|
 |
|
General Information
|
Add To My Personal Library |
October 17, 2008
• Vol.30 Issue 42
Page(s) 25 in print issue
|
Get Ready For Server 2008
How To Evaluate & Prepare For Microsoft’s Newest Server Offering
|
Jump to first occurrence of: [WEISMAN]
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 offers a slew of worthwhile feature additions and improvements, so it’s no wonder that many SMEs are thinking about upgrading at least a portion of their networks to it. But because the new operating system offers so many options for IT departments, figuring out how to best implement it can be overwhelming.
CDW technology specialist Doug Miller (www.cdw.com) says the first thing IT departments need to consider when evaluating the need for Windows Server 2008 is what it will bring to your organization. “There is a ton of low-hanging fruit for organizations to be able to get some efficiencies and optimize some things throughout their networks by adopting Server 2008, but it is also possible to experience some significant pain if you don’t think through your migration,” Miller points out.
 Where To Start
Miller cites Microsoft’s upgrade of its IIS (Internet Information Services) from Version 6 to Version 7 in Windows Server 2008 as an example of potential pain points because of the change in the way the new iteration handles some Web sites.
“I see most organizations picking off one or two functions for their initial implementations of Server 2008 and then as they become more comfortable with the platform, rolling in those other functions,” Miller says.
File and print services are areas where the transition to Windows Server 2008 will be relatively easy and will offer benefits to your organization. According to Miller, you can take advantage of SMB (Server Message Block) 2.0, and this migration is straightforward and one that most IT shops are comfortable with.
DC (domain controller) functionality is another area where Windows Server 2008 gives you more bang for your buck because it offers the concept of server roles and server features, says Miller. “It allows you to have a much smaller footprint for the actual server to have their server core,” he says, adding that this improved capability allows you to take advantage of smaller group policy objects and SMB 2.0, among other things.
Virtualization Considerations
According to Miller, other organizations may be evaluating Windows Server 2008 for its virtualization capabilities. “Until now, it’s been cost-prohibitive for them to move to a robust enterprise-class virtualization suite, which Server 2008 provides. So many organizations may throw up a Server 2008 box just to learn and take advantage of [Microsoft’s] Hyper-V technology,” Miller says.
With Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, you can run Windows Server 2008 and three other virtualized operating systems for the price of one license, and if you pony up for the Data Center Edition, you have the ability to run unlimited virtual machines, says Miller. “That’s cost-effective for organizations looking to see if virtualization will benefit them and if they have some very low-utilization servers in their infrastructure, because you get to replace four different pieces of hardware with one,” he says. For those deploying more traditional implementations, Miller says that the licensing strategy for Server 2008 is similar to those of Server 2000 and 2003.
Don’t Skimp On Security
Richard Gorman, president and CEO of data security solutions provider Vormetric (www.vormetric.com), says that Windows Server 2008 has made some major security improvements, including significantly improved firewalls. However, Gorman recommends considering a third-party encryption solution that will work across all of your network’s operating systems, particularly if you’re using virtual machines.
“In virtualized environments, what used to be kept in memory is now kept in a file on the hard disk, and so a hacker can easily gain access to your critical data,” says Gorman. “In fact, virtualized environments are easier to gain access to the data than standardized computing environments,” he says. 
by Robyn Weisman
What You’ll Need
“Generally speaking, you shouldn’t need any tools to move to Windows Server 2008 because the traditional tools should all be contained within the operating system,” says Doug Miller, technology specialist at CDW (www.cdw.com).
However, if you are dealing with complex situations, such as moving a Windows Server 2000 infrastructure to Windows Server 2008, and you decide you want to start from scratch, you might need something to migrate domain users and groups, says Miller. |
TOP TIPS
• Make sure you have a plan in place. Doug Miller, technology specialist at CDW (www.cdw.com), says you need to understand what benefits Windows Server 2008 will offer your SME. Windows Server 2008 brings lots of pluses to the table, but you will experience significant growing pains if you fail to think through your migration plans.
• Make sure you have a unified data encryption solution that works across your entire network environment. Although Windows Server 2008 has made huge steps forward on the security end, including much better firewalls, you still need a solution that can stop potential thieves at the data level, says Vormetric President and CEO Richard Gorman (www.vormetric.com). Given that so many organizations use multiple platforms, such as SuSE or Red Hat Linux, Windows Server 2003, and others besides Windows Server 2008, a centralized integrated encryption solution that works across your different physical and virtual platforms will save you time and sanity.
• Consider using an RODC (Read-Only Domain Controller) solution to monitor security challenges at branch offices or remote locations. Todd Tobias, systems engineer at Windows network management solutions provider ScriptLogic (www.scriptlogic.com), says Active Directory administrators face several challenges when deploying a DC (domain controller) at remote locations, including lack of physical security in the location and lacking staff that has the proper knowledge or privileges of managing DCs, among other reasons. Therefore, implementing an RODC may be the way to go. Although installing and managing RODCs can be cumbersome, Tobias recommends checking out Microsoft’s guidelines at technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732801.aspx to help you out.
• Think about the ways in which you want to use virtualization before deploying the technology. Illuminata senior analyst Gordon Haff says that because server virtualization is essentially a platform technology, it can be used in ways beyond server consolidation. “A lot of the more interesting uses of virtualization going forward involve using it as a basis to move toward more dynamic management of IT workloads,” Haff says. Given Windows Server 2008’s technology and price improvements with regard to virtualization, Haff’s point should particularly be taken to heart. |
Key Points
• Establish your network needs and how Windows Server 2008 can meet them
• Before upgrading, know the full scope of your server infrastructure and assess your data, where it is located, and how critical it is
• Determine where virtualization fits in your migration plans
|
|
|
