While Windows 7 is getting all the attention, especially here at ITExpertVoice, Microsoft has a few other irons in the fire and has been hard at work updating its rather extensive server line. Some of new technologies in its latest desktop are slowly finding their way into its Windows Servers series of products. Let’s give you a roadmap to understand what is new in the server side of things and how they all fit together and make use of Windows 7.

Microsoft provides five dizzying ways that you can take a closer look at their servers. Many of these products have free trial versions that you can download, some for 30 or 120 or even 180 days before you have to purchase a real license. Others are set up on Microsoft-hosted sites that you can experiment with using just your Web browser to try them out. And some even have Virtual Hard Disk images (VHDs) that you can download and then run on a HyperV server to set up your own test network of virtual machines. There are also a series of “Virtual Labs” where you can watch videos and be guided through the product here on MSDN. There is no membership required, but you will need IE and XP to run the lab software. Finally, Microsoft is also beginning to make Amazon Machine Images available on Amazon’s cloud-based services so you can set up your own test networks there.