Windows Server 2008 is a next-generation server operating system that helps IT maximize control over its infrastructure, while providing unprecedented availability and management that leads to a significantly more secure, reliable, and robust server environment. Windows Server 2008 builds on the success and strengths of the award-winning Windows Server 2003 operating system, as well as on the innovations delivered in Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2. However, Windows Server 2008 is far more than a refinement of preceding operating systems. Windows Server 2008 delivers exciting, valuable new functionality and powerful improvements to the core operating system to help organizations of all sizes to increase control and manageability, provide high availability, and have more flexibility for their changing business needs.
Introducing New Windows Server 2008 Features
Windows Server 2008 provides an incredible number of new features, focusing on Virtualization, Management, Security, Web Platform and Reliability to name a few.
· Virtualization with Hyper-V
· Enhanced Web Support with Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0
· Introducing Windows Server 2008 Server Core
· More efficient management with the new Server Manager
· Increased Identity Security and Administration with Read Only Domain Controllers (RODC)
· Greater network security for all servers and clients with Network Access Protection (NAP)
· Robust Cryptography Next Generation (CNG) features
· Making deployment easier with Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
· Enhance your management and control with Group Policy Preferences
Enhancements to Existing Features
Windows Server 2008 also provides a host of enhancements to existing features introduced in previous versions of Windows Server. These will advance and extend many of the features you may use today.
· Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) enhancements:
· Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) enhancements:
· Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS) enhancements:
· Active Directory Federation Services enhancements:
· DNS Server enhancements:
· Failover Clustering enhancements:
· Network Load Balancing enhancements:
· Windows Server Backup enhancements:
· Windows Reliability and Performance Monitor enhancements:
· TCP/IP Stack enhancements:
· Windows Firewall with Advanced Security enhancements:
· Presentation Virtualization with TS RemoteApp features:
· Terminal Services enhancements:
· Terminal Services Gateway (TS Gateway) enhancements:
· Terminal Services Web Access enhancements:
· Terminal Services Licensing enhancements:
· Terminal Services and Windows System Resource Manager provides the following enhancements:
· Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) enhancements:
· Windows Media Services enhancements: