Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008
source
Name	Windows Server 2008
Developer	Microsoft
Family	Windows NT
Released	February 27, 2008
Latest release version	6.0 (Build 6003)
Latest release date	April 23, 2013
Source model	Closed source
License	Microsoft Software Assurance
Kernel type	Hybrid kernel
Support status	Mainstream support ended January 13, 2015; Extended support ended January 14, 2020

Windows Server 2008. It is a server operating system produced by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems, succeeding Windows Server 2003. Released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, and generally available on February 27, 2008, it built upon the foundation of Windows Vista and introduced significant enhancements in security, reliability, and performance for enterprise environments. The platform was designed to provide a versatile foundation for running workloads ranging from web servers and application servers to robust Active Directory domain controllers and virtualization hosts.

Overview

As a major release in the server line, it shared its core architecture with the contemporaneous Windows Vista, which was built on the Windows NT 6.0 kernel. A primary design goal was to create a more secure and manageable server platform, leading to the introduction of a minimal installation option called Server Core. This version was succeeded by Windows Server 2008 R2, which was based on the Windows 7 kernel. The operating system was foundational for many businesses, supporting critical infrastructure like Microsoft Exchange Server and SQL Server, and it played a key role in the early adoption of Hyper-V, Microsoft's native hypervisor.

Editions

Several distinct editions were offered to cater to different market segments and hardware scales. The primary editions included Windows Server 2008 Standard, Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, and Windows Server 2008 Datacenter, each with progressively greater features for virtualization, clustering, and scalability. Specialized editions were also released, such as Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems for high-end enterprise applications and Windows Web Server 2008 optimized for hosting Internet Information Services. Furthermore, Windows HPC Server 2008 was released for high-performance computing clusters, and a foundational edition without Windows Server Virtualization rights was available in certain markets.

Features

It introduced a host of new technologies and management tools. A landmark feature was Hyper-V, providing native server virtualization capabilities to compete with products like VMware ESX. The Server Manager console provided a unified role-based management interface, while Windows PowerShell offered a powerful scripting environment for automation. Security was bolstered by Network Access Protection, BitLocker Drive Encryption, and a refined Windows Firewall with advanced security. The IIS 7.0 web server was completely modularized for better performance and security, and the Failover Clustering feature was significantly improved for high availability.

System requirements

Minimum hardware specifications were modest for the era but varied by edition and installed roles. A 1 GHz x86 or x86-64 processor was required, with 512 MB of RAM as a baseline, though 2 GB or more was recommended for typical deployments, especially when using the Graphical user interface. Disk space requirements started at 10 GB but increased substantially for installations with the full Windows Server GUI or additional server roles like Active Directory Domain Services. Support for hardware-assisted virtualization was a prerequisite for enabling the Hyper-V role, requiring specific features from processors by Intel (VT-x) and AMD (AMD-V).

Development and release

Development, under the codename "Windows Server "Longhorn"", proceeded in parallel with Windows Vista, sharing its core development milestones. The beta process involved widespread testing through the Microsoft TechNet and MSDN subscriber programs. After reaching the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) milestone, it was launched at an event in Los Angeles, California, alongside Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008. Subsequent updates were delivered via Windows Update, with a major service pack, Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2, released in 2009. The development cycle culminated in the release of Windows Server 2008 R2, which transitioned to an x86-64 exclusive platform.

Reception

Initial critical reception from publications like InfoWorld and PC World was generally positive, praising its improved security model, the efficiency of the Server Core installation, and the powerful new Hyper-V platform. It was often compared favorably to Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Unix variants in terms of manageability and integration with existing Microsoft ecosystems. However, some critics noted the initial version of Hyper-V lacked certain features found in established competitors like VMware. Over its lifecycle, it gained widespread enterprise adoption, forming the backbone for countless corporate networks and data centers, and its extended support period provided stability for organizations before migrating to later versions like Windows Server 2012.

Category:Windows Server