Windows Server supports the core infrastructure services required to run your network. As Windows Server has matured, so have the included roles and features. Windows Server 2008 maintains and enhances the core infrastructure services that have always been part of Windows Server, providing a solid foundation for your business:
File and Print Services
File and print services have been enhanced in Windows Server 2008 to allow better file management and improved print support. The new TCP/IP stack increases that transfer speed between Windows Server 2008 and client systems running Windows Vista and Windows XP Service Pack 2. Distributed File System for Replication (DFS-R) is included to optimize the network load when working with branch office and remote locations.
Windows Server 2008 includes the Print Management Console (PMC) Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that enables you to install, view, and manage all of the printers in your organization from any computer running Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2008 operating systems. The printer subsystem includes a new printer architecture that provides users with better printer and print server performance, and provides a new foundation for future applications.
To learn more, please visit the Windows Server 2008 Storage and Print Solutions page.
Internet Information Server 7 (IIS 7.0)
Internet Information Server 7 (IIS 7.0) enhances the application support that was found in IIS 6.0 by providing a security-enhanced, easy-to-manage platform for developing and reliably hosting Web sites, applications, and services. Improvements include:
More efficient management of server and Web applications and services.
Quicker deployment/configuration of Web applications and services across server farms.
A more secure, streamlined, and customized Web platform.
Greater performance and scalability of Web applications and services.
Fine control and visibility into how and when applications and services utilize key operating system resources.
To learn more, please visit the Windows Server 2008 Web and Application Platform page.
Domain Name System (DNS)
Domain Name System (DNS) is a system for naming computers and network services that is organized into a hierarchy of domains. TCP/IP networks, such as the Internet, use DNS to locate computers and services through user-friendly names. A user-friendly name is easier to learn and remember than the numeric addresses that computers use to communicate over a network.
Windows Server 2008 now supports Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) addressing, as well as background zone loading, which allow the server to respond more quickly to clients. For organizations that do not deploy WINS, but use a single label DNS name suffix, a GlobalNames zone can be used to resolve the single label suffixes. For organizations that deploy Read-Only Domain Controllers (RODCs), Windows Server 2008 can create a primary read-only zone on a DNS server running on the RODC.
Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP)
DHCP in Windows Server 2008 has been enhanced to support IPv6 as well as Network Access Protection (NAP). Clients that use the longer IPv6 addresses are fully supported by the Windows Server 2008 DHCP server. When using NAP, the DHCP server can issue a limited IP address to clients that do not meet the NAP policy requirements. Whenever a client attempts to renew the IP lease, the health policy is reviewed and enforced.
Windows Internet Name Service (WINS)
WINS is not a required name resolution protocol in Windows Server 2008, but it is still supported as a network service. If you want to use WINS within your network, you will have to add it as a feature within Windows Server 2008.
Active Directory (AD)
Several enhancements have been made to the Active Directory offerings within Windows Server 2008. The improvements increase the support and security of an Active Directory-based network. Active Directory support has been enhanced and extended to include:
Active Directory Domain Services.
Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services.
Active Directory Certificate Services.
Active Directory Federation Services.
Active Directory Rights Management Services.
To learn more, please visit the Windows Server 2008 Identity and Access Management page.
Backup and Recovery—Windows Server Backup
Windows Server Backup provides a basic backup and recovery solution for the server it is installed on. You can also use this feature to manage backups on remote servers. The new version of Windows Server Backup in Windows Server 2008 includes several enhancements over previous versions:
Faster backups
Simplified restores
Simplified recovery of operating systems
Ability to recover applications
Improved scheduling
Easy removal of backups offsite for disaster protection
Remote administration
Automatic disk usage management
Extensive command-line support
Support for DVD media
To learn more, please visit the Windows Server 2008 Storage and Print Solutions page.
Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
The Windows Deployment Services role in Windows Server 2008 is the updated and redesigned version of Remote Installation Services (RIS). Windows Deployment Services enables you to efficiently deploy Windows operating systems, particularly Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Enhancements include:
Ability to transmit data and images using multicast deployment.
Ability to transmit data and images using multicast on a standalone server.
Does not support RISETUP images or OSChooser screens.
Enhanced TFTP server.
Ability to network boot x64-based computers with Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI).
Metric reporting for installations.
Ability to deploy Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
Windows PE is the boot operating system.
Image-based installation using Windows image (.wim) files.
An extensible and higher-performing Pre-Boot eXecution Environment (PXE) server.
A new boot menu format for selecting boot images.
A new graphical user interface that you can use to select and deploy images and to manage Windows Deployment Services servers and clients.
Windows System Resource Manager (WSRM)
Windows System Resource Manager (WSRM) is a Windows Server operating system administrative tool that can control how CPU and memory resources are allocated. Managing resource allocation improves system performance and reduces the risk that applications, services, or processes will interfere with each other to reduce server efficiency and system response.
Wireless
Windows Server 2008 has interesting new features to support 802.1X authenticated wired 802.3 Ethernet connections and 802.11 wireless connections for clients running Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. These features enable you to use Group Policy to configure settings on multiple domain-member clients running Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 so that they can connect to an 802.1X Ethernet network. As an alternative to Group Policy-based client configuration for 802.1X wired and wireless network access, you can now use wired Netsh (Netsh lan) commands and wireless Netsh (Netsh wlan) commands in logon scripts. Additionally, Windows Server 2008 provides more configuration options. Administrators can now configure multiple profiles to connect to one wireless network, using a common Service Set Identifier, but with each profile specifying unique security properties.
Network Load Balancing (NLB)
In Windows Server 2008, the improvements to Network Load Balancing (NLB) include support for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) 6.0, Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) enhancements, and improved functionality with Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server. Enhancements include:
To learn more, please visit the Windows Server 2008 High Availability page.
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) Server Extensions allow a server to receive files uploaded by clients using BITS. BITS allows client computers to transfer files in the foreground or background asynchronously, preserve the responsiveness of other network applications, and resume file transfers after network failures and computer restarts.
Telnet
Telnet Server allows remote users, including those running UNIX-based operating systems, to perform command-line administration tasks and run programs by using a telnet client.
To learn more, please visit the Windows Server 2008 Support for Unix page.
Services For NFS
Services for Network File System (NFS) provide a file sharing solution for enterprises that have a mixed Windows and UNIX environment. With Services for NFS, you can transfer files between computers running the Windows Server 2008 operating system and the UNIX operating system using the NFS protocol. Enhancements to NFS in Windows Server 2008 include:
To learn more, please visit the Windows Server 2008 Support for Unix page.
