Microsoft servers got quite a workout on Friday from potential testers as the company opened public beta testing of Windows 7 to a broad audience– so much so, in fact, that the company decided to delay the beta's opening until it can bring more servers online.

"Due to very heavy traffic we’re seeing as a result of interest in the Windows 7 Beta, we are adding some additional infrastructure support to the Microsoft.com properties before we post the public beta," said a posting on The Windows Blog at around 3 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday afternoon. It included a promise to get the beta servers up and running as quickly as possible.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced on Wednesday night that beta test of Windows 7 would be broadened to the general public on Friday. It was made available to MSDN and TechNet Plus subscribers on Wednesday.

Additionally, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) executives have planned a public beta with at least 2.5 million participants. However, apparently they didn't expect everyone to try to get in at once.

"It's starting to look almost like a land rush," said Michael Cherry, operating system analyst at Directions on Microsoft, told InternetNews.com.

As to where to look when the broad public beta is open for business, at press time, a Microsoft spokesperson said the company is referring users to The Windows Blog.