Microsoft's new Windows 2000 Datacentre Server software will launch internationally on 26 September and be available in Australia from that date.
The event will make a significant shift in the way Microsoft sells and supports its operating system.
The Server, the final piece of the Windows 2000 family will only be available through certified hardware manufacturers and cannot be purchased separately - it will come pre-loaded on the certified systems and priced as one unit.
Tony Wilkinson, Windows Product Manager Australia for Microsoft said the authorised Australian resellers would be announced in early October.
"The aim of this product is high levels of availability. It is not like a typical Microsoft product, it can only be run on a machine certified to run it and if you want to make changes to the system these must be certified also."
Wilkinson said the product was aimed at two sorts of users, one that is after high levels of availability like "corporates of dot coms", and for companies that have an internal system that is core.