Despite the failure of Server Core 2008 to catch fire, Microsoft is trying again, counting on improved performance over the previous generation.
Lost in the hoopla of the Windows 8 client release was Windows Server 8, which came out at the same time. This massively updated server OS will be Microsoft’s stake in the ground for cloud computing, built on experiences running Azure and on-premise clouds.
But it’s not all big iron for Server 8. Microsoft is also planning on releasing a Windows Server Core product based on the new server technology, despite its own admission that the first version was a stiff.
“[Server Core 2008] wasn’t a huge hit, but we now think we’ve achieved critical mass with Windows Server ‘8’ and are recommending it as the preferred configuration,” David Cross, partner program manager in the Windows Server unit, wrote in a blog post outlining Microsoft’s latest Server Core initiative.
One of the problems with the old Server Core product was the lack of Server Manager support, and there was no migration/conversion path from the Core product to a full installation. Once you installed it, you were stuck.
Like its big brothers, Windows “8” Server Core is being positioned as a low-cost option for building private cloud networks. But instead of getting the whole shootin’ match, Core will be a minimal install for doing specific server jobs or roles, such as a file and print server or a DNS server.
Server Core achieves its smaller footprint in part by running without the GUI, although it’s already known that all versions of Windows Server 8 will have the GUI-less option. It will be managed via the Powershell with 2,430 cmdlets and Server Manager support, and it can be installed with minimal features and the ability to add features and functionality on demand.
The new Server Core will also offer support for a broader range of roles than its predecessors, including Active Directory services, DHCP server, DNS server, print and documentation services, Hyper-V server, remote desktop services, streaming media services, Web server and Windows Server update server.
Microsoft has not given a release date for either Server Core or the full Windows Server 8.
