Microsoft is making available a third preview test build of its Hadoop for Windows Azure product is available, as is a first public preview of Hadoop for Windows Server.

Microsoft and Hortonworks' implementation of Hadoop for Windows Server hasn't disappeared or been cut. It's actually in private preview, according to a new Microsoft roadmap.

Microsoft launches Hortonworks Hadoop on Windows Azure after bringing it to Windows Server in May, in the latest advancement of its big data strategy.