Window Server 2008

We have to keep in mind that there are so many other applications included in the Windows Server 2008 OS. One of those is Internet Information Server. With Windows Server 2008, IIS has been upgraded to version 7.0. With this upgrade, IIS 7.0 is easier to manage due to its improved interface. The interface offers the ability to perform common tasks faster, security enhancements, web server health information, delegation of administration, and more. With IIS 7.0, your access to diagnostic and troubleshooting information is much easier and quicker (Figure 2).

Figure 2: The new IIS 7.0 Management Interface

Windows Server 2008 RC0

Microsoft will release Windows 2008 Server as the direct successor to Windows 2003 Server in the spring of next year. The new server OS, code named Longhorn, shares the same kernel with Windows Vista and incorporates many additions compared to its predecessor.

When using the completely revamped server-management console, configuration and administration of the new server become much simpler. The new Internet Information Server 7 also sports a new user interface. With virtualization technology integrated directly into the operating system, third-party tools or solutions are no longer necessary when using virtual machines and the like. Lastly, administrators are as up-to-date as it gets, since Windows 2008 Server includes all of the components slated for inclusion in Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista.

Tom’s Guide took a look at the first release candidate, version RC0. Generally speaking, release candidates are very close to the final product and are distributed to testers primarily in order to find bugs. New features are not to be expected in the later release candidates, though. What we see here today is most definitely what users will get in the final version. Thus, a look at RC0 should allow us to draw conclusions about the final release.

Although the Server 2008 may have the Vista kernel under its hood, that does not mean that administrators will be greeted with colorful windows using the Aero interface. Understandably, Microsoft’s focus lay on the server-related issues in implementing improvements, and so the management aspect took precedence over design.

Nonetheless, even if the primary purpose of a server OS is not to look good, Windows Server 2008 still offers the option of installing the new, colorful design. Thus, even jaded system administrators can get a little bit of that Vista feeling and see if the “Wow” really does start now.

Installation: Quick And Easy

The installation process is the first obvious clue that Windows Server 2008 is closely related to Windows Vista. Anyone who has ever installed Vista will recognize the setup routine.

As seen on Windows Vista: The setup routine for Windows Server 2008

Using Vista’s installation routine is a major benefit, especially for a server OS. Administrators can partition the system’s hard drives during setup. More importantly, they can install the necessary AHCI or RAID storage drivers from a CD/DVD or even a USB thumb drive. Thus, error-prone floppies can finally be sent to their well-earned retirement.

Create partitions with the mouse and load RAID drivers from a DVD - we can finally say goodbye to the floppy.

Join our discussion on this article!

With Windows Server 2008 nearing a final release in the coming months, Microsoft has whetted our appetites by announcing details and pricing about each specific edition of the upcoming server OS. As would be expected, Windows Server 2008 comes in a number of varieties, most of which are offspring from Windows Server 2003.
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When Microsoft releases Windows Server 2008 this coming February, five versions of the product will be available. While that may seem like a decent amount, consider that seven editions of Windows Server 2003 are currently available—not counting variants such as Small Business Server and Windows Storage Server.

It’s also worth noting that, unlike Vista’s editions, a clear line is drawn between the different versions of Windows Server. And unlike many home users, the typical system administrator knows which server edition is best suited for his hardware and infrastructure, leaving little room for confusion.

Without further delay, the following is Microsoft’s starting lineup for Windows Server 2008 along with their respective MSRP:

* Windows Server 2008 Standard: $999 with five client access licenses
* Windows Server 2008 Enterprise: $3,999 with 25 client access licenses
* Windows Server 2008 Datacenter: $2,999 per processor
* Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems: $2,999 per processor
* Windows Web Server 2008: $469
* Windows Server 2008 Standard without Hyper-V: $971 with five client access licenses
* Windows Server 2008 Enterprise without Hyper-V: $3,971 with 25 client access licenses
* Windows Server 2008 Datacenter without Hyper-V: $2,971 per processor

Every version of the operating system will be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures except for Windows Server for Itanium-based Systems, which will only come in the 64-bit flavor. Microsoft’s virtualization technology, termed Hyper-V, will ship with 64-bit versions of the server. Hyper-V will not be available for Windows Web Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems, as they are targeted at specific workloads. According to the company (and seen in the prices above), the Hyper-V functionality will cost enterprises an extra US$28. Companies such as Dell, IBM, HP, and Unisys have previously committed to creating solutions based on Hyper-V.

Will Windows Server 2008 adoption rates be higher than that of Windows Server 2003 when it was released in April 2003? Based on my experience, most system administrators are excited for new features such as Server Core, Hyper-V, and Internet Information Systems 7 to name a few; however, many admins have a tendency to stay away from the bleeding edge of server technology, and for good reason.

When you install and configure a server operating system, you hope you’ll never have to do it again. It’s inordinately complex and time-consuming. Each server is a unique creation, and each configuration meticulously adapted to a particular use.Any installed drivers, applications and other software components reflect that specialized use. Even individual applications may have a unique set of patches. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to identify each unique configuration and determine how to replicate it on a new OS.

So why should you bother with Windows Server 2008? You’ll still have to replicate your server environment on each server as you replace your old OS. It should take less time, though, with Windows Server 2008. And when you’re done, you’ll have a more secure, more manageable and better performing box, both physically and virtually.

In reality, swapping out your Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 Servers for Windows Server 2008 is only going to be slightly less painful than in the past. The resulting value is real, but in many cases probably not a game-changer. You’ll have to weigh the costs in both dollars and time against the benefits to your organization.

Don’t be surprised if the cost/benefit analysis tells you to start planning for a migration today. In many cases, it will take a year or more to plan and execute, and the return on the initial investment may not come until years later-but you’ll sleep better at night. The question is easier if you’ve reached the end-of-life on Windows NT 4. If so, it’s high time to upgrade.

MICROSOFT WINDOWS Server 2008 has been leaked on the internet, three weeks ahead of the official worldwide launch date. This comes just a day after it was released to manufacturers (RTM) for their viewing, qualifying and rebadging pleasure.

Released a short while ago by the ever-so-popular warez group known as BetaInsiders were the versions Windows Server 2008 x86 RTM and Windows Server 2008 x64 RTM all in DVD/ISO format – with both English and German editions. The release can be found via the usual sources of BitTorrent, Usenet and scene servers – everywherepeople usually wander for these types of things.

Don’t let the name of the group fool you, it’s the full working NOS as demonstrated below.

The group is well-known for its delivery of the Vole’s products to the net well ahead of actual release date. So it’s no real surprise they’re the first out the gate with Windows Server 2008.

Windows Server 2008 is being marketed under “HEROES happen [here]” banner. We’re not sure what’s heroic about releasing it to the world this way, but it amused us when we called Microsoft for a statement and we were the first to let them know it happened.

With so much ROI potential and virtualization built in, Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT)’s Windows Server 2008 — just released to manufacturing and set to launch later this month — promises to change the way the channel delivers solutions. After several weeks of testing in the CMP Channel Test Center lab, it is clear that Microsoft’s forthcoming server operating system provides levels of data center functionality never before seen in a single package. Even without considering the implications of Hyper-V—the virtualization application that will officially ship several months after Server 2008—it seems that Microsoft, once again, appears poised to steamroll over more and new (watch out, VMware) competitors.

As Microsoft, Redmond, Wash., is on the brink of launching Windows Server 2008—formerly known as Longhorn—issues such as Microsoft’s potential “Netscape-ization” of virtualization king VMware is still debatable. But what is not up for argument are the sweeping new sets of functionality the company has built into the operating system. In addition, Microsoft will simply let enterprises consolidate more for less with a minimum of pain—saving precious dollars on infrastructure along the way. The new functionality includes:

• Automated storage backup, with wizard-based setup and management
• A more advanced firewall, with inbound and outbound security rules that are significantly more advanced than what is available in Windows Server 2003
• Wizard-based setup of failover clustering
• Setup that’s so streamlined it takes a fraction of the time to get Server 2008 up and running compared with what it takes Server 2003
• And, last but not least, integration with Hyper-V, Microsoft’s forthcoming virtualization technology that will revolutionize the data center for enterprises of all sizes

Make no mistake: It’s not perfect. CMP Channel Test Center found some glitches in the software during its review process, including a bug in which the operating system failed to automatically bind the virtual network switch to the LAN adapter in Server 2008. (Microsoft engineers confirmed the bug, which caused a few headaches and some lost time during the review process.)

In addition, the Test Center tried to deploy competing software—VMware’s Workstation 6—in Windows Server 2008. Even though the application installed, each time it attempted to launch a Linux operating system in a virtual machine, the entire server simply blue-screened.

Further, in conversations with industry sources, engineers in at least one Fortune 500 company have encountered their own blue screens when attempting to migrate a VMware virtual machine to a Server 2008 environment. Microsoft may yet decide to provide VMware-to-Hyper-V migration tools. If it doesn’t, its heady plans to deploy mass-market virtualization could get stuck in the mud. The industry will see what happens in the next several months.

So, day by day I’ll be putting this site together and there are several ways you can keep up with the news and updates about Windows Server 2008.

You can use our XML feeds and check those. You can also just come straight to this page and you will be able to see the last 50 updated pages/blog feeds that I have put up on the site.

Whether you are looking for news, updates, drivers, codecs etc for Windows Server 2008, there’s a great chance that you’ll find a lot of what you’re looking for here…

I’ve just finished downloading Windows Server 2008 RTM from Connect. You will notice that MSDN and Technet only have the 64 bit version, while Connect lists all versions but only for the next 30 days.

It took only 29 minutes to download Windows Server 2008 32 bit. I am now going to use this to upgrade the test environment on a virtual machine. This is in preparation for the migration of our Geekzone production server from Windows Server 2008 RC1 to RTM.

We have been running Windows Server 2008 RC1 on Geekzone for almost three months now as part of an early adopters programme with Microsoft. The experience couldn’t have been better.

During this time we had only a couple of updates installed, only one restart because of this and installed a second drive to mirror the system. Modifying the drive to a dynamic partition and creating the mirror did not require a restart (as I remember it needed on Windows Server 2003) and all completed ok.

I have heard comments from Geekzone users on how they feel the site has been more responsive in the last few month - and I’ve noticed this too.

If you want to find out more about Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 check the Summer Road Trip.

As for Windows Vista SP1… I am waiting for it to be available for download, ready to install on my laptop.

Microsoft has wrapped up development of two major products, Windows Server 2008 and the Service Pack 1 update to Windows Vista, CEO Steve Ballmer told financial analysts Monday.

“Both products have released to manufacturing today, which is good news,” Ballmer said.

Ballmer highlighted a few big corporate deployments of Vista, including at Continental Airlines, which is in the process of upgrading 10,000 systems.

“We think we are turning the corner in terms of enterprise deployment, and Service Pack 1 will be a huge boon,” Ballmer said.

Microsoft will begin distributing Vista SP1 via Windows Update in mid-March, according to a Microsoft blog post on Monday.

Microsoft is due to formally launch Windows Server 2008 on February 27 at an event in Los Angeles.

Microsoft released to manufacturing its Windows Server 2008 platform Monday, meaning the software should be available for purchase on March 1.

Customers with Microsoft’s Active Software Assurance coverage or an enterprise agreement can get it a little earlier, with downloads available by the end of February, according to a Microsoft representative.

Featured in the operating system are automation of daily tasks, improved security and virtualization to improve hardware utilization and server availability, the company said.

Developed in tandem with the Windows Vista code base, Windows Server offers capabilities such as Network Access Protection and Group Policy. System-wide performance improvements include an integrated system architecture including network file-sharing, managed quality of service and reduced power consumption, Microsoft said.

Windows Server 2008 and Vista feature common tools to boost efficiencies, according to Microsoft. Also, a FastCGI module in Windows Server 2008 enables hosting of PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) systems. PHP and ASP.net applications can be hosted side by side.

The company is offering a Go Live license enabling users to deploy beta releases of Internet Information Services 7.0 into live production.