Windows Server 2008 is the name of the next server operating system from Microsoft. It is the successor to Windows Server 2003. It was known as codename Windows Server "Longhorn" until May 15, 2007, when Bill Gates announced its official title during his keynote address at WinHEC.

Windows Server 2008 is the server operating system containing many of the new client features from Windows Vista. This is a similar relationship to that between Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP.

Windows Server 2008 will be launched jointly with Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 on Feb. 27, 2008, in Los Angeles.

Features

Windows Server 2008 is built from the same code base as Windows Vista; therefore, it shares much of the same architecture and functionality. As the code base is common, it automatically benefits from most of the technical, security, management and administrative features new to Windows Vista such as new improved rewritten networking stack (native IPv6, native wireless, speed and security improvements); improved image-based installation, deployment and recovery; improved diagnostics, monitoring, event logging and reporting tools; better security features such as Bitlocker, ASLR, improved Windows Firewall with secure default configuration; .NET Framework 3.0 technologies, specifically Windows Communication Foundation, Microsoft Message Queuing and Windows Workflow Foundation; and the core kernel, memory and file system improvements.

Server Core

Perhaps the most notable new feature of Windows Server 2008 is a new variation of installation called Server Core. Server Core is a significantly scaled-back installation where no Windows Explorer shell is installed, and all configuration and maintenance is done entirely through command line interface windows, or by connecting to the machine remotely using Microsoft Management Console. Server Core also does not include the .NET Framework, Internet Explorer or many other features not related to core server features. A Server Core machine can be configured for several basic roles: Domain controller/Active Directory Domain Services, ADLDS (ADAM), DNS Server, DHCP Server, file server, print server, Windows Media Server, Terminal Services Easy Print, TS Remote Programs, and TS Gateway, IIS 7 web server and Windows Server Virtualization virtual server. This last role is expected to be available at most 180 days after release of Windows Server 2008.

Active Directory roles

Active Directory is expanded with identity, certificate and rights management services. Active Directory until Windows Server 2003 allowed network administrators to centrally manage connected computers, to set policies for groups of users, and to centrally deploy new applications to multiple computers. This role of Active Directory is being renamed as Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS).[4] A number of other additional services are being introduced, including Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS), Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (ADLDS), (formerly Active Directory Application Mode, or ADAM), Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS), and Active Directory Rights Management Services (ADRMS). Identity and certificate services allow administrators to manage user accounts and the digital certificates that allow them to access certain services and systems. Federation management services enable enterprises to share credentials with trusted partners and customers, allowing a consultant to use his company user name and password to log in on a client's network. Identity Integration Feature Pack is included as Active Directory Metadirectory Services. Each of these services represents a server role.

Terminal Services

Windows Server 2008 features major upgrades to Terminal Services. Terminal Services now supports Remote Desktop Protocol 6.0. The most notable improvement is the ability to share a single application over a Remote Desktop connection, instead of the entire desktop. This feature is called Terminal Services Remote Programs. Other features new to Terminal Services include Terminal Services Gateway and Terminal Services Web Access (full web interface). With Terminal Services Gateway, authorized computers are able to connect securely to a Terminal Server or Remote Desktop from the Internet using RDP via HTTPS without implementing a VPN session first. Additional ports do not need to be opened in the firewall, RDP is tunneled through HTTPS. Terminal Services Web Access enables administrators to provide access to the Terminal Services Sessions via a Web interface. TS Web Access comes with an adjustable Webpart for IIS and Sharepoint, which advertises the possible applications and connections to the user. Using TS Gateway and TS Remote Programs, the whole communication is via HTTP(S) and the remote applications appear transparent to the user as if they are running locally. Multiple applications run in the same session to ensure that there is no need for additional licenses per user. Terminal Services Easy Print does not require administrators to install any printer drivers on the server, but guarantees successful client printer redirection and availability of all printer UI and properties for use in remote sessions. Terminal Services sessions are created in parallel, instead of a serial operation - the new session model can initiate at least four sessions in parallel, or more if a server has more than four processors.

Windows PowerShell

Windows Server 2008 is the first Windows operating system that will ship with Windows PowerShell, Microsoft's new extensible command line shell and task-based scripting technology.[5] PowerShell is based on object-oriented programming and version 2.0 of the Microsoft .NET Framework and includes more than 120 system administration utilities, consistent syntax and naming conventions, and built-in capabilities to work with common management data such as the Windows Registry, certificate store, or Windows Management Instrumentation. PowerShell's scripting language was specifically designed for IT administration, and can be used in place of cmd.exe and Windows Script Host.


Windows Power Shell




A Closer look at Windows Server 2008 x86 Enterprise Edition Screen shots




Setup Was Just a Breeze, Simple 2 step wizard, First will ask you to perform a Online update.





The ServerEntererpriseCore will have only the core features (Minimal Installation),



EULA




Choose Installation Drive.





Setup kick starts and finishes in 16 min flat !,





Initial Config





Server manager







Start menu similar to Windows Vista






Terminal Services







RDP version 6






Storage Management






Storage Explorer





Windows Server Role





Security Policy (SCW)






Best of ISA in Windows 2008, Windows 2008 Firewall let you create Inbound and Outbound traffic Rules,









Microsoft after years of R&D finally have released the Windows Codename "Longhorn Server" will be officially called Windows 2008 Server, successor of Windows 2003.

Windows 2008 is built on the same core as Windows Vista, Windows 2008 in compared to Windows 2003 R2 has few more features under its belt like new Improved storage management, Integrated security management, Improved services deployment etc...


Regards,
VINOD M

Labels: Technology

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