One year on: Windows Server 2008

This week marks the one year anniversary of one of Microsoft’s most important releases – Windows Server 2008.

Before it arrived on 27 February 2008, it had been five long years since the release of the last major version of Windows Server. In a world that was moving on from simple client/server applications and with server clouds on the horizon, Windows Server 2003 was looking long in the tooth.

After a year of ‘Vista’ bashing, Microsoft needed its server project to be well received, just to relieve some pressure. After all, this time last year, the panacea of a well-received Windows 7 was still a long way off.

A new approach
Windows Server 2008 marked a new approach for Microsoft and offered up a number of new innovations. Perhaps the most significant was a move to a modular approach, whereby users could install the parts of the server than they needed, rather than the ‘kitchen sink’ approach that Microsoft was typically historically known for. This was most clearly represented by Server Core, which installed the bare minimum features and APIs – it didn’t even have a GUI.
This approach does mean that there is a lot to get to grips with for a system administrator who’s used to Windows Server 2003. To a large extent, it requires a shift in thinking – something that Gareth Hall, the UK product manager for Windows Server, was willing to admit. “The customer does need to learn another skill set, but it has helped having a good reputation for 2003.”
Hall revealed that a year on, Microsoft was happy with how things have panned out so far. “We’re pretty pleased with it and our customers are too,” he said. “It has been received positively, which we thought it would be judging from the initial reviews.”

Security, security, security
One of the biggest concerns that many potential customers had over the past few years was to do with security. But Hall was keen to report that things have gone smoothly in that area. “In terms of the product - the security - we’ve had no major challenges in that area.”
In terms of features there’s little argument that Microsoft hit all the right spots, such as a Core GUI only version, an enhanced and improved Internet Information Service with version 7, and enhanced security such as the Network Access Protection (NAP) that can quarantine any laptop that connects to a corporate network that’s not fully patched and up to date.
Perhaps the most attractive feature, though, is its integration with Microsoft’s virtualisation software Hyper-V. “Virtualisation is a huge growth area for us,” said Hall.

The problem for Windows Server has certainly not been one of perceived reliability, but rather of the amount of commitment required to move over.

“It’s a release with a reputation for being solid and very calm, and that’s a reputation that deserved,” added Honeyball. “The problem is that it’s a step change. Lots of people have been very happy with the Server 2003 and Exchange Server combination, but moving to Server 2008 is a bigger step than it was from moving from NT4 to 2000.”

Nathaniel Martinez, programme director for IDC’s European enterprise servers arm, agrees. “The biggest stumbling block of any version of Windows is the previous version. We’ve done a bit of research… and a lot of companies are looking to the second version.”

By second version, Martinez is referring to the Revision 2 – or the R2 release. This is based on Windows 7 code and though it’s being billed by Microsoft as a minor release it will bring some major enhancements with it. It will support up to 256 CPUs – up from a 64 limit, will be 64-bit only and on the Hyper-V side will offer Live Migration of virtual machines – a feature that was meant to be in Hyper-V originally but was dropped to ensure the product shipped on time.

Feature focus
One feature that Microsoft’s Hall is particularly looking forward to is a tie in to the Windows 7 client that will enable employees to access their files and folders remotely without having to use a VPN client – a feature called Direct Access.

“We’ve had a huge number of clients asking about connecting to internal company files,” he said. “We did this originally with Outlook Anywhere (from Exchange Server 2007) and now people want it for their files.”

Some also believe that Windows Server 2008 R2 will benefit from the ‘halo ‘effect surrounding the positive buzz around Windows 7. However, Honeyball believes that there won’t be a link between the client and server, and that companies and will take a much more pragmatic approach.

“Moving both client and server systems would be a huge undertaking,” he said. “You have to re-architecture networks and that’s not something that companies are going to do overnight.”

Mainsteam adoption around the corner?
Overall, with analysts echoing Microsoft’s view on the benefits of Windows Server 2008, a year down the line it looks as though the company has got this one right. And, even if enterprises haven’t moved to it on mass, when they do it will benefit both them and their employees, through cost savings and feature benefits for IT mangers and end users alike.
“Lots of people are doing interesting testing but those who have got, or have brought in the skills or are prepared to make the investments have seen great benefits,” added Honeyball.
“Some are taking advantage of the integrated telephony and unified communications features, but it’s not a simple step and some it requires investment – some of which is hardware.”
Companies shouldn’t be put off by the initial costs involved and should take a look at the long term return on investment (ROI) said Hall, adding: “What we’re finding is that once deployed a Windows Server 2008 is 20 to 30 per cent cheaper to manage – per day!”