Windows 2008 notes

Current notes about Windows 2008 status that I found worth noting:

Terminal Services functionality gets much better:

• Terminal Services Gateway (TSG) which lets you connect to a TSG and from there to other services. This takes away one, not all, reason to use G/On.
• New kind of RDP over SSL. Newer XP and 2003 RDP clients will be able to use this.
• Remote Programs, which can be placed on your desktop, running on a remote server over RDP. Takes away one, not all, reason to use Citrix.

Server Core is the ability to install a Windows 2008 server without a gui, or in fact a very limited gui. This is interesting, especially for a Unix server administrator like myself.

• Server Core does not have .NET.
• Server Core can not use Windows PowerShell functionality as that is .NET based!
• Server Core can not yet be bought at a speciel license, it is an option.
• Server Core can run IIS, but not with .NET.
• Server Core can run DHCP, DNS, WINS, file and printer server.
• Server Core can not run Exchange 2007 or SQL server 2005.
• Server Core is managed from the command window, which means command line.
• Server Core can be GUI adminstrated with MMC from a full blown Windows 2008.

64 bit is here, get used to it! 64 bit considered default for Windows server 2008 installation!

• 64 bit makes real use of RAM above 4 GB, the space can now be 16 TB.
• Windows 2008 will be the last Windows server edition to support 32 bit hardware!

Active Directory now called Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS), introduces some new features.

• Read Only Domain Controllers (RODC) and read/write Domain Controllers, insted of all domain contollers of since Windows 2000 and 2003 was read/write.
• Active Directory snapshot, which you can load, browse and compare. No need to install a seperate Domain Controller.
• Fine grained password policies for people inside same domain. Try run adsiedit.msc.

In Windows 2008 version of Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) has a Find command for searching the GPOs :-)