Windows Server 2008: Release 2 Review Guide

Brad Werner, Werner Training and Consulting, Inc.

Abstract

Windows Server 2008 R2 is closely correlated to Windows 7; with respect to the desktop/ notebook operating system, Windows 7 might be considered a refinement of Windows Vista, but some of the changes represent a radical departure from its predecessor. Some of the features that debuted in Windows Server 2003 R2 were improved with Windows Server 2008; however, a number of them have not only been improved, but extended substantially in Windows Server 2008 R2. This white paper details these improvements so you can become familiar with the changes in requirements, even if you don't plan to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2 right away.

Introduction

Whenever a new model of automobile is about to hit the streets, drivers, mechanics, insurance companies, and law enforcement officers usually have some expectations. For example, unless the "StreetRod 2010" is fully automatic, we expect that it will have a steering wheel, dashboard, pedals, and seats - a typical user interface. We expect that even the most advanced modern land vehicles will have some kind of propulsion system that involves turning their wheels and friction against the pavement - a typical hardware platform.

So what do you expect when you start thinking about a new computer operating system for desktops or even for servers? We still talk about desktops, mobile platforms, and servers, right? Increased use of virtualization and clustering means that Windows Server and physical servers are less likely to have a one-to-one correspondence. Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 mean that the primary local management interface could be a command line. Just what do you expect Microsoft has delivered with the latest release of Windows Server - Windows Server 2008 R2 (release 2)? A server with no tires and no steering wheel? How radically different do you think a "release 2" could be? Let's take a look at how different and how similar Windows Server 2008 R2 could be for you.

What's in a Name?

To begin our journey, let's look at a touch of history and a sprinkle of name analysis. What was once referred to as Microsoft's Windows "New Technology" (NT) has evolved from its beginnings, which seem truly humble in retrospect. Did you expect that Microsoft would release the successor to Windows NT 6.0, which was officially called Windows Server 2008, as something called Windows Server 2010? Following the pace set with Windows Server 2003 R2, we might expect that this R2 of Windows Server 2008 is a minor update release. And in such an assumption, we would be half right. Why only half right?

Windows Server 2008 R2 is closely correlated to Windows 7 such that we could think of it as "Windows 7 Server" although Microsoft does not officially call it that. With respect to the desktop/notebook operating system, Windows 7 is in some ways a minor refinement of Windows Vista. Yet in other ways it is a radical departure from its predecessor. As shown in the table above, if you type ver at a Command Prompt or type:

(gwmi win32_operatingsystem).version

in Windows PowerShell, Windows Server 2008 R2 will reveal that under the hood, it is akin to Windows NT 6.1 Server. By similar fashion, Windows 7 also sports a version 6.1 property. If we believe the under-the-hood version number 6.1, then compared with Windows Server 2008, is R2 really all that different from what a .1 version increment would suggest? The quick answer is yes! Like Windows 7, this Windows Server 2008 R2 is a substantial upgrade from the version 6.0 predecessor, Windows Server 2008.

Note: Windows PowerShell version 2.0 is installed by default on Windows 7 and on Windows Server 2008 R2. As soon as you get an evaluation copy or full release of either one, you can start learning a few under-the-hood details by launching PowerShell and typing:

gwmi win32_operatingsystem | FL *

The Road Is Wide

Sixty-four bits only. Yes, that's right. Windows Server 2008 R2 does come in an Itanium edition, but the Foundation, Web, Standard, HPC, Enterprise, and Datacenter editions are x64 only. That old-fashioned x86 (32-bit) architecture is not supported in Windows Server 2008 R2, so you'd better plan on sticking with Windows Server 2008 or other operating systems for your x86-based servers. The newest Windows Server offerings from Microsoft include:

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation
• Windows Web Server 2008 R2
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
• Windows HPC Server 2008 (High-Performance Computing)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter
• Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems

The Names Have Been Changed.

In a sense, Windows Server 2008 R2 (W2K8R2 or just R2) is like an encore to Windows Server 2008 (W2K8); however, it's like getting a smorgasbord of additional features to choose from. When W2K8 debuted, a few people were surprised that Active Directory had been renamed as Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). So when you realize that with R2, Microsoft has renamed Terminal Services to now be called Remote Desktop Services, don't think it's merely a case of a little mascara. It's not merely a cosmetic change.

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Configuring, Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2008 Servers(M6419)