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