WindowsServer2008:AnOverviewoftheRevolutionaryOperatingSystem
Introduction
WindowsServer2008wasreleasedbyMicrosoftonFebruary27,2008.ItisthesuccessortoWindowsServer2003andisaimedatsmalltolarge-scalebusinesses.Itwascreatedtoprovidebetterfunctionality,performance,andsecuritywhilestillbeingcompatiblewithpreviousversionsofWindows.
KeyFeaturesofWindowsServer2008
SomeofthekeyfeaturesthatWindowsServer2008offersinclude:- ServerCore:aminimalinstallationoptionthatreducestheattacksurfaceandresourceusageoftheserver.
- NetworkAccessProtection:aservicethatprovidespolicy-basednetworkaccesscontrol.
- ServerManager:anewtoolthatallowssystemadministratorstomanagemultipleserversfromasingleconsole.
- ActiveDirectoryImprovements:enhancementstotheactivedirectoryserviceincludingbetterauditing,granularpasswordpoliciesandread-onlydomaincontrollers.
- EnhancedSecurity:includingBitLockerDriveEncryption,firewallenhancementsandread-onlydomaincontrollers.
AdvantagesofWindowsServer2008
ThereareseveraladvantagesthatcomewithusingWindowsServer2008asyouroperatingsystemofchoice:- BetterSecurity:TheenhancedsecurityfeaturesinWindowsServer2008suchasBitLockerDriveEncryptionandfirewallenhancementsmakeitamoresecureoptioncomparedtoearlierversionsofWindows.
- EasyAdministration:ThenewServerManagertoolmakesiteasierforsystemadministratorstomanagemultipleserversfromoneconsole,reducingtheworkloadforITpersonnel.
- ImprovedStorageInfrastructure:WindowsServer2008includessupportforWindowsNASappliances,iSCSItargets,anddynamicdisksandvolumes,providingbusinesseswithamoreversatilestorageinfrastructure.
- IncreasedPerformance:ThenewServerCoreinstallationoptionreducestheattacksurfaceandresourceusageoftheserver,resultinginimprovedperformance.
- Cost-effective:WindowsServer2008providesacost-effectivesolutionforbusinessesofallsizes,allowingthemtoupgradetheirinfrastructurewhilestillstayingwithinbudget.