“In Windows Server 2008 R2 release, the Server UX Test team (under the File Server Management organization) is finalizing the MMC based User eXperience (UX)/Interfaces for the File Server Role. Currently the team owns DFS Management, Share and Storage Management, FSRM & Classification UI, Disk Management, SMFS. For Windows 8, the SSD organization is working on the next version of the file server,” a job posting from Microsoft, via Mary Jo Foley, reads.
Microsoft has yet to make available for download the first and only Release Candidate of Windows 7. In fact, the software giant plans to deliver Windows 7 RC only on May 5, 2009, as a public download, with MSDN and TechNet subscribers scheduled to get the bits earlier, but no telling when exactly. Still, this does not exclude the scenario in which Microsoft has at least started planning Windows 8, if not even debuted the development process.

“As a member of the test team, you will focus on working closely with the dev team to finish the automation development for our Windows Server 2008 R2 components. This will provide valuable ramp-up and familiarity with our existing test automation infrastructure. As the team moved to Windows 8, you will have 2 main responsibilities – (i) put on the customer/design critique hat as we plan our next version file server management experience (i) participating in the architectural design, and development and driving automated testing for managing the next generation file server,” it is added in the job posting

“For the upcoming version of Windows, new critical features are being worked on including cluster support and support for one way replication. The core engine is also being reworked to provide dramatic performance improvements. We will also soon be starting major improvements for Windows 8 where we will be including innovative features which will revolutionize file access in branch offices,” the Redmond company revealed in a job posting (via ActiveWin).
The innovative features cooking for Windows 8 are related to the Distributed File System Replication (DFSR) service. The multi-master replication engine is set up to streamline folder synchronization across multiple servers. In this regard, the Windows 8 reference is related not only to the Windows 8 client, but also to Windows 8 server. With Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft has already taken measures to kick file access in branch office scenarios to the next level with BranchCache. It is possible in this context, that the major improvements are nothing more than the evolution of BranchCache in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, planned for Windows 8 client and Windows 8 server.

“DFSR is Microsoft’s premier file replication engine and is an integral part of our branch office strategy and File Server role. It can scale to thousands of servers and replicate hundreds of terabytes of data. We have shipped the technology that powers file sharing in Windows Live Messenger, Windows Meeting Spaces (Vista) and Branch Office replication in Windows Server 2008 which has strong customer deployment. DFSR technology saves MS-IT and our customers more than 80% WAN bandwidth by using advanced On-The-Wire differential compression,” the software giant adds in the job posting.