some of them you will  find here…..

An Introduction to Windows Server 2008 Server Manager Spending time studying and learning the Server Manager console may be the quickest way to become familiar with Windows Server 2008. Exploring the roles and features secti…

How do I… Install Virtual Server in Windows 2008 Server Core? In a previous How do I… download, Steven Warren wrote about installing Windows 2008 server core. Now he tackles the installation and configuration of Virtual Server …

What You Need To Know About Server 2008 Core Edition Back in the days of Windows 3.1, you could choose what Windows components you wanted to install. Since then, however, Windows setup has given customers less and less cont…

How do I… Install and configure Windows Server 2008 core? A Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Core installation provides you with the minimum set of tools to run Windows. You are provided with a kernel and a command line to manag…

Windows Server 2008: What To Expect Most IT professionals who deal with ever-changing technology appreciate consistency and predictability. When people hear that a new version of Windows Server is coming ou…

Microsoft Active Directory Backup and Recovery in Windows Server 2008 In 2008, Microsoft plans to release Windows Server 2008, its first major platform upgrade in five years. How will it affect your Active Directory Environment? Read Quest …

Enhanced Network Performance With Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 With the release of the Windows Vista client operating system, and the upcoming release of Windows Server 2008 network managers face the prospect of integrating these nex…

10 things to consider when making a Windows Server 2008 upgrade decision Windows Server 2008 is expected to officially launch in February of next year, but many companies are already preparing for the next generation of Windows server software…

10 cool things you can do with Windows PowerShell If PowerShell’s learning curve has kept you from embracing it for daily use, “cool” might not be a word you’d associate with it. But PowerShell is here to stay. It’s a co…

Investigate virtualization in Windows Server 2008 Typically, a server OS delivers multiple applications serving a variable number of customers, whose business of management requires communication with any number of o…

Server Efficiency: Make The Case Welcome to the PDF version of ZDNet’s Intel-sponsored Server Efficiency special report. Here, we present an overview of the key issues facing datacentre managers, examine…

See how Windows Server 2008 demonstrates the evolutionary principle applied to software In this InformIT article, Scott Fulton continues his technical survey of the ten most important changes to Windows Server 2008 by discussing a group of three servic…

Get to know two of the most important new features in Windows Server 2008: The self-healing NTFS file system and parallel session creation Finally, Microsoft demonstrates its recognition of the proper role of a server operating system via a myriad of architectural changes in Microsoft Server 2008. Learn …

10 things you should know about 64-bit Windows Server We all want to get the most power from our computing resources, and 64-bit versions of Windows Server are becoming more common in the data center. IT pro Rick Vanover off…

Explore Address Space Load Randomization and Windows Hardware Error Architecture in Windows Server 2008 In this InformIT article, Scott Fulton discusses the concept of Address Space Load Randomization (ASLR) and how this works in Windows Server 2008. In addition, the …

How do I… Request and install SSL certificates in IIS 6.0? SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are perhaps the most common way to protect information being transmitted between a visitor Web browser and your Web site. Scott…

IDC Report – SWsoft: Making Operating System Virtualization an Option Server virtualization has become increasingly popular in the datacenter. As the virtualization phenomenon expands, organizations are discovering new ways to apply the tec…

How do I… Request and install SSL certificates in IIS 7.0? SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are perhaps the most common way to protect information being transmitted between a visitor Web browser and your Web site. SSL p

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Windows Server 2008 will be available in five primary editions, and three of these editions will also be available without Windows Server Hyper-V, bringing the total number of editions to eight.

Windows Server 2008 Standard

Windows Server 2008 Standard is the most robust Windows Server operating system to date. With built-in, enhanced Web and virtualization capabilities, it is designed to increase the reliability and flexibility of your server infrastructure while helping save time and reduce costs. Powerful tools give you greater control over your servers, and streamline configuration and management tasks. Plus, enhanced security features work to harden the operating system to help protect your data and network and provide a solid, highly dependable foundation for your business.

Windows Server 2008 Enterprise

Windows Server 2008 Enterprise delivers an enterprise-class platform for deploying business-critical applications. Help improve availability with clustering and hot-add processor capabilities. Help improve security with consolidated identity management features.

Windows Server 2008 Datacenter

Windows Server 2008 Datacenter delivers an enterprise-class platform for deploying business-critical applications and large-scale virtualization on small and large servers. Improve availability with clustering and dynamic hardware partitioning capabilities. Reduce infrastructure costs by consolidating applications with unlimited virtualization licensing rights. Scale from 2 to 64 processors.

Windows Web Server 2008

Designed to be used specifically as a single-purpose Web server, Windows Web Server 2008 delivers on a rock-solid foundation of Web infrastructure capabilities in the next-generation Windows Server 2008. Integrated with the newly re-architected IIS 7.0, ASP.NET, and the Microsoft .NET Framework, Windows Web Server 2008 enables any organization to rapidly deploy Web pages, Web sites, Web applications, and Web services.

Windows Server 2008 for Itanium Based Systems

Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems is optimized for large databases, line of business, and custom applications providing high availability and scalability for up to 64 processors to meet the needs of demanding and mission-critical solutions.

Windows HPC Server 2008

Windows HPC Server 2008, the next generation of high-performance computing (HPC), provides enterprise-class tools for a highly productive HPC environment. Built on Windows Server 2008, 64-bit technology, Windows HPC Server 2008 can efficiently scale to thousands of processing cores and includes management consoles that help you to proactively monitor and maintain system health and stability. Job scheduling interoperability and flexibility enables integration between Windows and Linux based HPC platforms, and supports batch and service oriented application (SOA) workloads.

Windows Server 2008 Standard without Hyper-V

Windows Server 2008 Standard without Hyper-V.

Windows Server 2008 Enterprise without Hyper-V

Windows Server 2008 Enterprise without Hyper-V.

Windows Server 2008 Datacenter without Hyper-V

Windows Server 2008 Datacenter without Hyper-V.

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There are three Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications designed to validate your skills on the features and functionality of key technology areas in Windows Server 2008.

From Microsoft “You can show your depth of knowledge in one specific Windows Server 2008 technology, earn multiple MCTS certifications to show breadth across different products, or build on the MCTS to earn a Professional Series credential”.

The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) on Windows Server 2008 credential is intended for information technology (IT) professionals who work in the complex computing environment of medium to large companies. The MCTS candidate should have a minimum of one year of experience implementing and administering a network operating system in an environment that has the following characteristics:

The three MCTS certifications on Windows Server 2008 are:

Classroom training available: None

Microsoft E-Learning: None

Microsoft Press Books:

MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-643): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure

MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-640, 70-642, 70-643, 70-647): Enterprise Administrator Core Requirements (available in 2008)

Practice Tests: There are no practice tests currently available.

Transitioning your MCSA and MCSE from Windows Server 2003 skills to Windows Server 2008

From Microsoft:

“If you are a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) or a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003, you can transfer your skills to achieve multiple Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications or Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) credentials on Windows Server 2008.

For the first time, the transition path is available before the product release. If you have a Windows Server 2008 certification on your resumé, you have an excellent opportunity to catch the eye of early adopter organizations. Microsoft Learning developed this transition path to recognize the investment and expertise you have demonstrated throughout your certification history—don’t miss your chance to take advantage of these new certifications.”

More details here

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Also, if you have Windows Server 2003 already in house, what could possibly be the compelling reasons to switch platforms and upgrade to Windows Server 2008?

We’ll go through them one by one.

Virtualization

Windows Server Virtualization is coming. Anyone who has worked with operations at the enterprise level knows the value of virtualization and the ROI it provides with server consolidation.

Security

With the introduction of new security tools like Group Policy and Network Access Protection, Windows Server 2008 has the ability to reinforce the security infrastructure in your environment.

Ease of Deployment

New deployment tools like Remote Installation Services use network based installation processes to install copies of Windows Server 2008 in a purely automated manner. In addition, Volume Activation 2.0 helps with the management of licensing your multiple copies of the operating system.

High Availability

With Network Load Balancing (NLB) and changes made in clustering functionality, Windows Server 2008 has been designed with high availability in mind. With high availability in mind from the top down, Windows Server 2008 has been designed to ensure minimal points of failure in your infrastructure.

Web Application Deployment

With the introduction of IIS 7.0, companies are able to build and deploy dynamic web applications that can leverage the application server role in Windows Server 2008. This way they can quickly and easily utilize dynamic web services in their applications.

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Experience the launch virtually and access Steve Ballmer’s Keynote, breakout sessions and partners: Live the experience

Windows Server 2008 Launch Fact Sheets (from Microsoft)

• Windows Server 2008 (.doc file, 85 KB)

• Partner Support for Microsoft Windows Server 2008

• Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 Benchmarks (.doc file, 84 KB)

Windows Server 2008 Launch Videos (from Microsoft)

Jim DuBois, General Manager of Information Security & Infrastructure Services for Microsoft IT, highlights the internal Microsoft deployment of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008.

Watch the video (3 min 15 sec)

Chris Pirie, General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Microsoft Learning, talks with Michael Johnson, a Microsoft Certified Trainer, about how early readiness for Windows Server 2008 has directly impacted his business and enables IT professionals to immediately adopt and deploy the new technology.

Watch the video (.wmv file, 2 min 36 sec)

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer kicks of a series of global events to launch Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008.
Watch Live: 9 am PST, Feb. 27: 100 kbps | 300 kbps | 750 kbps

Windows Server 2008 Launch Case Studies

• Windows Server 2008 Case Studies

Windows Server 2008 Executive Bios

• Bill Hilf, General Manager, Windows Server Marketing and Platform Strategy (.doc file, 54 KB)
• Bill Laing, General Manager, Windows Server Division (.doc file, 25 KB)
• Joseph Landes, Director of Product Management (.doc file, 81 KB)
• Iain McDonald, Director, Windows Server Group (.doc file, 26 KB)
• Steven VanRoekel, Senior Director, Windows Server Solutions Group (.doc file, 30 KB)
• Bob Visse, Senior Director, Windows Server Marketing Group (.doc file, 26 KB)

Ballmer: IT and the Enterprise

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talks with All Gillen, system software research VP at IDC, about what launch means for business customers and industry partners.

• See the interview

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If you have any questions or comments about Windows Server 2008 drivers, use the form below….

Do you have any Windows Vista Driver stories?
Windows Vista is here. In order to get Vista running smoothly with your software and hardware, you often have to get drivers that are compatible with Windows Vista.

If you have questions about Drivers, a story about Windows Vista Drivers or Drivers you would like to share with everyone, share it here!

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Enjoy

Is WSv included in Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition?
Yes, Standard, Enterprise and Data Center Editions of Windows Server 2008.

Hardware requirements to run WSv?
x64 platform with hardware assisted virtualization technology from Intel VT or AMD-V (and lots of RAM memory plus plenty of storage space on a fast n-core CPU machine).

Can x64 applications (64-bit) such as Exchange Server 2007 run on WSv?
Yes. Besides 32-bit guest operating system (virtual machines), 64-bit is now supported.

Does Virtual Machine Additions still work?
This has been replaced by the improved Windows Server virtualization Integration Components. Virtual Machine Additions must first be uninstalled if present.

The network adapter in the VM ported from Virtual Server to WSv is no longer recognized.
Workaround is to add a legacy network adapter to the VM. In WSv, the network adapter seen by the guest OS is not an emulated device (DEC/Intel 21140 Ethernet adapter). It is an entirely new, high performance, purely synthetic device available as part of the Windows Server virtualization Integration Components call Microsoft VMBus Network Adapter.

How do I backup my live, running VMs?
WSv supports Volume Shadow Services (VSS) natively, meaning no downtime for backup is needed.

Can I add a Windows Server 2008 to an existing Windows 2003 Active Directory environment?
Yes. For more information, search my blog post for “Windows Server 2008 in Windows Server 2003 Active Directory”.

Is upgrade from Windows 2000 Server to Windows Server 2008 supported?
No. Only an upgrade from Windows Server 2003 is possible.

If you would like to add more questions to the Windows Server 2008 FAQ list, feel free to use the form below..

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Note: An Intel Itanium 2 processor is required for Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems

Memory
Minimum: 512 MB RAM
Recommended: 2 GB RAM or greater

Optimal: 2 GB RAM (Full installation) or 1 GB RAM (Server Core installation) or more

Maximum (32-bit systems): 4 GB (Standard) or 64 GB (Enterprise and Datacenter)

Maximum (64-bit systems): 32 GB (Standard) or 2 TB (Enterprise, Datacenter, and Itanium-Based Systems)

Available Disk Space
Minimum: 10 GB
Recommended: 40 GB or greater

Note: Computers with more than 16 GB of RAM will require more disk space for paging, hibernation, and dump files

Drive
DVD-ROM drive

Display
Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher resolution monitor

Other
Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

* Actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration, and the applications and features you choose to install.

Processor performance is dependent upon not only the clock frequency of the processor, but the number of cores and the size of the processor cache.

Disk space requirements for the system partition are approximate. Itanium-based and x64-based operating systems will vary from these disk size estimates.

Additional available hard disk space may be required if you are installing over a network.

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The word “server” often refers to the specialized computer (or hardware) that the server software runs on. The server is optimized to perform services for other computers or “clients.” Clients can be computers as well as printers, faxes, or other devices that connect to the server.
Together, a server and its clients compose a client/server network.

A client/server network provides routing systems and centralized access to information and resources, stored data, and much more.
With a server, you can share files and resources, such as fax machines and printers, in a more secure manner. For example, with a server network, employees can access the Internet or company e-mail at the same time.

Other definitions for a server include:
In information technology, a server is an application or device that performs services for connected clients as part of a client-server architecture. A server application, as defined by RFC 2616 (HTTP/1.1), is “an application program that accepts connections in order to service requests by sending back responses.” Server computers are devices designed to run such an application or applications, often for extended periods of time with minimal human direction. Examples of servers include web servers, e-mail servers, and file servers.

or

Server is an adjective in the term server operating system. A server operating system is intended, enabled, or better able to run server applications. The differences between the server version and the “workstation” version of an operating system vary. Sometimes (as in the case of Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Server), the primary difference is the removal of arbitrary license-dependent limits on the number of network file share connections accepted. Some server editions include additional server applications bundled with the operating system. Some server applications (e.g. Microsoft IIS) impose arbitrary limits on the number of HTTP connections they will accept, depending on whether they are running under a server operating system or not.

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