Key features for the Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008 OS and their related technologies:

Server Management

  • Server Core: command‐line only install option for Windows Server 2008
  • Server Manager: New interface providing a single, centralized location for administration of roles and features
  • Windows PowerShell: powerful object‐based command shell with scripting capability

Web and Applications Platform

  • Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0: redesigned Web server with modular capability, improved performance and security, and refinements in remote deployment, extensibility, and administration
  • .NET Framework 3.0: Complete ASP.NET integration for IIS and no reliance on IIS Metabase
  • Windows Media Services: updated, available as separate download
  • Web Publishing: significant enhancements for Windows SharePoint Services (version 3.0 integrated) and FTP (encryption capability). FTP will also be available as a separate download at RTM

Remote Infrastructure (Branch Office)

  • Active Directory: enhancements including Read‐Only Domain Controller, Administrative Role Separation, Restartable Active Directory, and SYSVOL replication using DFS
  • Bitlocker Drive Encryption: hardware‐based OS and data volume encryption
  • Next‐generation TCP/IP stack provides faster network transfers and reduced packet loss
  • SMB 2.0 and Transactional File I/O: file sharing performance and restrictive constraints increased

Anywhere Application Access

  • Terminal Services Gateway: provides remote terminal server access through SSL, eliminating the need for VPNs or special firewall rules for RDP
  • Terminal Services Remote Programs: runs server‐based applications locally with zero footprint client installation
  • Terminal Services Web Access: Web‐based interface for both desktop (RDP) and application access

Security and Policy Enforcement

  • Secure Wireless LAN: native encryption and policy objects to control wireless network access
  • Network Access Protection: client health validation with the ability to quarantine non‐compliant devices
  • Multiple security enhancements to Active Directory and Certificate Services

Server Virtualization

  • New virtualization technologies (available post‐RTM) will allow customers to consolidate servers, create more flexible test environments, and increase uptime and disaster recovery time
  • Hypervisor provides virtual machine (VM) hardware access without the need for emulation, greatly improving performance and portability
  • VMs can be run on Server Core, reducing resource contention by removing nonessential service components

High Availability

  • Failover Clustering: next‐generation cluster solution simplifies setup, troubleshooting, and administration
  • Also includes multiple quorum models and geographically dispersed cluster support