2008 server - Tuesday, July 29, 2008 23:37 - 0 Comments

10 reasons to upgrade to server 2008

Top 10 Reasons To Upgrade To Windows Server 2008

The long awaited new version of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is now available.  With a newly customizable admin interface, this version is touted as being more secure, faster, and more versatile than Server 2003.  The following list of reasons to upgrade are significantly condensed from the Top 11 reasons To Upgrade, a Microsoft document which can be read in its entirety at this URL:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/why-upgrade.aspx

1. Server Consolidation and Resource Optimization—Hyper-V
Hyper-V is a brand new form of virtualization.  This allows a single server to host the workloads of multiple business servers.  In large part, this is due to the fact that traditional servers only utilize a small percentage of their full capacities.  Hyper-V allows greater optimization of system resources, provide greater IT control, and offer enhanced usability.  New management tools allow admins to manage virtual servers in the same manner that traditional servers have been handled for years, reducing the learning curve dramatically.

2. Flexible Application Access for Remote Users—TS RemoteApp
Terminal Services RemoteApp has been enhanced.  Remote users are now able to run specific applications on host machines rather than simply having access to the remote desktop.  Since only the application windows are are transmitted, the client side uses far less resources, and data transfer times are significantly reduced.

3. Modular, Minimal Installation—Server Core
The new Server Core offers a reduced operation environment.  This offers greater reliability and flexibility than earlier versions.  It also reduces patch and management requirements, and eases demands on system resources.  It also gives the network a greater security in core network infrastructure.

4. Delivering Rich Web Content and Applications—IIS 7.0
Web server technologies are becoming more important to successful business practices.  IIS 7.0 takes this into account, offering increased support for web content.  An updated interface, using a new modular design, allows the configuration of a smaller web server attack surface, meaning vastly increased security from web-based maliciousness.

5. Improved Network Performance and Control—New TCP/IP Stack
This improvement will be lauded by remote users.  Increased throughput and more efficient routing procedures can provide as much as a 3x improvement for those working over a WAN.

6. Preventing Unhealthy Devices from Connecting to the Network—NAP
Network Access Protection (NAP) verifies the health and compliance of computers accessing the server.  This provides increased security against infections and unwanted outside intrusions.

7. Supporting Business Continuity for Demanding Workloads—High Availability Features
Support for failover clusters, Load Balancing, and dynamic hardware partitioning give IT staff greater flexibility in dealing with unplanned downtime, and help to protect against point-of-failure-problems.  This is another way in which reliability and availability have been improved over Server 2003.

8. Enabling Secure Collaboration—Active Directory Federated Rights Management
It is important to be able to share information with partners and clients, but equally vital to retain control over that information.  Rights Management Services include, but are not limited to, who can view, print,  or even forward or delete documents within and outside of the LAN.

9. Connecting Heterogeneous Environments
Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (SUA), supports hundreds of UNIX commands, utilities, and shell scripts. Users can have a single username and password for Windows domains and UNIX systems.  SUA runs without any emulation, allowing native UNIX performance and applications to leverage Windows APIs and components.

10. Enabling Top-Shelf Service and Support for Remote Sites
Remote site management has been streamlined, allowing centralized IT staff to perform many functions that were previously only fully possible by being physically onsite.  With the inclusion of the new Read-Only Domain Controller, IT staff have a safer method of providing Active Domain administration to remote locations.

Article written by MyComputerAid.com