Introduction to Windows Server 2008 R2

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, built with Web and virtualization technologies, is the most robust, secure, and reliable foundation on which to develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications.

Overview

Windows Server 2008 R2, builds on the award-winning foundation of Windows Server 2008, expanding existing technology and adding new features to enable IT professionals to increase the reliability and flexibility of their server infrastructures. New virtualization tools, Web resources, management enhancements, and exciting Windows 7 integration help save time, reduce costs, and provide a platform for a dynamic and efficiently managed data center. Powerful tools such as Internet Information Services (IIS) version 7.0, updated Server Manager and Hyper-V™ platforms and Windows PowerShell version 2.0 combine to give customers greater control, increased efficiency and the ability to react to front-line business needs faster than ever before.

Using this Guide

This guide is designed to provide you with a technical overview of the new and improved features in Windows Server 2008 R2. The following figure outlines the technology investments areas of Windows Server 2008 R2:

Figure 1: Windows Server 2008 R2 technology investments

The key technology investments in Windows Server 2008 R2 include:

Virtualization. With its server virtualization technology, Windows Server 2008 R2 enables you to reduce costs, increase hardware utilization, optimize your infrastructure, and improve server availability.

Management. Windows Server 2008 R2 reduces the amount of effort you expend managing your physical and virtual data centers by providing enhanced management consoles and automation for repetitive day-to-day administrative tasks.

Web. Windows Server 2008 R2 gives you the ability to deliver rich Web-based experiences efficiently and effectively, with improved administration and diagnostics, development and application tools, and lower infrastructure costs.

Scalability and Reliability. With enterprise IT departments shouldering ever-heavier burdens, Windows Server 2008 R2 has been designed specifically with heavier workloads for both across server and client computing. On the server side, R2 includes architectural enhancements for more compute power and role componentization as well as specific features enhancing reliability and security.

Better Together With Windows 7. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes technology improvements designed with Windows 7 enterprise users in mind, augmenting the network experience, security and manageability.

As you read each section, you can identify which Windows Server 2008 R2 features and capabilities will help you create solutions for your organization. You can also see how Windows Server 2008 R2 can help you manage and protect your existing solutions.

Getting Started

To evaluate Windows Server 2008 R2, you need to install Windows Server 2008 R2 in your test or evaluation environment. After you install Windows Server 2008 R2, you can use this guide to help you explore the key technology investments for yourself.

System Requirements

Before you install Windows Server 2008 R2, you need to ensure that the physical or virtual computer being used in your evaluation has the appropriate system resources. The following table lists the system requirements for Windows Server 2008 R2.

Table 11: Window Server 2008 R2 System Requirements

Component	Requirement
Processor	• Minimum: 1.4GHz x64 processor • Recommended: 2GHz or faster
Memory	• Minimum: 512MB RAM • Recommended: 2GB RAM or greater • Maximum 32GB (Standard) or 2TB (Enterprise and Datacenter Edtions)
Available Disk Space	• Minimum: 10GB • Recommended: 40GB or greater Note: Computers with more than 16GB of RAM will require more disk space for paging, hibernation, and dump files
Drive	DVD-ROM drive
Display and Peripherals	• Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution monitor • Keyboard • Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

The actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration and the applications and features you choose to install. Processor performance is dependent upon not only the clock frequency of the processor, but also the number of cores and the size of the processor cache. Disk space requirements for the system partition are approximate. Additional available hard-disk space may be required if you are installing over a network.

Installation and Activation

This pre-beta release of Windows Server 2008 R2 is intended for evaluation and deployment planning purposes only. If you plan to install this release of Windows Server 2008 R2 on your primary machine, it is recommended that you back up your existing data prior to installation.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Installation

Prior to installation of Windows Server 2008 R2, you need to determine if you will deploy Windows Server 2008 R2 in a physical environment or a virtual environment. If you are installing Windows Server 2008 R2 in a physical environment, all you need is the Windows Server 2008 R2 distribution media.

To install this release of Windows Server 2008 R2, perform the following steps:

Start the physical computer with the Windows Server 2008 R2 distribution media, by inserting the distribution media into the computer’s DVD-ROM drive.

For a virtual machine, mount the .iso file image of the Windows Server 2008 R2 distribution media on the virtual machine and then start the virtual machine.

Note: Ensure that you configure the virtual machine to support x64 processors because Windows Server 2008 R2 is only supported on x64 processors.

On the Install Windows page of the installation process (as illustrated in the following figure), select the appropriate language, time and currency format, and keyboard, and then click Next.

On the Select the operating system you want to select Full Installation, and then click Next.

Figure 2: Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system installation options

Notice that Windows Server 2008 R2 is now available only over a 64-bit processor architecture. Although you can install Windows Server 2008 R2 by using the Full Installation or Server Core Installation option, this guide assumes that you select the Full Installation option.

Note: After you have completed your installation, you cannot change the installation option from the Full Installation option to the Server Core installation, or vice versa, without reinstalling Windows Server 2008 R2.

The Windows Server 2008 R2 installation process continues until Windows Server 2008 R2 starts for the first time.

After Windows Server 2008 R2 starts, log on as a user that is a member of the local Administrators group.

Add, partition, and format any additional disks you require for your evaluation.

Add any additional network adapters that you require for your evaluation.

Configure the IP addressing settings for all network adapters to allow the appropriate connectivity within your environment.

Note: Ensure that you provide statically configured IP version 4 (IPv4) and IP version 6 (IPv6) addresses as required for your evaluation. Do not use IP addresses that are dynamically assigned by Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

Add the appropriate Windows Server 2008 R2 server roles and features by using Server Manager.

Configure each server role and feature as required for your evaluation.

Start your evaluation of Windows Server 2008 R2.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Activation

Evaluating this early release of Windows Server 2008 R2 software does not require product activation or entering a product key. This release of Windows Server 2008 R2 may be installed without activation and evaluated for an initial 60 days.

Virtualization

Virtualization is a major part of today’s data centers. The operating efficiencies offered by virtualization allow organizations to dramatically reduce operational effort and power consumption.

Windows Server 2008 R2 provides the following virtualization types:

Client and Server virtualization provided by Hyper-V™. Hyper-V™ virtualizes the system resources of a physical computer. Computer virtualization allows you to provide a virtualized environment for operating systems and applications. When used alone, Hyper-V™ is typically used for server computer virtualization. When Hyper-V™ is used in conjunction with Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Hyper-V™ is used for client computer virtualization.

Presentation virtualization. This type of virtualization provided by TS RemoteApp virtualizes a processing environment and isolates the processing from the graphics and I/O, making it possible to run an application in one location but have it be controlled in another. Presentation virtualization allows end users to run a single application, ora complete desktop offering multiple applications.

Note: There are other types of virtualization that are not discussed in this guide, such as application virtualization provided by Microsoft App-V. For more information on all Microsoft virtualization products and technologies, see the Microsoft Virtualization home page at http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization/default.mspx.

Improved Computer Virtualization with Hyper-V™

Beginning with Windows Server 2008, computer virtualization using Hyper-V™ technology has been an integral part of the operating system. A new version of Hyper-V™, Hyper-V™, is included as a part of Windows Server 2008 R2.

Hyper-V™ includes many improvements for creating dynamic virtual data centers, including:

Increased availability for virtualized data centers

Improved management of virtualized data centers

A simplified method for physical and virtual computer deployments by using .vhd files

Increased Availability for Virtual Data Centers

One of the most important aspects of any data center is providing the highest possible availability for systems and applications. Virtual data centers are no exception to the need for consolidation, high availability and most of all sophisticated management tools.

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes the much-anticipated Live Migration feature, which allows you to move a virtual machine between two computers running Hyper-V™ without any interruption of service. The users connected to the virtual machine being moved will notice only a slight drop in performance for a few moments. Otherwise, they will be unaware that the virtual machine was moved from one physical computer to another.

Live Migration Support through Cluster Shared Volumes

Live Migration uses the new Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV) feature within Failover Clustering in Windows Server 2008 R2. The CSV volumes enable multiple nodes in the same failover cluster to concurrently access the same logical unit number (LUN). From a VM’s perspective, each VM appears to actually own a LUN; however, the .vhd files for each VM are stored on the same CSV volume, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 4: Cluster Shared Volumes

Because CSV provides a consistent file namespace to all nodes in the cluster, any files stored on a CSV have the same name and path from any node in the cluster. CSV volumes are stored as directories and subdirectories beneath the ClusterStorage root folder, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 2: Example of single namespace in CSV

As illustrated in the previous figure, the CSV volumes (Volume1, Volume2, and Volume3) are stored in the ClusterStorage folder. If the ClusterStorage folder exists in the root of E:, the fully qualified path to each of the CSV volumes would be as follows:

E:\ClusterStorage\Volume1\root

E:\ClusterStorage\Volume2\root

E:\ClusterStorage\Volume3\root

All cluster nodes would access the shared volumes by using these fully qualified paths.

Note: Currently, CSV volumes can only be used for the Live Migration feature.

Improved Cluster Node Connectivity Fault Tolerance

Because of the architecture of CSV, there is improved cluster node connectivity fault tolerance that directly affects VMs running on the cluster. The CSV architecture implements a mechanism, known as dynamic I/O redirection, where I/O can be rerouted within the failover cluster based on connection availability, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 5: Dynamic IO redirection for Cluster Shared Volumes

The first type of failure that can be redirected is the failure of a cluster node connection to the shared storage between cluster nodes, typically on a Storage Area Network (SAN). As shown in the following figure, if the SAN connection on Node 2 fails, the I/O operations are redirected over the network to Node 1. Node 1 then performs the I/O operation to the SAN. This allows you do a Live Migration of the VM running on Node 2 to Node 1.

Figure 6: IO connectivity fault tolerance for CSV

The next type of failure that can be redirected is the failure of network connectivity for a cluster node. As shown in the following figure, the primary network connection between Node 1 and Node 2 fails. Node 2 automatically reroutes network traffic over a redundant network connection and Node 1 performs the network I/O.

Figure 7: Network fault tolerance for CSV

The next type of failure that can be redirected is the failure of an entire cluster node. As shown in the following figure, Node 1 has ownership of a volume that is used by the VM running on Node 2. In the event of a complete failure of Node 1, ownership of the volume is changed to Node 2 without any interruption of service to the VM running on Node 2.

Figure 8: Node fault tolerance for CSV

Enhanced Cluster Validation Tool

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a Best Practices Analyzer (BPA) for all major server roles, including Failover Clustering. This analyzer examines the best practices configuration settings for a cluster and cluster nodes. The test runs only on computers that are currently cluster nodes.

Improved Migration of Cluster Workloads

You can migrate cluster workloads currently running on Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2008 R2. The migration process:

Supports every workload currently supported on Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, including DFS-N, DHCP, DTC, File Server, Generic Application, Generic Script, Generic Service, iSNS, MSMS, NFS, Other Server, TSSB, and WINS.

Supports most common network configurations.

Does not support rolling upgrades of clusters. (Cluster workloads must be migrated to a new cluster running Windows Server 2008 R2.)

Integration of Live Migration and Failover Clustering

Live Migration requires failover clustering in Windows Server 2008 R2. Specifically, Live Migration uses the Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV) feature in failover clustering in Windows Server 2008 R2.

The following are the requirements for performing Live Migration with a failover cluster:

Live Migration can only be performed between cluster nodes within the same failover cluster. (Virtual machines can only be moved between cluster nodes.)

Hyper-V™ must be running on the cluster nodes in the failover cluster and have access to the same set of CSVs.

The .vhd files for the virtual machines to be moved by Live Migration must be stored on the CSVs.

The following figure illustrates a typical Hyper-V™ and failover cluster configuration for supporting Live Migration.

Figure 93: Typical configuration to support Live Migration

Live Migration Process

The Live Migration process is performed in the following steps:

An administrator initiates a Live Migration between the source and target cluster node.

A duplicate virtual machine is created on the target cluster node, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 10: Creation of target virtual machine on target cluster node

All of the current memory in the source virtual machine is copied to the target virtual machine, as illustrated in the previous figure.

Clients connected to the source virtual machine continue to run on the source virtual machine and create dirty memory pages as illustrated in the following figure.

The dirty memory pages are tracked and continue an iterative copy of the dirty memory pages until all memory pages are copied to the target virtual machine, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 11: Iterative copy of dirty memory from source to target virtual machine

When all memory pages are copied to the target virtual machine, clients are automatically redirected to the target virtual machine and the source virtual machine is deleted, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 12: Final configuration after Live Migration completes

Improved Management of Virtual Data Centers

Even with all the efficiency gained from virtualization, virtual machines still need to be managed. The number of virtual machines tends to proliferate much faster than physical computers because machines typically do not require a hardware acquisition. Therefore, management of virtual data centers is even more imperative than ever before.

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes the following improvements that will help you manage your virtual data center:

Reduced effort for performing day-to-day Hyper-V™ administrative tasks by using the Hyper-V™ Management Console. As illustrated below, the Hyper-V™ Management Console has been updated to reduce the amount of effort required to perform common day-to-day administrative tasks.

Enhanced command-line interface and automated management of Hyper-V™ administrative tasks by using PowerShell cmdlets.

Improved management of multiple Hyper-V™ servers in a virtual data center environment by using System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008. For more information on System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008, see “Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager” at http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/virtualmachinemanager/en/us/default.aspx.

Simplified Method for Physical and Virtual Computer Deployments

Historically, different methods have been used to deploy operating systems and applications to physical and virtual computers. For virtual computers, the .vhd file format has become a de facto standard for deploying and interchanging preconfigured operating systems and applications.

Windows Server 2008 R2 also supports the ability to boot a computer from a .vhd file stored on a local hard disk. This allows you to use preconfigured .vhd files for deploying virtual and physical computers. This helps reduce the number of images you need to manage and provides an easier method for test deployment prior to deployment in your production environment.

Terminal Services Focuses on Presentation Virtualization

Terminal Services (TS) is one of the most widely used features in previous versions of Windows Server. Terminal Services makes it possible to remotely run an application in one location but have it be controlled in another. Microsoft has outfitted this technology with exciting new features and capabilities, all aimed at providing users and administrators with the features necessary for providing as robust a usage experience across remote connects as users can expect with local resources.

Terminal Services and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

To expand the Terminal Services feature set, Microsoft has been investing in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, also known as VDI, in collaboration with our partners, which include Citrix, Unisys, HP, Quest, Ericom and several others. VDI is a centralized desktop delivery architecture, which allows customers to centralize the storage, execution and management of a Windows desktop in the data center. It enables Windows Vista Enterprise and other desktop environments to run and be managed in virtual machines on a centralized server.

Increasingly businesses aim to enable their employees and contractors to work from home or from an offshore, outsourced facility. These new work environments provide better flexibility, cost control and lower environmental footprint but increase demand for security and compliance so that precious Corporate data is not at risk. VDI addresses all these challenges with the following features:

Improved User Experience

For both VDI and traditional remote desktop services the quality of user experience is more important than ever before. The version of VDI and remote desktop services in Windows Server 2008 improves the end user experience through new Remote Desktop Protocol capabilities. These new capabilities, enabled with Windows Server 2008 R2 in combination with Windows 7, help make the user experience for remote users almost identical to local users.

Improved RemoteApp and Desktop Connections

New RemoteApp & Desktop (RAD) feeds provide a set of resources, such as RemoteApp programs and Remote Desktops. These feeds are presented to Windows 7 users via the new RemoteApp & Desktop Connection control panel. The new RemoteApp and Desktop Web Access feature provide the ability to connect to resources from both Windows Vista and Windows XP in addition to Windows 7.

The improved RemoteApp and Desktop Connections features in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 provide the following improvements:

Extends Terminal Services to provide tools to enable VDI. The in-box Terminal Services capability is targeted at low-complexity deployments and as a platform for partner solutions, which can extend scalability and manageability to address the needs of more demanding enterprise deployments. VDI includes the following technologies to provide a comprehensive solution:

Hyper-V™

Live Migration

System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008

Microsoft Application Virtualization version 4.5 in Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP).

Vista Enterprise VECD licensing

Provides simplified publishing of, and access to, remote desktops and applications. The RAD feature provides a set of resources, such as RemoteApp programs and remote desktops. These feeds are presented to Windows 7 users using the new RemoteApp & Desktop Connection control panel. The new RemoteApp & Desktop Web Access provides the ability to connect to resources from Windows Vista and Windows XP in addition to Windows 7.

Improved integration with Windows 7 user interface. Once accessed, RAD-delivered programs and desktops show up in the Start Menu with the same look and feel of locally installed applications. A new System Tray icon shows connectivity status to all the remote desktop and RemoteApp connections to which the user is currently subscribed.

Figure 13: Updates to the Terminal Services Connection Broker

Improving User Experience through new Remote Desktop Protocol capabilities. These new capabilities, enabled with Windows Server 2008 R2 in combination with Windows7, improve significantly the experience of remote users, making it more similar to the experience enjoyed by users accessing local computing resources. These improvements include:

Multimedia Redirection: Provides high-quality multimedia by redirecting multimedia files and streams so that audio and video content is sent in its original format from the server to the client and rendered using the client’s local media playback capabilities.

True multiple monitor support: Enables support for up to 10 monitors in almost any size, resolution or layout with RemoteApp and remote desktops; applications will behave just like they do when running locally in multi-monitor configurations.

Audio Input & Recording: VDI supports any microphone connected to users local machine, enables audio recording support for RemoteApp and Remote Desktop. This is useful for VoIP scenarios and also enables speech recognition.

Aero Glass support: VDI provides users with the ability to use the AeroGlass UI for client desktops; ensuring that remote desktop sessions look and feel like local desktop sessions.

Direct X redirection: DirectX 9, 10 and 11 applications will render on the server and will be remoted using bitmaps (requiring Direct3D-compatible hardware). If the application supports the new DirectX 10.1 API with remoting extensions the DirectX (2D& 3D) graphics are redirected to the local client to harness the power of the GPU on the user’s local device, removing the need for a GPU on the server.

Improved audio/video synchronization: RDP improvements in Windows Server 2008 R2 are designed to provide closer synchronization of audio and video in most scenarios.

Language Bar Redirection: Users can easily and seamlessly control the language setting (e.g. right to left) for RemoteApp programs using the local language bar.

Task Scheduler: This adds the ability in Task Scheduler to ensure that scheduled applications never appear to users connecting with RemoteApp. This reduces user confusion.

While RAD improves the end-user experience, RAD also reduces the desktop and application management effort by providing a dedicated management interface that lets IT managers assign remote resources to users quickly and dynamically. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes the following RAD management capabilities to help reduce administrative effort:

RemoteApp & Desktop Connections control panel applet. Users can easily connect to RemoteApp programs and Remote Desktops using the RemoteApp & Desktop Connections control panel applet.

Single administrative infrastructure. Both RemoteApp & Desktop connections and RemoteApp and Desktop Web Access are managed from a single management console. This ensures that connections can still be used from Windows XP and Vista by using a Web page.

Designed for standalone computers that are domain members and standalone computers: The RemoteApp & Desktop feature is easy to configure and use for computers that are members of Active Directory domains and for standalone computers.

Always up to date. Once a workspace is configured, that workspace keeps itself up to date until it is removed from the user’s desktop. When an admin adds an application it automatically appears on users’ Start menu and via that user’s Web Access page.

Single sign-on experience within a workspace. Ensures that only a single logon is required to access all applications and resources with a RAD connection.

RemoteApp & Desktop Web Access. This capability provides full integration with RemoteApp & Desktop Connections to ensure a consistent list of applications is available to the user at all times, no matter the desktop OS used. The default web page provides a fresh and inviting look and feel and includes a new web based login with integrated single sign-on.

Figure 13: Terminal Services Web Access expands TS features cross-OS

Administrators faced with larger RAD deployment scenarios will also find additional management features in Windows Server 2008 R2 aimed at improving the management experience for all existing scenarios previously addressed by Terminal Services as well as the exciting new scenarios available via RAD. These improved management features include:

PowerShell Provider. Easily manage multiple servers and repetitive tasks - almost all Terminal Services administrative tasks can now be scripted; view and edit configuration settings for the Terminal Services Gateway, Terminal Server and more.

Profile Improvements. The user profile cache quota removes the need to delete profiles at logoff, speeding up user logon. Group policy caching can now be performed across a TS Farm to speed up group policy processing during logon

Microsoft Installer (MSI) compatibility. Microsoft has fixed multiple MSI-related issues with Windows Server 2008’s Terminal Services to ensure that MSI install packages can be installed normally and that per-user install settings are correctly propagated. The updates also remove the need to put the server in ‘install mode’, meaning users no longer need to be logged off during RAD management operations.

Terminals Services Gateway. TSG securely provides access to RAD resources from the Internet without the need for opening additional ports or the use of a VPN. TSG provides this by tunneling RDP over HTTPS and incorporating several new security features:

Silent Session Re-authentication. The Gateway administrator can now configure the TSG to run periodic user authentication and authorization on all live connections. This ensures that any changes to user profiles are enforced. For users whose profiles haven’t changed, the experience is seamless.

Secure device redirection. The Gateway administrator can be assured that device redirection settings are always enforced even from unmanaged clients like kiosks.

Pluggable Authentication. For corporations that have specific need to implement their own authentication and authorization technologies, these customers now have the flexibility to plug-in their preferred authentication/authorization mechanisms.

Idle & session timeout. Administrators now have the flexibility of disconnecting idle sessions or limiting how long users can be connected.

Consent Signing. If your business demands that remote users adhere to legal terms & conditions before accessing corporate resources, the consent signing feature helps you do just that.

Administrative messaging. The Gateway also provides the flexibility to provide broadcast messages to users before launching any administration activities such as maintenance or upgrades.

Partners and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) also get tools with the new service to more easily enable third-party software manufacturers to built RAD-optimized products. These tools include:

RemoteApp& Desktop Web Access Customization. It is now possible to easily extend the look and feel of web access by both customers and partners using support for cascading style sheets. Developers can also create custom Web sites that consume the RAD connection XML feed and transform these with XSLT.

RemoteApp & Desktop Connection. Though RAD connections are currently only used for Terminal Services it is possible to extend both the server-side infrastructure and Windows 7 client shell to add support for any type of application or service – even ones that don’t use RDP or remoting protocols. This provides a single UI and point of discoverability for any service.

Session broker extensibility. The session broker offers broad extensibility to enable customers and ISVs to take advantage of the built-in RDP redirection features while providing significant additional unique value through the various types of plug-ins; for example:

Policy (policy plug-in), which determines the proper farm or VM for a connection,

Load Balancing (filter plug-in), which chooses the proper endpoint based on load, and

Orchestration (filter plug-in), which prepares a VM to accept RDP connections.

Management

The ongoing management of servers in the data center is one of most time-consuming task facing IT professionals today. Any management strategy you deploy must support the management of both your physical and virtual environments.

Another design goal for Windows Server 2008 R2 is to reduce the ongoing management of Windows Server 2008 R2 and to reduce the administrative effort for common day-to-day operational tasks. These administrative tasks can be performed on the server or remotely.

Management improvements in Windows Server 2008 R2 include:

Improved data center power consumption management

Improved remote administration

Reduced administrative effort for administrative tasks performed interactively

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

Improved identity management provided by Microsoft Active Directory® Domain Services and Active Directory Federated Services

Improved compliance with established standards and best practices

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.

Window Server 2008 R2 includes the following improvements for reducing power consumption:

Reduced multicore processor power consumption

Reduced processor power consumption by adjusting processor speed

Reduced storage power consumption

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, as illustrated in Figure 13.

Figure 13: Core Parking in minimal power consumption configuration

If additional processing power is required, the Core Parking feature activates inactive processor cores to handle the increased processing requirements, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 14: Core Parking with increased processing requirements

You can configure Core Parking by using the Group Policy settings in Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory Domain Services.

Reduced Processor Power Consumption

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, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure15: “P-states” power management

You can configure how “P-states” are adjusted in Windows Server 2008 R2 by using Active Directory Group Policy settings.

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.

The following figure illustrates a data center without efficient usage of centralized storage as provided by a SAN.

Figure16: Data center with local storage in each server computer

Windows Server 2008 R2 supports the ability to boot from a SAN, which eliminates the need for local hard disks in the individual server computers. In addition, performance for accessing storage on SANs has been greatly improved. The following figure shows how booting from a SAN can dramatically reduce the number of hard disks and decrease power consumption as a result.

Figure17: Centralizing storage to reduce power consumption

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. For more detailed information about each management console, see “Management Console Improvements” later in this guide.

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. For more detailed information about these remote management scenarios, see “Enhanced Remote PowerShell Scenarios” later in this guide.

Reduced Administrative Effort for Interactive Administrative Tasks

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.

Table 22: Updated & Redesigned Management Consoles in Windows Server 2008 R2

Management Console	Improvements
Server Manager	Support for remote management of computers Improved integration with many role and role services management consoles
Active Directory Administrative Center	Based on administrative capabilities provided by PowerShell cmdlets Task-driven user interface
Internet Information Services	Based on administrative capabilities provided by PowerShell cmdlets Task-driven user interface
Hyper-V™	Based on administrative capabilities provided by PowerShell cmdlets Updated VM performance and management capabilities Even tighter integration with System Center Virtual Machine Manager

Enhanced Command-line and Automated Management

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. For more information about PowerShell remoting, see “Improved Remote Management” under “Management” the upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2 Technical Overview.

Improved security for management data, including state and configuration information, by using constrained runspaces. For more information about constrained runspaces, see “Improved Security for Management” under “Management” in the upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2 Technical Overview.

Enhanced GUIs for creating and debugging PowerShell scripts and viewing PowerShell script output by using Graphical PowerShell and the Out-GridView cmdlet. For more information about Graphical PowerShell and the Out-GridView cmdlet, see “Enhanced Graphical User Interfaces” under “Management” in the upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2 Technical Overview.

Extended scripting functionality that supports creation of more powerful scripts with less development effort. For more information on this topic, see “Extended Scripting Functionality” under “Management” in the upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2 Technical Overview.

Improved portability of PowerShell scripts and cmdlets between multiple computers. For more information about this topic, see “Improved Portability of PowerShell Scripts and Cmdlets” under “Management” in the upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2 Technical Overview.

During your review of PowerShell version 2.0 in Windows Server 2008 R2, you will want to familiarize yourself with the new GUI tools, Graphical PowerShell and the Out-GridView cmdlet. As illustrated in the following figure, Graphical PowerShell provides a GUI that allows you to interactively create and debug PowerShell scripts within an integrated development environment similar to Visual Studio.

Figure18: Graphical PowerShell user interface with Active Directory Provider

Graphical PowerShell includes the following features:

Syntax coloring for PowerShell scripts (similar to syntax coloring in Visual Studio)

Support for Unicode characters

Support for composing and debugging multiple PowerShell scripts in a multi-tabbed interface

Ability to run an entire script, or a portion of a script, within the integrated development environment

Support for up to eight PowerShell runspaces within the integrated development environment

Note: Graphical PowerShell feature requires Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0.

The new Out-GridView cmdlet displays the results of other commands in an interactive table, where you can search, sort, and group the results. For example, you can send the results of a get-process, get-wmiobject, or get-eventlog command to Out-GridView and use the table features to examine the data.

Note: The Out-GridView cmdlet feature requires Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0.

Also during your review, you will want to familiarize yourself with the new and updated cmdlets available in PowerShell version 2.0 and Windows Server 2008 R2, a very few of which are listed in the following figure.

Figure19: A snapshot of new cmdlets

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.

Improvements for All Active Directory Server Roles

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes the following identity management improvements that affect all Active Directory server roles:

New forest functional level. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a new Active Directory forest functional level. Many of the new features in the Active Directory server roles require the Active Directory forest to be configured with this new functional level.

Enhanced command line and automated management. PowerShell cmdlets provide the ability to fully manage Active Directory server roles.

Improved automated monitoring and notification. An updated System Center Manager 2007 Management Pack helps improve the monitoring and management of Active Directory server roles.

Improvements in Active Directory Domain Services

The Active Directory Domain Service server role in Windows Server 2008 R2 includes the following improvements:

Recovery of deleted objects. Domains in Active Directory now have a Recycle Bin feature that allows you to recover deleted objects. If an Active Directory object is inadvertently deleted, you can restore the object from the Recycle Bin. This feature requires the updated R2 forest functional level.

Improved process for joining domains. Computers can now join a domain without being connected to the domain during the deployment process, also known as an offline domain join. This process allows you to fully automate the joining of a domain during deployment. Domain administrators create an XML file that can be included as a part of the automated deployment process. The file includes all the information necessary for the target computer to join the domain.

Improved management of user accounts used as identity for services. One time-consuming management task is the maintenance of passwords for user accounts that are used as identities for services, also known as service accounts. When the password for a service account changes, the services using that identity also must be updated with the new password. To address this problem, Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a new feature known as managed service accounts. In Windows Server 2008 R2, when the password for a service account changes, the managed service account feature automatically updates the password for all services that use the service account.

Reduced effort to perform common administrative tasks. As illustrated in the following figure, Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a new Active Directory Domain Services management console, Active Directory Administrative Center.

Figure 20: Active Directory Administrative Center management console

Active Directory Administrative Center is a task-based management console that is based on the new PowerShell cmdlets in Windows Server 2008 R2. Active Directory Administrative Center is designed to help reduce the administrative effort for performing common administrative tasks.

Improvements in Active Directory Federated Services

Active Directory Federated Services in Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a new feature known as authentication assurance. This feature allows administrators to establish authentication policies for accounts that are authenticated in federated domains. This enables a variety of advanced authentication scenarios, such as smart cards, for example.

Improved Compliance with Established Standards and Best Practices

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes an integrated Best Practices Analyzer for each of the server roles. The Best Practices Analyzer creates a checklist within Server Manager for the role, which you can use to help perform all the configuration tasks.

Web

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes many improvements that make this release the most robust Windows Server application platform yet. These improvements comprise new features in IIS 7.0 as well as other areas of Windows Server 2008 R2 to help applications run faster while using fewer system resources. The improved features also combine to help reduce the effort to administer and support Windows Server–based applications as well as improve availability, reliability, and scalability.

The following improvements in Windows Server 2008 R2 are included in this technical solution:

Reduced effort to administer and support Web-based applications

Enhanced security for Web-based applications

Improved file-transfer services

Ability to extend the functionality and features for Web-based applications

Improved availability and performance for Web-based applications and services

Reduced Effort to Administer and Support Web-based Applications

Reducing the effort required to administer and support Web-based applications running on IIS 7.0 is one of the primary design goals for Windows Server 2008 R2. The goal of the design is to help reduce the effort required to:

Perform common administrative tasks.

Support and troubleshoot Web-based applications.

Reduced Administrative Effort

Windows Server 2008 R2 reduces administrative effort by:

Automating common administrative tasks through the new PowerShell provider for IIS 7.0.

Expanding the management and administrative features in the Administration Pack for IIS 7.0.

Improving the integration of Internet Information Services Manager with Server Manager.

Automating the publishing of applications by using one-click publishing in Microsoft Visual Studio® 10.

Automating the deployment of applications by using the Web Deployment Tool.

Automation of Common Tasks Through the PowerShell Provider

The PowerShell provider for IIS 7.0 includes more than 50 new cmdlets for managing IIS 7.0 and the applications running on IIS 7.0.

Expanded Administrator Pack

The Administration Pack has been expanded to include:

Management of Microsoft SQL Server® databases within IIS Manager by using Database Manager.

Configuration of IIS 7.0 and application settings by using Configuration Editor.

Enhanced viewing of IIS log files by using IIS Reports.

Graphical user interface for managing the Request Filtering module by using Request Filtering.

Database Manager

Database Manager allows you to manage local and remote SQL Server databases from within the IIS Manager user interface and reduces the number of administration consoles required to perform administrative tasks. Database Manager supports the ability to perform remote management over HTTP, which means it works well in remote shared-hosting scenarios.

Configuration Editor

Configuration Editor (illustrated in the following figure) allows you to manage any configuration section available in the configuration system. Configuration Editor exposes several configuration settings that are not exposed elsewhere in IIS Manager.

Figure21: Configuration Editor user interface

IIS Reports

IIS Reports provides you with built-in report visualization and charting support for log file data. IIS Reports includes the ability to perform full-range selection, create custom charts, and print or save reports. IIS Reports also supports remote management over HTTP, which means it works well in remote shared-hosting scenarios.

Request Filtering

The Request Filtering user interface (illustrated in the following figure) provides a graphical user interface for configuring the Request Filtering module.

Figure22: Request Filtering user interface

Improved IIS Manager Integration with Server Manager

You can now perform more IIS administrative tasks within Server Manager due to the integration of IIS Manager, as illustrated in the following figure. This improved integration reduces the number of consoles needed to perform the tasks, allowing you to work more efficiently.

Figure23: IIS Manager integration with Server Manager

Automated Publishing of Applications

One-click publishing in Visual Studio 10 reduces the complexity and effort required to publish applications into your test or production environments, by requiring only a single mouse click to publish the application.

Automated Application Deployment

The Web Deployment Tool (previously known as MS Deploy), which is currently a separate download, will be included in Windows Server 2008 R2. The Web Deployment Tool provides the ability to archive, package, deploy, and migrate applications. For more information about the Web Deployment Tool, see the Web Deployment Team blog at http://blogs.iis.net/msdeploy/archive/2008/01/22/welcome-to-the-web-deployment-team-blog.aspx.

Reduced Support and Troubleshooting Effort

Windows Server 2008 R2 reduces support and troubleshooting effort in the following ways:

Enhanced auditing of changes to IIS 7.0 and application configuration. The new Configuration Tracing feature in IIS 7.0 provides enhanced auditing of changes to IIS and application configuration, which allows you to track the configuration changes made to your test and production environments.

Improved monitoring of IIS 7.0 and applications. IIS 7.0 in Windows Server 2008 R2 includes new performance counters that help reduce support and troubleshooting effort. Some of these new counters include:

Enhanced Web Application Security

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes security enhancements for Web-based applications. These enhancements help your Web-based applications run more securely, with fewer system resources and improved manageability. The enhancements include:

Ability to run .NET applications on the Server Core installation option. You can now run .NET applications on the Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core installation option. The Server Core installation option reduces the attack surface of Windows Server 2008 R2 and improves the overall security of the Web-based applications because the graphical user environment is not installed as a part of the Server Core installation option.

Secure Web content publishing using standard protocols. This is especially helpful in hosting and development scenarios, and comprises features in the new FTP server and integrated WebDAV module.

Reduction of potential security attacks by filtering client traffic. The Request Filter module in Windows Server 2008 R2 will include the filtering features previously found in URLScan 3.0. By blocking specific HTTP requests, the Request Filter module helps prevent potentially harmful requests from being processed by Web applications on the server.

Improved File Transfer Services

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a new version of FTP server services. These new FTP server services offer the following improvements:

Reduced administrative effort for FTP server services. The new FTP server is fully integrated with the IIS 7.0 administration interface and configuration store, as shown in the following figure. The FTP server in Windows Server 2008 RTM used the IIS 6.0 metabase, while the FPT server in Windows Server 2008 R2 uses the new .NET XML-based *.config format. This allows you to perform common administrative tasks within one common administration console. The new FTP server administration is also integrated with Server Manager.

Figure 244: Integration of the FTP server administration in Internet Information Service Manager

Extended support for new Internet standards. The new FTP server includes support for emerging standard, including:

Improved security by supporting FTP over secure sockets layer (SSL).

Support of extended character sets by including UTF8 support.

Extended IP addressing features provided by IPv6.

Improved integration with web-based applications and services. With the new FTP server, you can specify a, virtual host name for an FTP site. This allows you to create multiple FTP sites that use the same IP address, but are differentiated by using unique virtual host names. This allows you to provide FTP and Web content from the same Web site simply by binding an FTP site to a Web site.

Reduced effort for support and troubleshooting FTP–related issues. Improved logging that now supports all FTP-related traffic, unique tracking for FTP sessions, FTP sub statuses, an additional detail field in FTP logs, and more.

Ability to Extend Functionality and Features

One of the design goals for IIS 7.0 was to make it easy for you to extend the base functionality and features in IIS 7.0 IIS Extensions allow you to build or buy software that can be integrated into IIS 7.0 in such a way that the software appears to be an integral part of IIS 7.0. The following figure illustrates the placement of IIS Extensions in the IIS 7.0 architecture.

Figure25: Architecture of IIS Extensions in IIS 7.0 in Windows Server 2008 R2

Extensions can be created by Microsoft, partners, independent software vendors, and your organization. Microsoft has developed IIS Extensions since the RTM version of Windows Server 2008. These IIS Extensions are available for download from http://iis.net. Many of the IIS Extensions developed by Microsoft will be shipped as a part of Windows Server 2008 R2, including:

WebDAV

Integrated and enhanced Administration Pack

Web Deployment Pack

Web Playlist Pack

Improved Availability and Performance for Web-based Applications and Services

Availability and performance are key elements in every Web-based solution in your enterprise. Today, most mission-critical applications require increasing availability and performance requirements. Windows Server 2008 R2 addresses these needs by providing:

Detailed reporting and diagnostic information available directly in Internet Information Services management console.
High-speed dynamic caching and compression for improved performance.
Support for scalable Web farm via HTTP-based load balancing and intelligent request handing and routing.

Solid Foundation for Enterprise Workloads

Windows Server 2008 R2 has been designed as a best-of-breed enterprise operating platform, capable of handling the most demanding data center workloads and delivering the latest next-gen network productivity experience to end-users across even the largest networks. To address these challenges, Microsoft has designed Windows Server 2008 R2 with several new feature categories in mind, divisible into two basic categories:

Scalability and Reliability
Better Together with Windows 7.

Scalability and Reliability

Windows Server 2008 R2 is capable of the unprecedented workload size, dynamic scalability and across-the-board availability and reliability. A host of new and updated features contribute to this pillar:

Leveraging sophisticated CPU architectures
Increased operating system componentization
Improved performance and scalability for applications and services
Improved availability for automated IP configuration services by using the DHCP failover feature
Improved security for Domain Name System (DNS) services by using the DNSSEC feature

Leveraging Sophisticated CPU Architectures

Windows Server 2008 R2 is the first Windows operating system to be offered for only 64-bit processors. With customers being unable to purchase a 32-bit server CPU for over two years, the performance and reliability advantages to moving to this architecture were too beneficial to ignore.

Additionally, Windows Server 2008 R2 now supports up to 256 logical processor cores for a single operating system instance. Hyper-V™ virtual machines are able to address up to 32 logical cores in a single VM. These improvements not only guarantee more bang for your server hardware buck, but also offer better reliability with fewer locks and greater parallelism.

Increased Operating System Componentization

Microsoft introduced the concept of server roles to allow server administrators to quickly and easily configure any Windows-based server to run a specific set of tasks and remove extraneous OS code from system overhead. Windows Server 2008 R2 further extends this model with support for more roles and a broadening of current role support, like the addition of ASP.NET within IIS 7.0.

Roles have been refined and feature sets redefined as customers have expressed desires for certain capabilities in popular scenarios. The Server Core installation option is an appropriate mention here with new (and much demanded) support for PowerShell scripting made possible by the addition of the .NET Framework to the list of server roles supported in the Server Core installation option.

Improved Performance and Scalability for Applications and Services

Another key design goal was to provide higher performance for Windows Server 2008 R2 running on the same system resources as previous versions of Windows Server. In addition, Windows Server 2008 R2 supports increased scaling capabilities that allow you to support greater workloads than ever before. Windows Server 2008 R2 features that improve performance and scalability for applications and services include:

Support for larger workloads by adding more servers to a workload (scaling out).

Support for larger workloads by utilizing or increasing system resources (scaling up).

Increased Workload Support by Scaling Out

The Network Load Balancing feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 allows you to combine two or more computers in to a cluster. You can use NLB to distribute workloads across the cluster nodes in order to support a larger number of simultaneous users. Network Load Balancing feature improvements in Windows Server 2008 R2 include:

Improved support for applications and services that require persistent connections.

Improved health monitoring and awareness for applications and services running on Network Load Balancing clusters.

Improved Support for Applications and Services That Require Persistent Connections

As illustrated in the following figure, the IP Stickiness feature in Network Load Balancing allows you to configure longer affinity between client and cluster nodes. By default, Network Load Balancing distributes each request to different nodes in the clusters. Some applications and services, such as a shopping cart application, require that a persistent connection be maintained with a specific cluster node.

Figure 26: IP Stickiness feature in Network Load Balancing

You can configure a time-out setting for connection state to a range of hours or even weeks in length. Examples of applications and services that can utilize this feature include:

Universal Access Gateway (UAG), which uses an SSL–based virtual private network (VPN).

Web-based applications that maintain user information, such as an ASP.NET shopping cart application.

Improved Health Monitoring and Awareness for Applications and Services

As illustrated in the following figure, the Network Load Balancing Management Pack for Windows Server 2008 R2 allows you to monitor the health of applications and services running in Network Load Balancing clusters.

Figure27: Application health monitoring in Network Load Balancing clusters

Increased Workload Support by Scaling Up

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes features that also allow you to support larger workloads on individual computers. Scaling up allows you to reduce the number of servers in your data center and be more power efficient. The features that support scaling up include:

Increased number of logical processors supported. Windows Server 2008 R2 supports up to 256 logical processors.

Reduced operating system overhead for graphical user interface. In addition to reducing the attack surface of the operating system, the Server Core installation option eliminates the graphical user interface, which reduces the amount of processor utilization. The reduction in processor utilization allows more of the processing power to be used for running workloads.

Improved performance for storage devices. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a number of performance improvements for storage devices connected locally, through iSCSI and other remote storage solutions. For more information on these improvements in storage device performance, see “Improved File Services and Network Attached Storage” later in this guide

Improved Storage Solutions

The ability to quickly access information is more critical today than ever before. The foundation for this high-speed access is based on file services and network attached storage (NAS). Microsoft storage solutions are at the core of providing high-performance and highly available file services and NAS.

The release version of Windows Server 2008 introduced many improvements in storage technologies. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes additional improvements that enhance the performance, availability, and manageability of storage solutions.

Improved Storage Solution Performance

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a number of performance improvements in storage solutions, including:

Reduced processor utilization to achieve “wire speed” storage performance. Wire speed refers to the hypothetical maximum data transmission rate of a cable or other transmission medium. Wire speed is dependent on the physical and electrical properties of the cable, combined with the lowest level of the connection protocols. Windows Server 2008 RTM is able to access storage at wire speed, but at a higher processor utilization than Windows Server 2008 R2.

Improved storage input/output process performance. One of the primary contributors to storage performance improvements in Windows Server 2008 R2 is the improvement in the storage input/output process, known as NTIO. The NTIO process has been optimized to reduce the overhead in performing storage operations.

Improved performance when multiple paths exist between servers and storage. When multiple paths exist to storage, you can load-balance storage operations by load-balancing the storage requests. Windows Server 2008 R2 supports up to 32 paths to storage devices, while Windows Server 2008 RTM only supported two paths. You can configure load-balancing policies to optimize the performance for your storage solution.

Improved connection performance for iSCSI attached storage. The iSCSI client in Windows Server 2008 R2 has been optimized to improve performance for iSCSI attached storage.

Improved support for optimization of the storage subsystem. The storage system has been designed to allow hardware vendors to optimize their storage mini-driver. For example, a vendor could optimize the disk cache for their storage mini-driver.

Reduced length of time for operating system start. Chkdsk is run during the operating system start when an administrator has scheduled a scan of a disk volume or when volumes were not shut down properly. Chkdsk performance has been optimized to reduce the length of time required to start the operating system. This allows you to recover faster in the event of an abnormal shutdown of the operating system (such as a power loss).

Improved Storage Solution Availability

Availability of storage is essential to all mission-critical applications in your organization. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes the following improvements to storage solution availability:

Improved fault tolerance between servers and storage. When multiple paths exist between servers and storage, Windows Server 2008 R2 can failover to an alternate path if the primary path fails. You can select the failover priority by configuring the load-balancing policies for your storage solution.

Improved recovery from configuration errors. An error in the configuration of the storage subsystem can negatively affect storage availability. Windows Server 2008 R2 allows you to take configuration snapshots of the storage subsystem (for example, the iSCSI configuration). In the event of a subsequent configuration failure, you can quickly restore the configuration to a previous version.

Improved Storage Solution Manageability

Management of the storage subsystem is another design goal for Windows Server 2008 R2. Some of the manageability improvements in Windows Server 2008 R2 include:

Automated deployment of storage subsystem configuration settings. You can automate the storage subsystem configuration settings in Windows Server 2008 R2 by customizing the Unattend.xml file.

Improved monitoring of the storage subsystem. The storage subsystem in Windows Server 2008 R2 includes the following improvements that help in monitoring:

New performance counters that help reduce the support and troubleshooting effort for storage subsystem–related issues.

Extended logging for the storage subsystem, including storage drivers.

Health-based monitoring of the entire storage subsystem.

Improved version control of storage system configuration settings. Windows Server 2008 R2 allows you to take configuration snapshots of the storage subsystem. This allows you to perform version control of configuration settings and to quickly restore to a previous version in the event of a configuration error.

Improved Availability for Automated IP Configuration Services

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server services are used to provide automated IP configuration services for computers. However, traditional DHCP services are prone to outages and failure because the database that contains the DCHP lease information is stored on only one computer. If the computer fails, the DHCP lease database is inaccessible and computers are unable to renew their DHCP leases.

In Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7, the DHCP Failover feature has been included to help mitigate IP configuration outages due to DHCP server failures. The DHCP Failover feature is an implementation of the DHCP Failover protocol, which is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) draft.

With DHCP Failover, two computers providing DHCP Server services synchronize DHCP lease information. One computer is designated as the primary DHCP server and the other as the secondary DHCP server, which is similar in concept to the primary and secondary Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) servers.

When computers request IP configuration, the primary DHCP server will respond by default. In the event that the primary DHCP server fails, computers receive IP configuration information from the secondary DHCP server until the primary DHCP server is restored, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 28: The DHCP Failover feature, used when primary DHCP server fails

The DHCP Failover feature can also be configured to provide load-balancing so that the IP configuration workload is distributed between the primary and secondary DHCP servers. This load-balancing allows you to support a larger number of IP configuration requests over a shorter period of time, while helping to ensure that there are no outages of IP configuration services.

Improved Security for DNS Services

One common issue with DNS name resolution is that clients can’t tell the difference between legitimate and illegitimate DNS information and are this vulnerable to spoofing and Man in the Middle attacks.

The DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 allows the DNS servers to verify authenticity of a DNS record obtained from a signed zone, and allows clients to establish a trust relationship with the DNS server.

The DNS records in a protected DNS zone include a set of public keys that are sent as DNS resource records from the DNS server services on Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. Through the use of pre-configured Trust Anchors, the DNS server can obtain the public keys of the key pair used to sign the zone and validate the authenticity of the data obtained from the zone. This method prevents interception of DNS queries and returning of illegitimate DNS responses from an untrusted DNS server.

Better Together with Windows 7

Windows Server 2008 R2 has many features that are designed specifically to work with client computers running Windows 7. Windows 7 is the next version of the Windows operating system from Microsoft. Features that are only available when running Windows 7 client computers with server computers running Windows Server 2008 R2 include:

Simplified remote connectivity for corporate computers by using the DirectAccess feature

Secured remote connectivity for private and public computers by using a combination of the Remote Workspace, Presentation Virtualization, and Remote Desktop Services Gateway features

Improved performance for branch offices by using the Branch Caching feature

Improved security for branch offices by using the read-only Distributed File System (DFS) feature

More efficient power management by using the new power management Group Policy settings for Windows 7 clients

Improved virtualized presentation integration by using the new desktop and application feeds feature

Higher fault tolerance for connectivity between sites by using the Agile VPN feature

Increased protection for removable drives by using the BitLocker Drive Encryption feature to encrypt removable drives

Improved prevention of data loss for mobile users by using the Offline Folders feature

Simplified Remote Connectivity for Corporate Computers

One common problem facing most organizations is remote connectivity for their mobile users. One of the most widely used solutions for remote connectivity is for mobile users to connect by using a virtual private network (VPN) connection. Depending on the type of VPN, users may install VPN client software on their mobile computer and then establish the VPN connection over public Internet connections.

The DirectAccess feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 allows Windows 7 client computers to directly connect to intranet-based resources without the complexity of establishing a VPN connection. The remote connection to the intranet is transparently established for the user. From the user’s perspective, they are unaware that they are remotely connecting to intranet resources. The following figure contrasts the current VPN-based solutions with DirectAccess–based solutions.

Figure 29: Comparison between VPN-based and DirectAccess–based solutions

DirectAccess was designed ground-up to manage a user-invisible always-on remote access solution that removes all user complexity, gives you easy and efficient management and configuration tools and doesn’t compromise in any way the security aspect of remote connectivity. To do this, Windows Server 2008 R2’s DirectAcces incorporates the following important features:

Authentication. DirectAccess authenticates the computer, enabling the computer to connect to the intranet before the user logs on. DirectAccess can also authenticate the user and supports multifactor authentication such as a smart card.

Encryption. DirectAccess uses IPsec for encrypted communications across the Internet.

Access control. IT can configure which intranet resources different users can access using DirectAccess. IT can grant DirectAccess users unlimited access to the intranet, or only allow them to access specific servers or networks.

Integration with Network Access Protection (NAP) and Network Policy Server (NPS). NAP and NPS, features built into Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 Server, can verify that client computers meet your security requirements and have recent updates installed before allowing them to connect.

Split-tunnel routing. Only traffic destined for your intranet is sent through the DirectAccess server. With a traditional VPN, Internet traffic is also sent through your intranet, slowing Internet access for users.

Figure 30: DirectAccess remote access solution

Unlike a traditional VPN-based solution, the DirectAccess client forwards traffic destined for Internet-based resources directly to the Internet-based resource. In a traditional VPN-based solution, all traffic, both Internet and intranet traffic, is sent through the VPN connection. Separating the Internet-based traffic from the intranet-based traffic helps reduce remote access network utilization.

Another difference between DirectAccess and VPNs is that DirectAccess connections are established before the user is logged in. This means that you can manage a remote computer connected by DirectAccess even if the user is not logged in; for example, to apply Group Policy settings. However, for the user to access any corporate resources, they must be logged in.

In order to benefit from DirectAccess, you must be able to access the resources within your intranet by using IPv6. If your organization has an IPv6 routable infrastructure, no IPv6 translation is required. If you have resources that only have IPv4 addressing, you will need to provide IPv6-to-IPv4 transition services.

The DirectAccess server supports the Teredo Server, Teredo Relay, ISATAP Router, and 6to4 router transition technologies. Additionally, Microsoft’s Forefront Intelligent Access Gateway (IAG) solution will integrate with DirectAccess to provide additional management, security and deployment capabilities. This IAG solution will become available approximately 6 months after the launch of Windows Server 2008 R2 and the Windows 7 client.

Secured Remote Connectivity for Private and Public Computers

Another common problem for remote users is the ability to access intranet-based resources from computers that are not owned by the user’s organization, such as public computers or Internet kiosks. Without a mobile computer provided by their organization, most users are unable to access intranet-based resources.

A combination of the Remote Workspace, presentation virtualization, and Terminal Services Gateway features allows users on Windows 7 clients to remotely access their intranet-based resources without requiring any additional software to be installed on the Windows 7 client. This allows your users to remotely access their desktop as though they were working from their computer on the intranet.

The following figure highlights some of the new features provided by Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 R2. For more information on these features, see “Secured Remote Connectivity for Private and Public Computers” in “Better Together with Windows 7” in Windows Server 2008 R2 Technical Overview.

From the user’s perspective, the desktop on the remote Windows 7 client transforms to look like the user’s desktop on the intranet, including icons, Start menu items and installed applications are identical to the user’s experience on his or her own computer on the intranet. When the remote user closes the remote session, the remote Windows 7 client desktop environment reverts to the previous configuration.

Improved Performance for Branch Offices

Driven by challenges of reducing cost and complexity of Branch IT, organizations are seeking to centralize applications. However, as organizations centralize applications the dependency on the availability and quality of the WAN link increases. A direct result of centralization is the increased utilization of the WAN link, and the degradation of application performance. Recent studies have shown the despite of the reduction of costs associated with WAN links, and WAN costs are still a major component of enterprises’ operational expenses.

Figure 31: The branch office problem

The BranchCache™™ feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 Client reduces the network utilization on WAN links that connect branch offices and improve end user experience at branch locations, by locally caching frequently used content on the branch office network.

As remote branch clients attempt to retrieve data from servers located in the corporate data center, they store a copy of the retrieved content on the local branch office network. Subsequent requests for the same content are served from this local cache in the branch office, thereby improving access times locally and reducing WAN bandwidth utilization between the branch and corpnet. BranchCache™ caches both HTTP and SMB content and ensures access to only authorized users as the authorization process is carried out at the servers located in the data center. BranchCache™ works alongside SSL or IPSEC encrypted content and accelerates delivery of such content as well.

BranchCache™ can be implemented in two ways: The first involves storing the cached content on a dedicated BranchCache™ server located in the branch office which improves cache availability. This scenario will likely be the most popular and is intended for larger branch offices where numerous users might be looking to access the BranchCache™ feature simultaneously. A BranchCache™ server at the remote site ensures that content is always available as well as maintaining end-to-end security for all content requests.

Figure 32: The BranchCache™ server deployment scenario

The second deployment scenario centers around peer content requests and is intended solely for very small remote offices, with roughly 5-10 users that don’t warrant a dedicated local server resource. In this scenario, the BranchCache™ server at corpnet receives a client content request, and if the content has been previously requested at the remote site will return a set of hash directions to the content’s location on the remote network, usually another worker’s PC. Content is then served from this location. If the content was never requested or if the user who previously requested the content is off-site, then the request is fulfilled normally across the WAN.

Figure 33: BranchCache™ peer-based deployment model

Improved Security for Branch Offices

Windows Server 2008 introduced the read-only domain controller feature, which allows a read-only copy of Active Directory to be placed in less secure environments such as branch offices. Windows Server 2008 R2 introduces support for read-only copies of information stored in Distributed File System (DFS) replicas, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 34: Read-only DFS in a branch office scenario

Read-only DFS replicas helps protect your digital assets by allowing branch offices read-only access to information that you replicate to the offices by using DFS. Because the information is read-only, users are unable to modify the content stored in read-only DFS replicated content and thereby protects data in DFS replicas from accidental deletion at branch office locations.

More Efficient Power Management

Windows 7 includes a number of power-management features that allow you to control power utilization in your organization with a finer degree of granularity than in previous operating systems. Windows 7 allows you to take advantage of the latest hardware developments for reducing power consumption in desktop and laptop computers.

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a number of Group Policy settings that allow you to centrally manage the power consumption of computers running Windows 7.

Improved Virtualized Desktop Integration

Windows 7 introduces the RemoteApp & Desktop (RAD) feeds feature, which helps integrate desktops and applications virtualized by using Remote Desktop Services with the Windows 7 user interface. This integration makes the user experience for running virtualized applications or desktops the same as running the applications locally. For a detailed description of RDS and VDI, see the “Terminal Services Becomes Remote Desktop Services for Improved Presentation Virtualization” section earlier in this guide.

Higher Fault Tolerance for Connectivity Between Sites

One of the most common scenarios facing organizations today is connectivity between sites and locations. Many organizations connect their sites and locations by using VPN tunnels over public networks, such as the Internet.

One problem with existing VPN solutions is that they are not resilient to connection failures or device outages. When any outage occurs, the VPN tunnel is terminated and the VPN tunnel must be reestablished, resulting in momentary connectivity outages.

The Agile VPN feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 allows a VPN to have multiple network paths between points in the VPN tunnel. In the event of a failure, Agile VPN automatically uses another network path to maintain the existing VPN tunnel, with no interruption of connectivity.

Increased Protection for Removable Drives

In Windows Server 2008 and prior operating systems primarily used BitLocker Drive Encryption (BitLocker) to protect the operating system volume. Information stored on other volumes, including removable media, was encrypted by using Encrypted File System (EFS).

In Windows 7, you can use BitLocker to encrypt removable drives, such as eSATA hard disks, USB hard disks, USB thumb drives, or CompactFlash drives. This allows you to protect information stored on removable media with the same level of protection as the operating system volume.

BitLocker requires the use of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) device or physical key to access information encrypted by BitLocker. You can also require a personal identification number (PIN) in addition to the TPM device or physical key.

BitLocker keys can also be archived in Active Directory, which provide an extra level of protection in the event that the physical key is lost or the TPM device fails. This integration between Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 allows you to protect sensitive information without worrying about users losing their physical key.

Improved Prevention of Data Loss for Mobile Users

The Offline Files feature allows you to designate files and folders stored on network shared folders for use even when the network shared folders are unavailable (offline); for example, when a mobile user disconnects a laptop computer from your intranet and works from a remote location.

The Offline Files feature has the following operation modes:

Online mode. The user is working in online mode when they are connected to the server, and most file requests are sent to the server.

Offline mode. The user is working in offline mode when they are not connected to the server, and all file requests are satisfied from the Offline Files cache stored locally on the computer.

In Windows Server 2008 RTM and Windows Vista, the Offline Files feature was configured for online mode by default. In Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7, the Offline Files feature was configured for offline mode by default. This helps reduce network traffic while connected to your intranet because the users are modifying locally cached copies of the information stored in the Offline Files local cache. However, the information stored in the Offline Files local cache is still protected from loss because the information is synchronized with the network shared folder.

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Sunday, October 25, 2009

server 2008 complete

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