Windows Server 2008 includes a little something for nearly everyone

Operating system features Network Access Protection and new Terminal Services features

By John Fontana, Network World
May 29, 2007 04:29 PM ET

It’s been years in the making, but Microsoft’s next server platform is finally in the stretch run and while it doesn’t appear revolutionary, it’s looking like the final release will deliver a grab bag of goodies to users looking to ease management, network and security issues.

But it isn’t all good news since Microsoft released in April the Beta 3 of Longhorn, now officially known as Windows Server 2008.

Windows Server 2008
Microsoft's latest includes a list of features designed to help IT departments further manage and secure their installations. The server is slated to ship in the second half of 2007.

Feature	Description
Server Core	Servers can be tuned at setup for certain workloads, such as file, print and directory.
Bit Locker Drive Encryption	Full drive encryption for data protection on all versions of server. Uses Trusted Platform Module 1.2.
Enhanced TCP/IP stack	Includes new mechanisms for offloading, support for multiprocessor scaling, autoconfiguration, dual-IP layer architecture for IPv6.
Network Access Protection	Combines with Vista to check health of PCs and devices before they get on the network.
Terminal Services upgrades	TS Gateway eases remote access, cut-and-paste between sessions, bandwidth throttling, print to local or remote printers, support for Vista Aero interface, and remote-application capabilities.
PowerShell	New command-line shell with more than 130 tools and integrated scripting language.
Active Directory restar	Lets Active Directory be restarted without rebooting the server.
Fine-Grained Password Policy Control	Lets administrators set password policies per user or group instead of only by domain.

Click to see: Windows Server 2008

Gone from the planned final release by the end of 2007 are highly touted virtualization capabilities, designed to move users onto the next level with the white-hot technology. Virtualization was originally suppose to be baked into the server but will ship separately within 180 days of the server’s final release. On top of that, in May Microsoft cut three features from what is now called Windows Server Virtualization, including a highly anticipated live migration option.

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Even though users will have to wait for those capabilities, the Longhorn Beta 3 is feature complete, according to Microsoft, and comes with enough new features that IT executives will be forced to make a list of must-haves before they begin rollouts.

Windows Server 2008 is focused on three primary areas: management, including Server Core technology; security, such as BitLocker drive encryption and Read-only Domain Controllers; and performance, including a redesigned TCP/IP stack.

It also represents the gateway into the world of 64-bit-only server operating systems from Microsoft. The R2 version of Windows Server 2008 slated to ship in 2009 won’t include a 32-bit version.

In addition, the server is the other shoe that will drop on capabilities intertwined with Vista, such as Network Access Protection (NAP) and new Terminal Services features.

For IT architects at Quixtar, the top online retailer of health and beauty products, year-end is too long to wait and the company, part of Microsoft’s Technology Adoption Program (TAP), is running Windows Server 2008 in production.