Aras announced that the Aras Innovator suite of advanced service-oriented architecture [SOA] solutions for enterprise Product Lifecycle Management [PLM] is one of the first ten systems worldwide that has Certified for Windows Server 2008. Aras is the first enterprise open source provider to achieve platform certification.

Windows Server 2008 Certification comprises approximately 100 test cases that independently confirm an application's compliance with best practices for reliability, security, availability, and compatibility on the new Microsoft platform. As a member of the Microsoft Early Access Program [EAP] for Windows Server 2008 Certification, Aras Innovator is one of more than 300 systems that are eligible for certification on a pre-release version of the new platform.

"Aras

is an exciting example of how the Microsoft platform is gaining momentum with open source providers and SOA applications, and it suggests a new model for partners to deliver innovative solutions for enterprise customers,” said Tony de Freitas, director of Windows Server marketing division at Microsoft. “Achieving Windows Server 2008 certification is a significant accomplishment, and we are proud of the commitment and confidence it represents.”

“The innovation advantage that the Microsoft open approach provides is clear and Windows Server 2008 certification further validates the Aras technology leadership,” said Peter Schroer, President of Aras Corporation. “Platform certification delivers the highest level of corporate confidence available for mission-critical enterprise solutions, and we are proud to provide Microsoft solutions that exceed the stringent requirements of independent testing.”

Numerous Windows Server 2008 platform advancements, including Hyper-V and robust network load-balancing, provide Aras Innovator with superior enterprise scalability, security, and manageability. Details about Windows Server 2008 software certification, the test framework, and the Early Access Program are available at http://www.innovateonwindowsserver.com