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Server Management

Windows Server 2008 introduces several new features that make deploying and managing servers easier. For administration of a single server, Server Manager is a new, integrated Microsoft Management Console (MMC) that offers a seamless, integrated management experience. In larger enterprises, management of multiple servers can be automated using Windows PowerShell, which consists of a new command-line shell and scripting language designed specifically to automate administration tasks for server roles, such as Internet Information Services (IIS) and Active Directory. Any organization can benefit from Windows Deployment Services and Windows Performance and Reliability Monitor.

Server Manager

The new Server Manager console in Windows Server 2008 eases the task of managing and securing multiple server roles in an enterprise. Server Manager guides administrators through the process of installing, configuring, and managing server roles and features that are part of Windows Server 2008. In Windows Server 2008, a server role describes the primary function of the server.

Server Management

Server Manager replaces several features included with Windows Server 2003, including Manage Your Server, Configure Your Server, and Add or Remove Windows Components. Server Manager also eliminates the requirement that administrators run the Security Configuration Wizard before deploying servers—server roles are configured with recommended security settings by default and are ready to deploy as soon as they are installed and properly configured.

Learn more

Windows PowerShell

Windows PowerShell is a new command-line shell and scripting language that helps IT professionals achieve greater productivity and control system administration more easily. Windows PowerShell accelerates automation of system administration tasks and can help improve your organization’s ability to address the unique system-management problems of your server environment.

Windows PowerShell is easy to adopt, learn, and use because it does not require a background in programming, and it works with your existing IT infrastructure, existing scripts, and existing command-line tools. Unlike most shells which accept and return text, Windows PowerShell is built on top of the .NET common language runtime (CLR) and the .NET Framework, accepting and returning .NET objects. This fundamental change in the environment brings entirely new tools and methods to the management and configuration of Windows.

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Windows Deployment Services

Windows Deployment Services, the updated and redesigned version of Remote Installation Services (RIS), is a suite of components that work together on Windows Server 2008 to enable the deployment of Windows operating systems, particularly Windows Vista. Windows Deployment Services assists with the rapid adoption and deployment of Windows operating systems. You can use it to set up new computers by using a network-based installation. This means that you do not have to be physically present at each computer, and you do not have to install directly from a CD or DVD. You can also use Windows Deployment Services to repurpose existing computers.

Learn more at the WDS Technology Center.

Windows Reliability and Performance Monitor

Windows Server 2008 includes Windows Reliability and Performance Monitor, which provides IT professionals with tools to monitor and assess system performance and reliability. Windows Reliability and Performance Monitor is an MMC snap-in that combines the functionality of previous stand-alone tools, including Performance Logs and Alerts, Server Performance Advisor, and System Monitor. It provides a graphical interface for customizing performance data collection and Event Trace sessions. It also includes Reliability Monitor, an MMC snap-in that tracks changes to the system and compares them to changes in system stability, providing a graphical view of their relationship.

Learn more at the Performance and Reliability Monitoring Center.

What’s new in Windows Server 2008 R2?

  • Improved Data Center Power Consumption Management

    With the proliferation of physical computers in data centers, power consumption is of paramount importance. In addition to the cost-saving associated with reducing power consumption, many data centers are constrained by the number of computers they can support in their data center by the actual power available to the data center. Therefore reducing your power consumption also allows you to support more physical computers while using the same amount of power, or less power, than before.

    • Reduced multicore processor power consumption

      Windows Server 2008 R2 reduces processor power consumption in server computers with multicore processors by using a feature known as Core Parking. The Core Parking feature allows Windows Server 2008 R2 to consolidate processing onto the fewest number of possible processor cores, and suspends inactive processor cores.

    • Reduced processor power consumption by adjusting processor speed

      Windows Server 2008 R2 has the ability to adjust the ACPI “P-states” of processors and subsequently adjust server power consumption. ACPI “P-states” are the processor performance states within the ACPI specification. Depending on the processor architecture, Windows Server 2008 R2 can adjust the “P-states” of individual processors and provide very fine control over power consumption.

    • Reduced storage power consumption

      Another key method for reducing power in data centers is by centralizing the storage, typically by using a Storage Area Network (SAN). Because SANs tend to have higher-capacity drives for the same amount of power consumption, the storage capacity–to–power consumption ratio in a SAN is higher than in a typical server computer. SANs also make more efficient use of the available disk space, as any server can have access to the available storage on the SAN.

  • Improved remote administration

    Remote administration of server computers is essential to any efficient data center. It is very rare that server computers are administered locally. Windows Server 2008 R2 introduces a number of improvements in remote administration, including the following:

    • Improved remote management through graphical management consoles

      Server Manager has been updated to allow remote administration of servers. In addition, many of the management consoles have improved integration with Server Manager and, as a result, support remote management scenarios.

    • Improved remote management from command-line and automated scripts

      PowerShell version 2.0 offers a number of improvements for remote management scenarios. These improvements allow you to run scripts on one or more remote computers or to allow multiple IT professionals to simultaneously run scripts on a single computer.

  • Reduced administrative effort for administrative tasks performed interactively

    Reducing administrative effort for day-to-day administrative tasks is another key design goal for Windows Server 2008 R2. Many of the management consoles used to manage Windows Server 2008 R2 have been updated or completely redesigned to help reduce your administrative effort. Some of the prominent updated and redesigned management consoles are listed in the following table with descriptions of the improvements.

  • Enhanced command-line and automated management by using PowerShell version 2.0


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    The PowerShell 1.0 scripting environment was shipped with Windows Server 2008 RTM. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes PowerShell 2.0, which offers a number of improvements over version 1.0, including the following:

    • Improved remote management by using PowerShell remoting.

    • Improved security for management data, including state and configuration information, by using constrained runspaces.

    • Enhanced GUIs for creating and debugging PowerShell scripts and viewing PowerShell script output by using Graphical PowerShell and the Out-GridView cmdlet.

    • Extended scripting functionality that supports creation of more powerful scripts with less development effort.

    • Improved portability of PowerShell scripts and cmdlets between multiple computers.

  • Improved Identity Management

    • Identity management has always been one of the critical management tasks for Windows-based networks. The implications of a poorly managed identity managed system are one of the largest security concerns for any organization.

    • Windows Server 2008 R2 includes identity management improvements in the Active Directory Domain Services and Active Directory Federated Services server roles.

      For more information visit the Windows Server 2008 IDA site