2008 Server

Figuring that I would have to learn this OS sooner or later, I finally bit the bullet. I installed the 60 day trial version 2 days ago. So far, it is similar in configuration to 2000/2003 server, BUT Active Directory on this has 3 options. 2000 server functionality, 2003 functionality, and 2008 functionality. As a result, it appears that this server OS could easily be integrated into an existing AD network...which I plan to try at a later date.

The version I installed was 2008 Standard, since I deal mostly with 200x standard servers, and some 2003 SBS servers. Like it's predecessors, you promote it to DC status with the dcpromo tool...and nothing from your end seems to have changed much (except the functionality level, of course).

So far the only problems I've had were the lack of drivers. That, however, would not be an issue in the 'real world', since most businesses are going to use new hardware, instead of my first-gen P4 IBM Netvista. :) I couldn't easily find 2008 Server drivers for my 3com 3c905c-tx NIC, which is even older, so I decided to try the Vista based ones. (They seemed to work...or 3com included 2008 server in them without updating their documentation)

Overall, the gui is setup like Vista by default...without the annoying "Whatever is trying to do something. Do you want to allow this?" crap. The pagefile is no longer being defined by default, and is set for 'system managed' (unlike in XP), making that tweak for you. MSC/MMC for the server is pictured to the left.

Obviously, the resource usage will be lower on something a little bit newer than this...lol

I'll be experimenting with the group policies next...




Peace,

Frank

Spam

Spam. I'm sure we all have received it. "A rich relative died, send money", "Viagra, cheap", "Enlarge your package/boobs/what the fuck ever..."

With the advent of the Net, this sort of thing has increased. Mail server operators spend an inordinate amount of time configuring, monitoring, and administering mail servers, and their filters to stop the ever increasing amount of what I call 'crapware' from ever reaching the inbox. Spammers and scammers also change their tactics slightly to try to get past those filters.

It's like during the Cold War. One side designs a bigger, faster, higher flying bomber, the other has to design a countermeasure for it. The cycle never seems to end, either.

This site: http://www.cmsconnect.com/marketing/spamcalc.htm has a calculator that estimates the time and cost lost due to crapware. If we estimate the cost for a 10,000 employee company at an average of $25/hr paycheck? It would come to an estimated yearly loss of #1996527.78!

Now, looking back? This spam problem wouldn't be an issue if there was no financial gain to these spammers and scammers. In plain English, if people were not making money off of this, no one would spam.

Just something to think about this week...

Frank

Welcome/About me

Welcome to my blog. It will be a place where I can vent, rant, and carry on. At times, my language might be a bit rough, but if you don't like it? You're more than welcome to hit the door.


About me:

I've been in the IT field for over 11 years now. I've been online in one form or another since the late 80's. This includes the old BBS days. Over that time, I have seen a lot of things. While tech changes, people pretty much have remained the same...

Questions? Ask away.

Frank