Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet, designed to power the next-generation of networks, applications, and Web services. With Windows Server 2008 your customers can develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications, provide a secure network infrastructure, and increase technological efficiency and value within their organisation.
Windows Server 2008 builds on the success and strengths of its Windows Server predecessors while delivering valuable new functionality and powerful improvements to the base operating system. New web tools, virtualisation technologies, security enhancements, and management utilities help save time, reduce costs, and provide a solid foundation for your customers IT infrastructure.
Server 2008 is Built for the Web
Windows Server 2008 comes with Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7), a Web server and security-enhanced, easy-to-manage platform for developing and reliably hosting Web applications and services. A major enhancement to the Windows Web platform, IIS7 includes a componentised architecture for greater flexibility and control.
Internet Information Server IIS7 together with the .NET Framework 3.0 provide a comprehensive platform for building applications that connect users and data, enabling them to visualise, share, and act on information. Additionally, IIS7 plays a central role in unifying Microsoft's Web platform technologies - ASP.NET, Windows Communication Foundation Web services, and Windows SharePoint Services.
Server 2008 has Virtualisation Built In
Microsoft Windows Server Hyper-V, the next-generation Hypervisor-based server virtualisation technology, allows your customers to make the best use of their server hardware investments by consolidating multiple server roles as separate virtual machines running on a single physical machine. Your customers can also efficiently run multiple operating systems in parallel on a single server. With virtualisation built into the Windows Server 2008 operating system and simple licensing policies, it's now easier than ever to take advantage of the cost savings of virtualisation.
Applications can also be efficiently virtualised using Windows Server 2008 centralised application access technologies. Terminal Services Gateway and Terminal Services RemoteApp allow easy remote access to standard Windows-based programs from anywhere by running them on a terminal server instead of directly on a client PC - without the need for a complicated VPN.
Server 2008 enables maximum security
Windows Server 2008 is the most secure Windows Server yet. The operating system has been hardened to protect against failure and several new technologies help prevent unauthorised connections to your customers networks, servers, data, and user accounts. Network Access Protection (NAP) helps ensure that PCs trying to connect to your customer's network comply with their organisation's security policy. Technology integration and several enhancements make Active Directory services a potent unified and integrated Identify and Access (IDA) solution. And Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC) and BitLocker Drive Encryption allows more secure deploy their AD database at branch and office locations.
Server 2008 offers a solid foundation for business workloads
Windows Server 2008 provides a solid foundation for all of your customer's server workload and application requirements, while being easy to deploy and manage. The all-new Server Manager provides a unified management console that simplifies and streamlines server setup, configuration, and ongoing management. Windows PowerShell, a new command-line shell, enables administrators to automate routine system administration tasks across multiple servers. Windows Deployment Services provides a simplified, secure means of rapidly deploying the Operating System via network-based installations. And Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering wizards, and full IPv6 support plus consolidated management of Network Load Balancing, make high availability easy to implement even by IT generalists.
Finally, the new Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 allows for installation of server roles with only the necessary components and subsystems without a graphical user interface. Fewer roles and features means minimising disk and service footprints while reducing attack surfaces. It also enables IT staff to specialise according to the server roles they need to support.