When Microsoft announced the release of Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1 at the end of august, it also announced that it wouldn’t make both Operating Systems available to its Technet and MSDN subscribers earlier than October 18th (the General availability date).
Apparantly Microsoft has changed its mind after feedback received from its customers and announced yesterday that Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1 are now available to its Technet and MSDN subscribers, before the official release date on October 18th this year.
Although both Operating Systems can now be downloaded for these subscription users, the supporting software in order to manage both OS’es, System Center still is not released. Customers will have to wait until October 18 for System Center 2012 R2 to release.