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Microsoft Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" is now
Windows Server 2008, though you may not be able to tell from the
latest Beta which is still branded as Code Name "Longhorn".
Whatever you want to call it, the latest version of Microsoft's
server platform is getting closer to shipping and I figured it was
time I gave those of you who haven't seen it a sneak peek.
Everything discussed and shown in this artcile is based on
Windows Server 2008 Standard Beta 3. Some minor things may change
before release, but for the most part, you can probably expect
things in the Beta to be pretty close to what they'll look like in
the release version due out early next year.
Getting the Beta
If you're interested in trying out the Beta version for yourself you can either download it from Microsoft's
site or order it on DVD. The
Windows Server 2008 TechCenter on TechNet
is probably the best place to find the download.
I don't link directly to the download page because the URL is likely to change, but if you click
on the "Downloads" tab or look for something like "Evaluate Windows Server 2008"
it shouldn't be too hard to find the order page.
Setup
Setup went off without a hitch and was similar to any other OS setup.
Along with the standard license agreement and other familiar
dialog boxes you'll find the
"Select the operating system you want to install." screen.
This screen lets you choose whether to perform a standard Windows Server
installation or the new Server Core installation. The Server
Core option installs a new command line only version of Windows Server
designed to be configured for one of several basic roles. This feature is
perhaps the most notable in Windows Server 2008, but it doesn't offer much
to look at, so for now I'll be performing a standard install.
First Boot
After a few reboots, setup completes and Windows Server attempts it's first boot.
You'll first be greeted by a blank yet familiar screen that you've probably
seen countless times before.
The lack of any branding seems a little weird,
but before you know it you'll be faced with a screen listing initial configuration
tasks that you need to perform.
It wasn't until this point that I realized that I hadn't been asked the standard barrage
of questions one is usually faced with during installation. It never asked for a
machine name, timezone, or network setup. It never even asked for a password for
the Administrator account! All this configuration is now performed after setup.
This also meant that I never saw a login screen. Curious to see what it looked
like, I added a password to the Administrator account and rebooted.
I was greeted by a relatively stark bluish page that said simply
"Press CTRL + ALT + DELETE to log on".
Taking a quick look around, nothing seemed too out of place.
It was pretty apparent that Beta 3 still thinks of itself as
Code Name "Longhorn" as you'll find that branding
throughout the OS.
Configuration
Following the initial configuration done on the "Initial Configuration Tasks"
screen that greets you when you log in, most cofiguration is done via the
"Server Manager" MMC console.
Configuration is now a matter of managing Roles and Features. It'll take a little getting used to, but
with the ever-present wizards you should be able to figure things out pretty quickly.
IIS 7
The last thing I'll mention really quickly is that it appears that Windows Server 2008
does indeed include the latest version of Microsoft's web server: IIS 7.
If you'd like to learn more about IIS 7, you might want to take a look at my previous article:
A Quick Look at IIS 7.
Conclusion
Hopefully this quick look at the Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 release has gotten you excited about this
promising new platform. Not only does Windows Server 2008 promise to be more flexible and robust than
previous versions, at the same time the reduced attack surface offered by it's modular design should
offer increased security and the need to apply fewer patches.
If you'd like more information about Windows Server 2008, there's plenty of it to be found.
Perhaps the best place to start is at the source. Microsoft has a number
of sites dedicated to covering the new product.
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