"Windows Server 2003 SP2 returns to the" standards "package updates from Microsoft," Ralston wrote. Mistakes Service Pack 1 (SP1) will not be repeated, and we will not make "significant changes in the structure of security, introduce a new system of verification applications, except for some problems with compatibility." Ralston said that SP2 incorporate all emerged earlier updates and patches issued starting with Windows Server 2003, said WindowsITPro.

In addition, Windows 2003 Service Pack 2 will have several new features, such as Windows Deployment Services, Microsoft Management Console 3.0, Wi-Fi Protected Access 2.0, Scalable Networking Pack, the identification of each firewall port, and a number of improvements in the productivity of Windows Virtualization. Some of the features, such as Scalable Networking Pack and MMC 3.0, available outside SP2 separately and can be downloaded from the net.