Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 is a server operating arrangement produced by Microsoft. It was appear to accomplishment (RTM) on July 22, 20092 and launched on October 22, 2009.3 According to the Windows Server Team blog, the retail availability was September 14, 2009.4 It is congenital on Windows NT 6.1, the aforementioned atom acclimated with the client-oriented Windows 7. It is the aboriginal 64-bit-only operating arrangement absolution from Microsoft. Adaptation enhancements cover new functionality for Active Directory, new virtualization and administration features, adaptation 7.5 of IIS (the Web server), and abutment for up to 2565 analytic processors.

There are seven editions: Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, HPC Server, Itanium and Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 (Essentials Edition).

History

Microsoft alien Windows Server 2008 R2 at the 2008 Professional Developers Conference as the server alternative of Windows 7.

On January 7, 2009, a beta absolution of Windows Server 2008 R2 was fabricated accessible to subscribers of Microsoft's TechNet and MSDN programs, as able-bodied as those accommodating in the Microsoft Connect affairs for Windows 7. Two canicule later, the beta was appear to the accessible via the Microsoft Download Center.6

On April 30, 2009, the absolution applicant was fabricated accessible to subscribers of Microsoft's TechNet and MSDN.7 On May 5, 2009, the absolution applicant was fabricated accessible to the accepted accessible via the Microsoft download center.8

According to Windows Server Division WebLog,9 the afterward are the dates of the year 2009 if Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 has been fabricated accessible to assorted administration channels:

OEMs accustomed Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM in English and all Language Packs on July 29. The actual languages were accessible about August 11.

ISV (Independent software vendor) and IHV (Independent accouterments vendor) ally accept been able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM from MSDN starting on August 14.

IT Professionals with TechNet Subscriptions were able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM and access artefact keys for in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish alpha August 14 and all actual languages alpha August 21.

Developers with MSDN Subscriptions accept been able to download and access artefact keys for Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish starting August 14 and all actual languages starting August 21.

Microsoft Partner Affairs Gold/Certified Members were able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM through the Microsoft Partner Affairs (MPP) Portal on August 19.

Volume Authorization (VL) barter with an absolute Software Assurance (SA) authorization were able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM on August 19 via the Volume Authorization Service Centermost (VLSC).

Volume Authorization barter after a Software Assurance (SA) authorization were able to acquirement Windows Server 2008 R2 through Volume Licensing by September 1.

Additionally, condoning acceptance accept been able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM Standard Edition in 15 languages from DreamSpark.10

Microsoft has appear that Server 2008 R2 will be the endure adaptation of Windows acknowledging the Itanium architecture.

New features

A analyst adviser appear by the aggregation describes several areas of advance in adaptation R2.11 These cover new virtualization capabilities (Live Migration, Cluster Shared Volumes application Failover Clustering and Hyper-V), bargain ability consumption, a new set of administration accoutrement and new Alive Directory capabilities such as a "recycle bin" for deleted AD objects. IIS 7.5 has been added to this absolution which aswell includes adapted FTP server services. Security enhancements cover the accession of DNSSEC abutment for DNS Server Service (note: even admitting DNSSEC as such is supported, alone one signature algorithm is available12 (#5 / RSA/SHA-1). Since abounding zones use a altered algorithm - including the basis breadth - this agency that in absoluteness Windows still can't serve as a recursive resolver) and encrypted clientless accurate VPN casework through DirectAccess for audience application Windows 7. The DHCP server supports a ample amount of enhancements 13 such as MAC address-based ascendancy filtering, converting alive leases into anxiety or Link Layer based filters, IPv4 abode exhaustionclarification bare at ambit levelclarification needed, DHCP Name aegis for non-Windows machines to anticipate name squatting, bigger achievement through advancing charter database caching, DHCP action logging, auto-population of assertive arrangement interface fields, a astrologer for split-scope configuration, DHCP Server role clearing application WSMT, abutment for DHCPv6 Option 15 (User Class) and Option 32 (Information Refresh Time). The DHCP server runs in the ambience of the Arrangement Service annual which has beneath privileges to abate abeyant accident if compromised.

Windows Server 2008 R2 supports up to 64 concrete processors 14 or up to 256 analytic processors per system. (Note:Only the Datacenter and Itanium editions can yield advantage of the adequacy of 64 concrete processors. Enterprise, the next-highest copy afterwards those two, can alone use 8.)15 If deployed in a book server role, new Book Classification Infrastructure casework acquiesce files to be stored on appointed servers in the action based on business allotment conventions, appliance to business processes and all-embracing accumulated policies.16

Server Core includes a subset of the .NET Framework, so that some applications (including ASP.NET web sites and Windows PowerShell 2.0) can be used.

Performance advance was a above breadth of focus for this release; Microsoft has declared that plan was done to abatement cossack time, advance the ability of I/O operations while application beneath processing power, and about advance the acceleration of accumulator devices, abnormally iSCSI.

Active Directory has several new appearance if adopting the backwoods and area anatomic levels17 to Windows Server 2008 R2. If adopting the area action level, two added appearance are Authentication Mechanism Assurance and Automatic SPN Management. If adopting the backwoods anatomic level, the Alive Directory recycle bin affection is accessible and can be enabled application the Alive Directory Module for Powershell.18

Service Packs

Service Pack 1

On February 9, 2011, Microsoft clearly appear the final absolution (RTM) of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) to OEM partners. Apart from bug fixes, it introduces two new above functions, RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory. RemoteFX enables the use of cartoon accouterments in adjustment to cover abutment for 3D cartoon in a Hyper-V based VM while Dynamic Memory makes it accessible for a VM to alone admeasure as abundant concrete RAM as is bare briefly for its execution. On February 16th Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 became accessible for MSDN and TechNet Subscribers as able-bodied as Volume License customers. As of February 22nd, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 is about accessible for download via the Microsoft Download Center and accessible on Windows Update. It has a adaptation amount of "6.1.7601.17514.101119-1850".19

System requirements

System requirements for Windows Server 2008 R2 are as follows:20

Processor

1.4 GHz x86-64 or Itanium 2 processor

Memory

Minimum:512 MB RAM (may absolute achievement and some features)

Recommended:2 GB RAM

Maximum: 8 GB RAM (Foundation), 32 GB RAM (Standard), or 2 TB RAM (Enterprise, Datacenter and Itanium-Based Systems)

Display

Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher

Disk Amplitude Requirements

Minimum (editions college than Foundation): 32 GB or more

Minimum (Foundation edition) 10 GB or more.

Computers with added than 16 GB of RAM crave added deejay amplitude for paging and dump files.20

Other

DVD drive, keyboard and mouse, Internet admission (Optional, but appropriate for updates and online activation)