Windows Server 2008 Editions and System Requirements
Before embarking on the installation of Windows Server 2008 installation it is important to first gain an understanding of the different editions available and the corresponding hardware requirements. it is also important to be aware of the upgrade options available with each edition. With this objective in mind this chapter will focus on providing an overview of both the different Windows Server 2008 editions and the recommended hardware requirements.
Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition
Windows Server 2008 Standard is one of Microsoft's entry level server offerings (alongside Windows Web Server 2008) and is one of the least expensive of the various editions available. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions are available and in terms of hardware Standard edition supports up to 4Gb of RAM and 4 processors.
Windows Server 2008 is primarily targeted and small and mid-sized businesses and is ideal for providing domain, web, DNS, remote access, print, file and application services. Support for clustering is absent from this edition.
An upgrade path to Windows Server 2008 Standard is available from Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition.
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition provides greater functionality and scalability than the Standard edition. As with Standard edition both 32-bit and 64-bit versions are available. Enhancements include support for as many as 8 processors and up to 64Gb of RAM on 32-bit systems and 2TB of RAM on 64-bit systems.
Additional features of the Enterprise edition include support for clusters of up to 8 nodes and Active Directory Federated Services (AD FS).
Windows Server 2000, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition and Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition may all be upgeaded to Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition.
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Edition
The Datacenter edition represents the top end of the Windows Server 2008 server range and is targeted at mission critical enterprises requiring stability and high uptime levels. Windows Server 2008 Datacenter edition is tied closely to the underlying hardware through the implementation of custom Hardware Abstraction Layers (HAL). As such, it is only possible to obtain Datacenter edition as part of a hardware purchase.
As with other versions, the Datacenter edition is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions and supports 64Gb of RAM on 32-bit systems and up to 2TB of RAM on 64-bit systems. In addition, this edition supports a minimum of 8 processors up to a maximum of 64.
Upgrade paths to Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Edition are available from the Datacenter editions of Windows 2000 and 2003.