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The Evolution of Microsoft Network Operating Systems

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Submitted By dahurd2012
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MS Network Operating System 1
January 15, 2013
The Evolution of Microsoft Network Operating Systems
(2003 vs. 2008) An exciting aspect and significant upgrade to Windows Server 2008 is the inclusion of multiple versions of the software. Also there are many upgrades and new features. So you might ask……
 How many versions are there and why are so many offered?
 What is the significance of each version?
 What are the new features and how does it differ from Server 2003?
 What is 64 bit architecture and how is it better?
I will explain the differences, the features, and the uses of the newest version of Windows Server. Hopefully you will gain a better understanding of the software and how it can be utilized for your specific set of criteria.
Let’s start with the different editions and how they compare to the 2003 editions.
Edition Comparisons 2008 Web Edition 2008 Standard Edition 2008 Enterprise Edition 2008 Datacenter Edition
Supersedes 2003 Web edition 2003 R2 Standard and Standard x64 editions 2003 R2 Enterprise and Enterprise x64 editions 2003 R2 Datacenter and Datacenter x64 Editions
Hyper-V-virtualization technology Not included Included Included Included
OS instances permitted per server license One instance (physical or virtual) One physical and one virtual instance One physical and up to 4 virtual instances Unlimited number of OS instances
Maximum server RAM supported 32-bit: 4GB
64-bit: 32GB 32-bit: 4GB
64-bit:32GB 32-bit: 64GB
64-bit: 2TB 32-bit:64GB
64-bit:2TB
Maximum number of CPUs 4 4 8 48
Hot Swap RAM and CPUs No No No Yes
Terminal Server No Yes Yes Yes
Network Access Protection No Yes Yes Yes
U.S. Estimated retail price $470.00 per server $800.00 per server
$772.00 without Hyper-V $3,000 per server
$2,972 without Hyper-V $3,000 per processor
$2,972 without Hyper-V Chart re-worked by David Hurd (directionsonmicrosoft) 1. Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter: provides a platform for business and large-scale virtualization on both small and large servers. The Datacenter also significantly improves availability with clustering and hardware capabilities, while reducing costs by combining applications with unlimited virtualization licensing rights.
2. Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise: has the latest security, and scalability to support the growth of critical applications. It is also cost effective by using virtualization. The Enterprise is especially useful for servers running applications like networking, messaging, inventory, databases, and customer service.
3. Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems: is specifically used for business critical applications. It contains scale solutions to allow flexibility and will support up to 256 logical processor cores and up to 2 terabytes of RAM. It includes dynamic partitioning capabilities as well as virtualization to reduce costs by offering unlimited virtual instance rights. Reliability, availability, and scalability features make it ideal for large databases, business applications and custom applications.
4. Windows HPC Server 2008: can effectively scale to thousands of processing cores with smooth functionality. From desktop applications to an accelerated end-user experience HPC Server 2008 will provide a cost effective and efficient work environment. "Windows Server 2008 R2: Enhanced Capability Editions." With the brief overview above you can see some of the new features offered. We will now go into them in some detail. How does Server 2008 differ from the 2003 software and what’s new about it? First of all, Server 2008 is a combining of technologies from server 2003r2 and Windows Vista. It also has many new features which did not exist in 2003. Here are a few.
 RODC [Read-only Domain controllers.]
 WDS (windows deployment services) instead of RIS in 2003 server
 Energy efficient design. (allocates power to computer resources as needed by using (ACPI) Advanced Configuration and Power Interface)
 Hyper-V (hypervisor-based virtualization technology.) consolidates servers onto a smaller number of physical machines while reducing power consumption without sacrificing performance.
 64-bit architecture. ("Windows Server 2003 vs. Windows Server 2008.") 64-bit architecture has both hardware and software components. Conversion to 64-bit can only achieve optimum benefits when 64-bit hardware and software are combined. Initially it was feared that the expense associated with the conversion from 32-bit to 64-bit was greater than the advantages received, this has not proven to be true. The fact is that 64-bit processing has been around for years, it is only recently though, that it has been available for widespread use. Simply put, 64-bit is twice as fast as 32-bit in processing speed and can access much more ram than the 4 Gb limitation 32-bit architecture has. "Advantages of 64-bit Hardware and Software." Some of the benefits of Server 2008 are as follows:
• Server core: A command line only interface designed with the System Administrator in mind.
• Virtualization: Hyper V has three main components, hypervisor, the virtualization stack, and the virtualized I/O model. These are used to partition and provide interactivity with Windows and the created partitions.
• PowerShell: This is windows task automation framework. It allows administrators to perform tasks both locally and remotely. It primarily uses cmdlets to implement operations.
Windows Server 2008 also offers RODC (Read only domain controller). With an RODC you can easily deploy a domain controller within your organization in locations where physical security cannot be guaranteed. RODC allows you to host read-only partitions of the Active Directory and the domain services (AD DS) database. Windows Server 2008 can now address security and functionality issues such as those mentioned above, and provide the following benefits.
 Improved Security
 Faster logon times
 More efficient access to the network
So, when would you need to consider deploying RODC? The main reason would be if you are experiencing inadequate physical security. If you require fast and reliable authentication services, but cannot ensure physical security for a writable domain controller, then RODC would provide a way to deploy the necessary domain controls.
Another example for the use of RODC would be if your organization was in need of special administrative requirements such as those used for a line-of-business (LOB) application. LOB may only run correctly if it is installed on the domain controller, also the branch office domain controller may have to host server applications. In both scenarios there is the potential for unacceptable security risks because the LOB application owner must log on interactively or use terminal services to configure the application on a writeable domain controller. In this example the RODC mechanism provides greater security throughout the deployment and execution of the domain controller by granting logon permissions to a non-administrative user while maintaining adequate security levels in the active directory forest "New Networking Features in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista."

Microsoft Windows server 2008 has provided many improvements to the everyday operations performed by a network administrator and offers an array of cost and energy efficient options for the modern business environment. It allows for greater control both locally and remotely, provides increased security, and once mastered, eases ones daily routine through its much improved automation capabilities.

Works Cited
1) "Advantages of 64-bit Hardware and Software." Technet. microsoft.com. N.p., 02 Apr. 2009. Web. 4 Feb. 2013.
2) (directionsonmicrosoft)"02-08: Windows Server 2008 Edition Comparison (Chart)." 02-08: Windows Server 2008 Edition Comparison (Chart). N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.
3) "New Networking Features in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista." New Networking Features in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2013.
4) "Windows Server 2008 R2: Enhanced Capability Editions." - GROK Knowledge Base. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.
5) "Windows Server 2003 vs. Windows Server 2008." Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.
6) (directionsonmicrosoft)"02-08: Windows Server 2008 Edition Comparison (Chart)." 02-08: Windows Server 2008 Edition Comparison (Chart). N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.

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