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Solid Foundation for Enterprise Workloads

Windows Server 2008 R2 has been designed as a best-of-breed enterprise operating platform, capable of handling the most demanding data center workloads and delivering the latest next-gen network productivity experience to end-users across even the largest networks. To address these challenges, Microsoft has designed Windows Server 2008 R2 with several new feature categories in mind, to not only enhance the clustering that Windows Server 2008 provides, but extend this into brand new scenarios.

Increased Availability for Virtual Data Centers

One of the most important aspects of any data center is providing the highest possible availability for systems and applications. Virtual data centers are no exception to the need for consolidation, high availability and most of all sophisticated management tools.

Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2 includes the Live Migration feature, which allows you to move a virtual machine between two virtualization host servers without any interruption of service. The users connected to the virtual machine being moved might notice only a slight slowing in performance for a few moments. Otherwise, they will be unaware that the virtual machine was moved from one physical computer to another.

Live Migration Support through Cluster Shared Volumes

Live Migration uses the new Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV) feature within Failover Clustering in Windows Server 2008 R2. The CSV volumes enable multiple nodes in the same failover cluster to concurrently access the same logical unit number (LUN).

While CSVs are currently employed mainly for Live Migration, their benefits will extend beyond that single scenario. For one, they’re easy to configure using simple NTFS rather than some other proprietary format. That means administrators won’t have to reformat their SANs to take advantage of CSVs. It also means administrators will have an easier time showing users only a single data repository rather than a small forest of silos—no more drive letter metaphors for end-users just convenient networked storage. And last, CSVs don’t require config and management tools of their own. Windows Server administrators used to the tools in Windows Server 2008 can continue using those same consoles and they’ll simply work with CSVs in R2.

Improved Cluster Node Connectivity Fault Tolerance

Because of the architecture of CSV, there is improved cluster node connectivity fault tolerance that directly affects VMs running on the cluster. The CSV architecture implements a mechanism, known as dynamic I/O redirection, where I/O can be rerouted within the failover cluster based on connection availability.

Enhanced Cluster Validation Tool

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a Best Practices Analyzer (BPA) for all major server roles, including Failover Clustering. This analyzer examines the best practices configuration settings for a cluster and cluster nodes.

Improved Migration of Cluster Workloads

Administrators can migrate cluster workloads currently running on Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2008 R2. The migration process:

  • Supports every workload currently supported on Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, including DFS-N, DHCP, DTC, File Server, Generic Application, Generic Script, Generic Service, iSNS, MSMS, NFS, Other Server, TSSB, and WINS.

  • Supports most common network configurations.

New Efficiency

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