With Windows Server 2012 set to hit store shelves on September 4, it's officially time to dust off the Windows Server lab and start hacking through the final Server 2012 bits to see what the final product looks like. Historically, most IT managers have avoided new Windows server releases like the plague, at least for a year or two anyway. But the strategy of getting beta builds into the hands of many IT professionals early and often should pay dividends for Microsoft, because more enterprises are now comfortable deploying on or near day one. The release of Windows Server 2012 (previously codenamed Windows Server promises no big surprises compared to the beta version, but some notable changes compared to its Microsoft predecessors.

While we probably won't see a flash mob of server admins breaking into Redmond on Tuesday to get a new copy of Windows Server 2012, there is reason to be excited about some of the cool improvements that made their way into the final product. In this piece, we'll kick into first gear to get a sense of how some of Server 2012's more interesting features drive. Later on, InformationWeek Labs will do a deeper exploration of each high impact feature to see where it shines, and where it doesn't.