New Features Of Windows Server 2008

A number of improvements and additions have been made to Windows Server 2008. In this article we would discuss about those features.

Server Manager

The Server Manager not only provides quick access to many of the management snap-ins, but it also includes quick access to the Add New Roles Wizard and enables you to view the services that are installed and running in association with a particular server role.

Server would automatically launch it just after the installation of server 2008. This would allow you to view the roles that are currently installed on the server and also provides easy access to settings such as the time zone, the computer name and domain membership, automatic updates, and the server's network interfaces.

You could launch it in following ways

• Start ==> Administrative Tools==>Server Manager
• Right-click Computer in the Start menu and select Manage
• execute this command ServerManagerCmd.exe

Server Core

Server Core allows you to install only what's needed on the server to support the specific role the server will assume.

It is a completely new feature in Windows Server 2008. A noticeable difference between Server Core and the full edition of server is that Server Core does not have a graphical user interface (GUI). Instead, all interaction with Server Core takes place through the command line.

Benefits of Core Server

• It's easier to manage.
• It minimizes the attack surface since fewer ports are opened by default.
• It requires less software so uses less disk space. Only about 1 GB is used for the install.
• Since it is less software, it requires fewer updates.

Core server does not include all the features available on other Server installations like NET Framework or Internet Explorer.

PowerShell

PowerShell is brand new feature of server 2008. Server would not install PowerShell by default. To take the advantage of PowerShell you need to install it separately.

PowerShell is a powerful set of command-line tools (called cmdlets) and a full-fledged scripting language. PowerShell is added to Windows Server 2008 as a feature, it provides you with an alternative to the various snap-ins and other GUI tools provided by the network operating system.

you can use PowerShell to manage the following:

• Managing services, processes, and the registry
• Active Directory Domain Services
• Internet Information Services
• Terminal Services
• Exchange Server
• SQL Server

Print Management snap-in

Print Management snap-in makes the management of printers and print servers easier in your domain. The new Print Management snap-in enables you to view print servers and the printers that they provide for the domain. You can even locate (using filters) printers that currently have print jobs and printers that are not ready (meaning paused or offline).

Read-only domain controllers

The RODC is just like a global catalog server in Active Directory used to authenticate users and as a resource to look up objects in the directory; however, instead of being a read/write copy of the directory, an RODC only maintains a read-only copy of Active Directory and forwards all write and authentication requests to a read/write domain controller.

Internet Information Services 7 (IIS7)

IIS7 provides an easily managed platform for a number of web-based technologies, including ASP.NET and SharePoint services. IIS7 also enables you to manage your web servers, using a web browser.

Internet Protocol version 6

Windows Server 2008 installs IPv6 by default and allows you to run IPv4 and IPv6 in tandem on your network interfaces.

Server virtualization

Windows Server 2008 provides Hyper-V, which is a software virtualization technology that enables you to run multiple virtual servers on a single server.

Change from previous version

• Active Directory has been renamed to Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).
• Active Directory in Application (ADAM) to Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS). ADAM has been a downloadable add-in to Windows 2003 Active Directory that provides a directory typically used in organizations for nonemployees who need access to network services.
• Windows Deployment Services— Windows Deployment Services (WDS) replaces the Remote Installation Services (RIS) provided by Windows Server 2003. WDS allows you to install both Windows Server 2008 and client operating systems (including Windows Vista and Windows XP) using an image-based installation.