Windows Server 2008

The latest enterprise server version of Windows that supersedes Windows Server 2003. Supporting 128-bit IPv6 addressing for the Internet and BitLocker drive encryption, Windows Server 2008 added numerous security, network and system administration enhancements.

Integrated Virtualization
One of Windows Server 2008's main features, built into all but the Web server and Itanium versions, is "Hyper-V Server." Hyper-V provides a virtual machine capability that eliminates the need for a third-party product such as VMware. The OS is available without Hyper-V, which can be added later.

A Slimmer Installation Option
A unique feature of Windows Server 2008 is its "Server Core" option, which installs essential operating system components without the user interface. Used for dedicated servers such as an Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, print or Web server, Server Core is expected to be available within six months of the initial release.

Originally code named "Longhorn," Windows Server 2008 was officially named in May of 2007 and released, of course, in 2008. See BitLocker, IPv6 and Windows Server 2003.

   Edition of             SMP
   Windows Server 2008    Support  RAM

   With or Without Hyper-V
    Virtualization

   32-bit Standard        4-way    4GB
   64-bit Standard        4-way   32GB

   32-bit Enterprise      8-way   64GB
   64-bit Enterprise      8-way    2TB

   32-bit DataCenter     32-way   64GB
   64-bit DataCenter     64-way    2TB


   Without Hyper-V
    Virtualization

   32-bit Web Server      4-way    4GB
   64-bit Web Server      4-way   32GB

   64-bit Itanium
    Version              64-way    2TB