Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 is the next version of the Windows Server operating system after Windows Server 2008 release version from Microsoft. As similar with Windows Server 2008, which shares the same code base with Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 R2 shares the same code base with Windows 7. With the release of Windows 7 RC, the Windows Server 2008 R2 RC (Release Candidate) DVD ISO images have been been made available for public free download.

System administrators who wants to evaluate Windows Server 2008 (WS2008) R2 Release Candidate (RC) can download the Windows Server 2008 R2 RC installation DVD ISO from Microsoft Download Center (download page for Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems) or using the direct download links below.

Windows Server 2008 R2 will only be available in 64-bit (x64) flavor, and the Windows Server 2008 R2 RC is available in English, German, French, Spanish and Japanese languages (only English, German, French and Japanese languages for Windows Server 2008 R2 RC for Itanium-Based Systems). The ISO is all-inclusive image which includes all editions of Windows Server 2008 RC, namely Datacenter, Enterprise, Standard and Web.

Download Windows Server 2008 R2 RC

English: Windows_Server_2008_R2_RC_EN.iso

French: Windows_Server_2008_R2_RC_FR.iso

German: Windows_Server_2008_R2_RC_DE.iso

Japanese: Windows_Server_2008_R2_RC_JA.iso

Spanish: Windows_Server_2008_R2_RC_ES.iso

Download Windows Server 2008 R2 RC for Intel Itanium-based Systems

English: Windows_Server_2008_R2_RC_EN_(Itanium).iso

French: Windows_Server_2008_R2_RC_FR_(Itanium).iso

German: Windows_Server_2008_R2_RC_DE_(Itanium).iso

Japanese: Windows_Server_2008_R2_RC_JA_(Itanium).iso

After installing Windows Server 2008 R2 RC, the operating system can be used without activation for an initial 30 days. The initial 30 day evaluation can be extended to March 1, 2010 (at which time the OS will become inoperable) by entering the product key below for your selected edition.

Windows Server 2008 R2 RC Product Keys

Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate Enterprise
# Product Code : Q7Y83-W4FVQ-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate Standard
# Product Code : V4KRB-QDWK2-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate Datacenter
# Product Code : WXGKX-XXW8X-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Windows Web Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate
# Product Code: RBBKH-BVD6B-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate Itanium Edition
# Product Code : MW6C7-2MYCB-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Microsoft also provides release notes about important issues in this release candidate of Windows Server 2008 R2 and document on things to know about this release candidate of Windows Server 2008 R2.

Update: Download Windows Server 2008 R2 official ISO (free trial version)