Compare Features

New and Updated Features in Windows Server 2008

In the table below is a summarized version of all new and updated features for Windows Server 2008 and which edition they are supported on. For a detailed overview of these features, please visit the Why Upgrade page.

KEY:

= Not Available

= Available

New/Updated Features

Enterprise

Datacenter

Standard

Foundation

Web

Itanium

HPC

License Requirements

NEW: AD Rights Management Services (RMS)

Covered by server license, but incremental RMS CALs required, similar to Terminal Services.

NEW: Cryptography Next Generation (CNG)

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

NEW: Group Policy Preferences

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

NEW: Hyper-V

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.*

NEW: Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

NEW: Network Access Protection (NAP)

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

NEW: Read Only Domain Controllers (RODC)

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

NEW: Server Core

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

NEW: Server Manager

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

NEW: Terminal Services Gateway and RemoteApp

Covered by server license, but incremental TS CALs required, similar to AD Rights Management Services.

NEW: Windows Deployment Services (WDS)

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

*Windows Server 2008 Datacenter allows for running an unlimited number of virtual instances per server license. Windows Server 2008 Enterprise allows four simultaneous virtual instances per server license.

Enhancements

Enterprise

Datacenter

Standard

Web

Itanium

HPC

License Requirements

Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

Active Directory Federation Services enhancements

Covered by server license, but may require additional licensing based on use.

DNS Server enhancements

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

Failover Clustering enhancements

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

Network Load Balancing enhancements

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

Windows Server Backup enhancements

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

Windows Reliability and Performance Monitor enhancements

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

TCP/IP Stack enhancements

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

Windows Firewall with Advanced Security enhancements

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

Terminal Services enhancements

Covered by server license, but incremental TS CALs required, similar to AD Rights Management Services.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) enhancements

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

Windows Media Services enhancements

Covered by server license. No incremental licensing requirements.

More Editions Information

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