisons I was shown is small, more are on the way, and Microsoft has a compelling story to tell there.