Windows Server 2008 SupportWindows Server 2008 delivers enhanced fault tolerance, performance, security, manageability, functionality, capacity, and economy by incorporating a variety a new and improved features. New virtualization technology saves money, simplifies administration, adds flexibility, and reduces recovery time in case of natural or-human-made disaster. Improved clustering and load balancing capability increases fault tolerance and manageability. An updated web hosting and development platform strengthens the security and dependability of web applications and makes it easier to maintain web environments. Windows Server 2008 has been hardened to withstand external and internal attacks and new tools help enforce security policies. Better support for branch offices and offsite clients makes it simpler and safer to run remote applications and easier to manage and troubleshoot offsite environments.

Windows Server 2008 R2 adds important enhancements to the initial release of Windows 2008 in the areas of virtualization, remote access, web services, management automation, clustering, fault tolerance, availability, security, and Windows 7 integration.

Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you evaluate the benefits of Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 for your business, develop pilot programs and migration plans, integrate Windows Server with your network infrastructure and applications, train your IT staff how to use new management tools to administer and support your clients, and provide ongoing consulting and troubleshooting support via budget-friendly options such as Help Desk services and remote online technical support.

Features Introduced by Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2008 introduced a broad array of new and enhanced features that address vital aspects of business networking and solidify the position of Windows Server technology as a pivotal component of any information technology solution. Some of the headline features introduced by Windows Server 2008 include:

Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V
Windows Server 2008 includes integrated virtualization technology known as Hyper-V, which allows businesses to save money by deriving more functionality from less equipment. By making it possible to run multiple server roles on a shared machine, virtualization reduces costs associated with hardware, space, energy, and management time. Hyper-V offers a flexible virtualization platform with a unified set of tools to control virtual and hardware resources. Features and benefits of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V include:
  • Ability to cluster virtual machine hosts and to backup virtual machines without service interruption improves system availability
  • New virtual switch feature supports Windows Network Load Balancing (NLB) to enhance performance
  • Symmetric Multiprocessors (SMP) Support allows as many as four multi processors for a total of 16 processors in a virtual machine (VM) environment to get the maximum benefit of multi-threaded applications such as SQL Server
  • Ability to capture snapshots of a virtual machine makes it possible to restore a previous state
  • Multiple operating systems including Windows and Linux can be run from a single physical server
  • New storage capabilities including pass-thru hard disk access and dynamic storage expansion makes data more accessible to virtual machines, programs, and services
For additional information about Microsoft's Hyper-V technology and to find out how Progent can help your business benefit from virtualization, see Windows Server 2008 Virtual Server Consulting.

Improved Failover Clustering and Network Load Balancing
Windows Server 2008 improves support for failover clustering, also known as server clustering, by making this high-availability technology more secure, more stable, and easier to manage. Features of Windows Server 2008 that support failover clustering include:

  • A Cluster Validation Tool helps verify that an environment is correctly configured and architected to be converted to a cluster
  • A Cluster Management Interface makes it easier to administer clusters by offering features such as the ability to create customized views of clusters and shared folders
  • Migration is simplified by the ability to capture and copy cluster settings from one cluster to another
  • Seamless integration with the Volume Shadow Copy Service makes it easier to back up and restore clusters
  • Support for GUID partition table (GPT) disks allows greater disk capacity and improves availability by permitting extra storage to be added to an application without disrupting service
  • Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and DNS support eliminates the requirement to have WINS and NetBIOS name broadcasts
For a closer look at Microsoft's failover clustering technology and for information about Progent's support services for high-availability clustering, visit Windows Server 2008 Failover Cluster Consulting.

Server Manager and PowerShell
Administration, management, and automation are made easier in Windows Server 2008 by Server Manager and PowerShell. Server Manager offers a centralized console for controlling a server's configuration and system attributes, displaying the current status of a server, highlighting problems with configuring the server role, and managing all the roles assigned to the server. Server Manager makes it possible for system administrators to accomplish tasks quickly and accurately in a single friendly environment without being forced to jump from one management utility to another. Server Manager works seamlessly with PowerShell, a new command-line scripting language that helps automate administration across multiple servers.

Branch and Remote Office Support
Windows Server 2008 includes a number of features designed to simplify the installation and ensure the security and reliability of branch and global office systems. Improvements in this area include:

  • Windows Deployment Services (WDS) allow businesses to automate the installation of operating systems in remote offices without requiring the onsite presence of technical personnel. Windows Deployment Services makes it possible to deploy new systems quickly and inexpensively, even in cases where the remote computers have no operating system installed.
  • A new Read-Only Domain Controller offers a more secure mechanism to provide Active Domain administration in remote offices
  • Terminal Services (TS) RemoteApp and TS Web Access allow offsite workers to open programs remotely with a single click so that they appear to be running on their own computers
  • TS Gateway offers safe connectivity to remote applications through firewalls without requiring workers to set up or activate a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
  • Network Access Protection (NAP) is a platform to help enforce security policies and can be utilized to verify the health of remote office systems. When a remote client accesses a Windows Server 2008 environment, the NAP services can make sure that required updates and configuration standards are in place before permitting remote access to the system.
To learn about Progent's consulting support services for branch offices, refer to Progent's Consulting Help for Branch Offices.

Web Support
Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS 7.0) is a comprehensive solution for developing and hosting web applications. IIS 7.0 plays a crucial role in unifying Microsoft's web platform products such as ASP.NET, Windows SharePoint Services, and Windows Communication Foundation web services. Enhancements offered by IIS 7.0 include:

  • IIS has a more modular design so that feature modules can be installed independently, making it possible to shrink the server's exposed attack surface and reducing the server's resource requirements
  • The introduction of IIS Manager as well as a new command-line utility simplifies management and administration
  • Web site settings can easily be copied across multiple servers thanks to cross-site deployment support
  • Application administration as well as management of different components of the web server can be delegated to appropriate specialists
  • Improved integrated tools for analysis, repair, and health management make it easier to identify and correct problems
  • Sites and applications can be more thoroughly isolated from one another to improve security and availability
Active Directory Enhancements
Windows Server 2008 adds important new or enhanced services to Active Directory. New or improved services and their key features include:
  • Active Directory Domain Services are an enhanced and renamed version of AD Directory Services. AD Domain Services now offer improved auditing, fine-grained passwords for more versatile password policies, a Read-only Domain Controller for environments with marginal security, and Restartable Active Directory Domain Services to make routine maintenance less disruptive.
  • Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LS) are an enhanced and renamed version of Active Directory Application Mode. Enhancements to AD LS include Install from Media Generation for creating installation disks, easier auditing of directory service changes, and Active Directory Sites and Services Support to simplify management of AD LDS replication.
  • Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS) identify which users have what rights to a file (e.g., open, modify, print, etc.). This protect data that is distributed to environments that you do not control. Enhancements to AD RMS include the ability to install the AD RMS client on other Windows operating systems, Persistent Protection to keep content secure when it is outside your network environment, and Usage Policy Templates to make it easy to set usage rights for files with the same rights.
  • Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) store certificates and private keys to protect the identity and centralize access to this information. Enhancements to AD CS include an Online Responder to reduce network traffic when clients validate certificates, and a new management tool called Enterprise PKI (PKI View) to help manage Certification Authority (CA) hierarchies.
  • Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) authenticate users from partner organizations and make it easier to integrate trusted and untrusted domain resources. Enhancements to AD FS include the ability of AD FS to be managed via Server Manager, integration with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 to allow a single sign-in, elimination of the need for AD RMS to be installed in both organizations, and improved administration to make it easier for both organizations to configure trust information.
Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants offer world-class expertise in designing, integrating, and troubleshooting Active Directory technology. For a closer look at Progent's Active Directory consulting services and more details about the improvements to Active Directory incorporated into Windows Server 2008, visit Progent's Consulting Support for Active Directory.

New and Enhanced of Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008 R2 ConsultingWindows Server 2008 R2 with SP 1 includes major enhancements to the original Windows Server 2008 release in crucial areas such as virtualized servers and desktops, branch office connectivity, web hosting and development, high availability, failover clustering, remote administration, management automation, and support for Windows 7-based clients. Windows Server 2008 R2 is available only in 64-bit versions and is designed to accelerate return on investment by delivering world-class performance, data protection, scalability, and dependability.

Marquee technologies introduced by Windows Server 2008 R2 include Live Migration for Hyper-V based virtual servers, Clustered Shared Volumes (CSV) for high-availability clustering, BranchCache for improving remote office connectivity, DirectAccess for supporting remote and mobile Windows 7 clients, Internet Information Services 7.5 for advanced web services, and new PowerShell capability for expanding and automating the management of remote servers. For a more detailed discussion of the new technologies incorporated in Windows Server 2008 R2 and to find out how Progent can help you turn them into advantages for your business, refer to Progent's Windows Server 2008 R2 consulting services.

How Progent Can Help You with Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2
Progent offers a variety of consulting and support services that can help businesses of any size benefit from Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2. Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you evaluate the ways Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 could improve the business value of your information network so that you can justify the cost of an upgrade. Progent can help you pilot Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 so that you can determine its stability, performance, and compatibility under realistic workloads. Progent can assist with developing a rollout plan, assess and enhance existing network infrastructure, develop backup and recovery procedures, evaluate security architecture and policies, help integrate physical and virtualized servers, design high-availability strategies including failover server clustering, train in-house IT staff, and set up automated server and network monitoring processes to ensure security and performance.

Microsoft has terminated mainstream support for Windows Server 2008, making it advisable to consider upgrading to a current version of Windows Server. If you maintain an environment based on Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 and would like to move up to Windows Server 2012 R2, Progent can provide expert Windows Server 2012 R2 migration support.

If you are considering the creation of a hybrid network model that integrates on-premises resources with public cloud services like those offered by Microsoft Azure, Progent can help you evaluate and deploy a current version of Windows Server that incorporates core elements of Azure technology and is designed to support hybrid networks. See Progent's Windows Server 2019 migration consulting and Windows Server 2016 hybrid cloud solutions.

Progent can provide a variety of support services that include remote online troubleshooting, comprehensive Help Desk services, outsourced or co-sourced network management, and full-time or part-time staffing. Progent can provide the expertise of CISM, CISA GIAC, and CISSP-certified network security engineers to assess the security of your environment, validate regulatory compliance, perform penetration testing, establish business continuity plans, and verify disaster recovery procedures.

Progent's Cisco-certified network professionals, including high-level CCIE consultants, can help you design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot a hardened network infrastructure that offers the performance and security your business requires without breaking your IT budget.

Progent's Support Services for Microsoft Server Technology
For small businesses anywhere in the U.S., Progent's Microsoft-authorized experts offer computer assistance and IT consulting support for the whole family of Microsoft .NET servers and Microsoft Windows Servers. Progent's planning, integration, update, and support services include network architecture, configuration, and administration help for project management and documentation, local and off-site IT help and network diagnosis, Standard Help Desk Support or Co-managed Call Center Services, certified security consulting, IT outsourcing, and ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

If your company needs immediate online help from a Microsoft certified network expert, visit Progent's Urgent Online Technical Support.

Learn more details concerning Progent's Consulting Services for Microsoft .NET Server Technology.

If you wish to get in touch with Progent concerning engineering help for Microsoft Windows Server, call 1-800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.



An index of content::

  • .NET Android Programming Company DotNET Framework Reports
  • 24/7 Firewall IT Services Honolulu Hawaii 24x7 Security Security Contractor Honolulu, HI
  • 24/7 Networking Consultant Washington 24x7 Microsoft Certified Partner Consulting Firms Washington, District of Columbia
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Setup and Support
  • 24x7 Remote Consulting Suse Linux, Solaris, UNIX Buffalo Top Online Troubleshooting Suse Linux, Solaris, UNIX Buffalo Great Lakes, US
  • 24x7x365 At Home Workers Calgary Consulting - Endpoint Management Tools Expertise Calgary, Alberta Work at Home Employees Consultants in Calgary - Endpoint Management Solutions Consultants Calgary, AB
  • At Home Workers Miami Consultants - Support Consulting Services Miami At Home Workers Miami Assistance - Set up Consulting and Support Services Miami Florida, United States
  • Windows Server 2008 Security Remote Consulting
  • At Home Workforce Phoenix Expertise - Setup Consulting Phoenix Valley of the Sun Telecommuters Phoenix Assistance - Infrastructure Assistance

  • Microsoft Windows 2003 Consultant
    24/7 Services Windows Server 2003

    Progent's certified Windows 2003 Server consultants offer computer support and IT consulting services for the complete line of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers, Microsoft Windows 2003 Server, and Windows Server 2000. Progent's Windows Server 2003 upgrade, integration, administration, and maintenance offerings include network planning, deployment, project management, in-person and remote technical support and repair, Call Center services, expert security consulting, comprehensive outsourcing, and cost-effective co-sourcing.

  • BlackBerry BES Server Integration Firms Consultancy BlackBerry BPS Saddle Brook-Paterson
  • CISM Security Security Network Support Company Napa Microsoft Experts Napa Technical Support Outsource
  • California Central Valley BlackBerry Enterprise Server Computer Consultancy Firms Network Management Services BlackBerry Email Fresno, CA
  • Camden & Islington BlackBerry Enterprise Server Small Business IT Consulting Outsourcing IT Support BlackBerry Southwark
  • CentOS Linux, Solaris, UNIX Technology Consulting Services Fayette County Kentucky 24x7 Technical Support Services CentOS Linux, Solaris, UNIX Lexington, Fayette County
  • Cheyenne Remote Workforce Consulting in Cheyenne - Network Security Systems Expertise Cheyenne-Van Nuys Remote Workforce Expertise in Cheyenne - Cybersecurity Solutions Consulting and Support Services
  • Chicago At Home Workforce IP Voice Systems Consulting Joliet, Illinois, USA Telecommuters Consulting Experts near me in Chicago - IP Voice Systems Consulting Services Berwyn, IL

  • SQL 2008 Reporting Services Contract Development
    Award Winning Development Company SQL Server Capacity Planning

    SQL Server 2000 is a rich, web-aware database and data analysis package that opens the door to the fast creation of cutting-edge high-end applications that can provide your business a critical competitive advantage. SQL Server features core support for XML and the capability to query across the Internet and beyond the firewall. The knowledge and experience of Progent's certified SQL Server 2000 engineers, with an average of more than over 10 years of work helping with Microsoft technology, assures you success in designing, installing and supporting Microsoft SQL Server applications that are well connected with other applications powered Microsoft's .NET environment.

  • Cisco Information Technology Management Spartanburg-Roebuck, SC Cisco Remote Support Spartanburg

  • Amazon AWS hybrid cloud solutions Services
    Google Cloud hybrid solutions Consult

    Progent can assist you to design and manage hybrid environments that support Windows and Linux operating systems and applications in either cloud-based systems or in hybrid architectures that combine on-premises resources along with one or more public cloud services. To assist you to incorporate cloud services with physical datacenters, Progent offers a range of cloud integration support services such as Microsoft Azure enterprise hybrid cloud planning and integration services, Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud migration, and Amazon Web Marketing Service (WMS) programming and troubleshooting. Progent has two decades of background delivering advanced consulting expertise online, and Progent can make sure you successfully carry out your cloud integration initiatives on schedule and within your budget.

  • Cisco Network Repair Service Dallas Texas Cisco Service Dallas DFW
  • Consultancy Services Company SQL Server 2012 Hartford Connecticut Hartford Connecticut, United States Network Engineer Microsoft SQL Server 2017
  • Dynamics GP Premier Partner - Sydney - Implementation Outsourcing Sydney Microsoft Dynamics GP Sydney Premier Partner - Training Support Services Sydney, New South Wales
  • Dynamics GP-Software Partner in The Woodlands - Training Consultants The Woodlands 24-7 MS Dynamics GP-Great Plains Supplier near me in The Woodlands - SQL Server Help The Woodlands, TX
  • East Bay Network Support Service San Leandro Information Technology Consulting Firms

  • Microsoft Retail Management System Application Consultant
    QuickBooks Pro Application Consultants

    Besides offering the expertise of Microsoft Dynamics GP specialists, Progent has experts in Dynamics AX (Axapta), Dynamics NAV (Navision), Dynamics SL, Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System, Macola ERP, MAS 90 by Sage Software, and QuickBooks Pro by Intuit. Progent can provide programming, troubleshooting, management help, upgrade assistance, and one-on-one or group webinar training classes customized to address your specific needs. Progent's consultants also can show you how to integrate and support a protected, robust network infrastructure to run your ERP, MRP and accounting solutions.

  • Firewall Auditing Nashville Firewall Network Security Audit Nashville, Davidson County, United States
  • Greensboro, Guilford County Greensboro Ryuk Crypto-Ransomware Operational Recovery Greensboro Greensboro Maze Ransomware Operational Recovery
  • Greensboro, North Carolina Server Consulting Greensboro-Winston-Salem Small Office Computer Consulting
  • IT Consulting Group Exchange Server 2016 Exchange 2019 Migration Charleston County South Carolina
  • IT Service Cisco CCIE Online Cisco Access Point Technical Firms
  • IT Staff Temps for IT Service Groups Montreal Supplemental IT Support Staffing Support Services Expertise Montreal, Quebec
  • Louisville, KY, Lexington, KY, Owensboro, KY, Bowling Green, KY Security Security Tech Services Louisville, KY Urgent CISSP Firewall Configure
  • Microsoft 365 Hybrid Solutions Online Consulting Microsoft 365 PowerPoint Integration Outsourcing
  • ProSight Phishing Defense Consultant 24/7/365 Signature-based Virus Protection Consulting Services
  • Red Hat Linux, Sun Solaris, UNIX Support and Help Parsippany-Wayne, New Jersey Parsippany-Fairfield, NJ Fedora Linux, Solaris, UNIX Online Support Services
  • Rio de Janeiro At Home Workforce Rio de Janeiro Consulting - Collaboration Technology Consultants At Home Workforce Rio de Janeiro Guidance - Collaboration Solutions Consulting Experts Rio de Janeiro
  • San Diego-UCSD, California Security Security Contractors Security Evaluation Firewall San Diego-UCSD, California
  • Seattle DopplePaymer Ransomware Forensics Analysis Seattle Kirkland Everett, WA 24x7x365 Seattle DopplePaymer Crypto-Ransomware Forensics King County Washington

  • Configuration Dynamics GP
    Dynamics GP Great Plains Software Network Engineer

    Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains allows you to grow and manage your company more efficiently by offering deep access to decision-driving data and a fast ROI. Microsoft Dynamics GP confers major productivity benefits including its ability to expand the reach of your organization, manage your financials, computerize financial operations, standardize processes across your company, improve inventory control, increase order accuracy, grow sales and shorten turnaround time, and maximize free cash flow. Progent can help you configure and maintain a reliable, secure server and communications foundation to support Great Plains, and can offer expert Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains consultants to make sure you reap the full benefits of your Microsoft Dynamics GP/Great Plains business management system.

  • Shreveport At Home Workforce Backup/Restore Solutions Assistance Shreveport Barksdale Air Force Base Shreveport At Home Workers Backup Systems Assistance
  • Skokie Hermes Crypto-Ransomware Business-Recovery Skokie WannaCry Ransomware System-Rebuild Skokie-Deerfield
  • St. Paul-Eagan, MN Work from Home Employees Consulting Services near me in St. Paul - Voice/Video Conferencing Systems Consulting Best Work from Home Employees St. Paul Expertise - Video Conferencing Systems Expertise St Paul
  • Suse Linux, Solaris, UNIX On-site Technical Support Knoxville, TN Knoxville, Knox County Suse Linux, Sun Solaris, UNIX Support and Setup
  • Best Windows Server 2008 R2 Help and Support
  • Technology Consultants Small Business Network Clark County Nevada Windows Security Information Technology Consultant Clark County Nevada
  • Telecommuters Assistance near me in Indianapolis - Help Desk Outsourcing Consulting Marion County Indiana Telecommuters Indianapolis Consultants - Help Desk Augmentation Assistance

  • SQL Server 2016 PolyBase On-site Support
    Computer Consulting SQL Server SSAS

    SQL Server 2016 offers significant enhancements in performance, capacity, security, availability, mobile computing integration, plus built-in BI. Innovations include PolyBase for processing SQL and NoSQ files in one appliance for big data applications, Jason support, Dynamic Data Masking, Mobile Reports, and seamless management of on-premises and cloud-resident resources. Progent's Microsoft-certified consulting team can provide online and onsite support to assist organizations of any size to deploy, administer or debug any version of SQL Server 2016. Progent can also help you to interface SQL Server 2016 with all key Microsoft products such as Windows Server and Hyper-V, Exchange, SharePoint Server, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Lync or Skype for Business, and System Center Operations Manager.

  • Telecommuting Computer Consulting Remote Workers Consulting Services
  • Teleworkers Consulting in Pittsburgh - Cloud Integration Technology Consulting Pittsburgh International Airport PIT Pittsburgh Remote Workforce Cloud Technology Guidance Pittsburgh International Airport PIT
  • Thousand Oaks Egregor Crypto-Ransomware Rollback Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks Egregor Ransomware Removal Thousand Oaks, Conejo Valley, America
  • Top Ranked Cisco Computer Expert Brisbane CBD Cisco Consolidate Brisbane
  • Top Spartanburg Lockbit Ransomware Cleanup Spartanburg-Roebuck, SC Spartanburg Ryuk Ransomware Infection System-Restore Example Spartanburg-Greenville, South Carolina
  • Toronto Nephilim Crypto-Ransomware Forensics Analysis Toronto Toronto Ryuk Crypto-Ransomware Reporting Toronto
  • Virginia Exchange Consulting Group Onsite Computer Services Exchange Virginia
  • Waltham Snatch Crypto-Ransomware Recovery Waltham-Framingham, America Waltham-Hyde Park Waltham Hermes Crypto-Ransomware Data-Recovery

  • After Hours Work from Home Data Protection Support Outsourcing
    Support Outsourcing Remote Workforce Data Protection

    Progent can help small and mid-size companies to plan, deploy, verify and manage backup/restore systems needed to support remote workers.

  • Webster Ransomware Ryuk Preparedness Checkup Harris County Webster Crypto-Ransomware Nephilim Preparedness Evaluation Webster, United States

  • prime infrastructure Troubleshooting
    24/7/365 wireless controller Remote Consulting

    Cisco's Catalyst line of wireless controllers streamline the administration of Wi-Fi networks by unifying the provisioning and management of wireless APs, optimizing Wi-Fi performance by reducing the effect of radio frequency congestion, improving wireless uptime with fast failover, and hardening security by detecting threats and filtering traffic content according to user type and location. Progent's Wi-Fi consultants can assist you to configure Cisco Wi-Fi controllers to manage wireless LANs of any size. Progent can help you to maintain and debug your existing Cisco Wi-Fi solution or implement an efficient transition to Cisco's latest wireless controller solutions.

  • Windows Server 2008 Hyper-VI Network Consultant
  • Work at Home Employees Oxford Expertise - Collaboration Technology Guidance After Hours Oxford Remote Workers Collaboration Solutions Consulting South East England

  • © 2002-2025 Progent Corporation. All rights reserved.