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Microsoft

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

By jperlow April 30, 2009, 1:27 AM PDT

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Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V

The new Hyper-V has support for 64 logical processors, VM Chimney (TCP offload to dedicated NICs) and VM queuing. Processor Compatibility mode, also introduced with Server 2008 R2, allows live migration across the same processor family. This screen depicts the Hyper-V Manager, the main tool for controlling VMs in Server 2008 R2.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V

As you can see I have the Windows 7 Release Candidate installed in a Virtual Machine. Microsoft has already pre-installed the Integration Components in Windows 7, so it is already VM optimized out of the box.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V

Here is where the virtual switch infrastructure for Hyper-V is configured, similar to the way it is done in competing products such as VMWare ESX.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V

Here is where the settings for Hyper-V itself are stored.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Control Panel 1

Windows Server 2008 R2 Control Panel 1

Windows Server 2008 R2 borrows many design elements from Windows 7, including major dialogs, UI pieces and general aesthetic, while maintaining a “clean” look for server administrators.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Control Panel 2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Control Panel 2

The Control Panel in Server 2008 R2 has a lot of menu elements, so dialogs are nested. I like how they did this compared to previous betas which looked a bit messy.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Control Panel 3

Windows Server 2008 R2 Control Panel 3

Here’s the testing platform I used.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 File Manager

Windows Server 2008 R2 File Manager

The file manager is identical to Windows 7’s.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Device Manager

Windows Server 2008 R2 Device Manager

Here’s the view of the device manager and the control panel. Again, the same as Windows 7’s.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles 1

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles 1

The Roles Screen allows you to determine what functionality should be enabled. This groups services into packaged functionality and allows for easier system configuration.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles 2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles 2

Here’s an example of how a role is added to the system. Let’s add Web Server functionality.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles 3

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles 3

Here’s the list of roles that we can add to the system. I’m going to pick IIS.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles IIS Install 1

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles IIS Install 1

The wizard explains what web server functionality does. Nice and informative.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles IIS Install 2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles IIS Install 2

Here’s all the stuff you can add just to IIS. Wow, that’s a lot of stuff.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles IIS Install 3

Windows Server 2008 R2 Roles IIS Install 3

Now I’m going to confirm what I’m about to add to the system. Once confirmed, Windows does all the work of adding the components it needs.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Manager 1

Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Manager 1

The Server Manager is the super tool that replaces the old Microsoft Management Console. By default, all of the modules are turned on for all the roles and services that are enabled, so you can see a complete view of the system by drilling down into every component.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Manager 2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Manager 2

Here’s the storage configuration module, where I can partition disks and set up software mirroring. The disks in my machine use hardware RAID, so I don’t have to do that.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Manager 3

Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Manager 3

Here’s the remote desktop auditing log.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Select Features 1

Windows Server 2008 R2 Select Features 1

“Select Features” is a different way of adding functionality into the system. These are more analogous to features that can be installed and removed from Windows 7, from an end-user point of view. (Page 1)

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Select Features 2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Select Features 2

“Select Features” is a different way of adding functionality into the system. These are more analogous to features that can be installed and removed from Windows 7, from an end-user point of view. (Page 2)

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Event Viewer 1

Windows Server 2008 R2 Event Viewer 1

Here’s the new-fangled way of looking at event logs.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Event Viewer 2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Event Viewer 2

Here’s the event drill-down.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Firewall Rules

Windows Server 2008 R2 Firewall Rules

The security configuration for firewalls and security policy has been majorly beefed up in Server 2008.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 MMC

Windows Server 2008 R2 MMC

If you find the Server Manager overwhelming, MMC is still there, if you want to give administrators granular access to certain components, or if there are certain modules you use frequently.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Admin Tools

Windows Server 2008 R2 Admin Tools

The administrative tools themselves are also there for direct access if you need them.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Desktop File Manager

Windows Server 2008 R2 Desktop File Manager

The file manager in Server 2008 R2 is straight from Windows 7.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hardware/Devices

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hardware/Devices

Here’s the Hardware/Device Properties screen, again straight from Windows 7.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Update

Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Update

Automatic updates, again straight from Windows 7.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Network Browser

Windows Server 2008 R2 Network Browser

Here’s my home lab network. As you can see the VMs themselves are browseable because they are bridged onto the same VLAN.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Themes

Windows Server 2008 R2 Themes

If you REALLY want Windows Server 2008 to look like Windows 7 and have all the pretty Aero stuff, you can. I suppose this could be useful for multi-user terminal server and Citrix Presentation Server environments that need it, but I prefer to turn it off.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Powershell

Windows Server 2008 R2 Powershell

While the regular CMD.EXE prompt is there, the Powershell is now a default icon on the desktop for doing advanced commands and scripting. This is something I need to bone up on as it appears to have a lot of functionality.

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