Amit Pawar - Infrastructure blog : Platform

High availability features of Windows Server 2008

apawar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:09:34 GMT

Technorati Tags: High Availability,Winodws Server 2008,Clustering

Customer that I talk to want to know how they can providing high availability to mission-critical applications, services, and data. When services are down or fail, business continuity is interrupted, which can result in significant losses.

Windows Server 2008 supports two key high-availability features to help organizations meet their uptime requirements for their critical systems: Failover Clustering and Network Load Balancing (NLB). Failover Clustering and NLB in Windows Server 2008 have been improved to offer simplified management and more robust functionality. In addition, Windows Server Backup provides a basic backup and recovery solution in case of hardware failures.

Failover Clustering

Failover clustering can help you build redundancy into your network and eliminate single points of failure. The improvements to failover clusters (formerly known as server clusters) in Windows Server 2008 are aimed at simplifying clusters, making them more secure, and enhancing cluster stability.

Cluster Validation Tool

By using the new Cluster Validation Tool, you can perform tests to determine whether your system, storage, and network configuration is suitable for a cluster. The Cluster Validation Tool verifies that the nodes meet all of the operating system requirements, that the networks are configured correctly, that there are at least two separate networks on each node for redundancy, and that the storage subsystem supports the necessary Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) commands to handle cluster actions.
Setup Improvements

Once validated by the Cluster Validation Tool, the installation has been streamlined so that administrators can set up a cluster in one step. The cluster installation is completely scriptable, enabling administrators to automate cluster deployments.
Migration Improvements

When migrating a clustered service from one cluster to another, cluster settings can be captured and copied to another cluster. This reduces the time it takes to build the new cluster and configure the services.
Cluster Management and Operations Improvements

The cluster management interface has been optimized to make managing the cluster easier and more intuitive. Cluster management can be performed from the command line as well as the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) management console. Managing clustered shared folders is now easier to do because it can create customized views to quickly see which shared folders are clustered and which cluster a shared folder is available on.
Backup and Restore Improvements

Full integration with the Volume Shadow Copy Service makes it easier to back up and restore cluster configurations.
Cluster Infrastructure Improvements

The cluster quorum contains the configuration settings for the entire cluster. With Windows Server 2008, you can configure a cluster so that the quorum resource is not a single point of failure by using the majority node set or a hybrid of the majority node set and the quorum resource model. The cluster service can also isolate DLLs that perform actions incorrectly to minimize impact to the cluster, as well as verify consistency among copies of the quorum resource.
Storage Improvements

Administrators have better control and can achieve better performance with storage than was possible in previous releases. Failover clusters now support GUID partition table (GPT) disks that can have capacities of larger than 2 terabytes, for increased disk size and robustness. Administrators can now modify resource dependencies while resources are online, which means they can make an additional disk available without interrupting access to the application that will use it. And administrators can run tools in Maintenance Mode to check, fix, back up, or restore disks more easily and with less disruption to the cluster.
Network Improvements

Networking has been enhanced to support Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) as well as Domain Name System (DNS) for name resolution, removing the requirement to have WINS and NetBIOS name broadcasts. Other network improvements include managing dependencies between network names and IP addresses: If either of the IP addresses associated with a network name is available, the network name will remain available.
Security Improvements

Internet Protocol security (IPsec) can be used between clients and the cluster nodes, as well as between nodes so that you can authenticate and encrypt the data. Access to the cluster can also be audited to determine who connected to the cluster and when.

Network Load Balancing

Network Load Balancing (NLB) allows you to distribute TCP/IP requests to multiple systems in order to optimize resource utilization, decrease computing time, and ensure system availability. NLB has been improved in Windows Server 2008, including:

Next Generation TCP/IP

The TCP/IP protocol suite has been completely redesigned for Windows Server 2008. Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) are both supported natively by Windows Server 2008. NLB extends full support to IPv6 for all communication while maintaining IPv4 support.
Multiple IP Address Support

Each node in your NLB cluster can now have multiple dedicated IP addresses.
Microsoft ISA Server Integration

Microsoft ISA Server can support your mixed IPv4 and IPv6 infrastructure by allowing multiple IP addresses for each NLB node where IPv4 and IPv6 clients are used. ISA Server can also provide intrusion detection services to protect your NLB cluster.

System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2007 Guides now available

apawar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:16:45 GMT

Getting Started

Technorati Tags: Data Protection,DPM,System Center

The Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2007 Getting Started Guide provides quick access to tasks required to protect and recover your data, and includes a Quick Start Guide that provides scaled down instructions for installing and configuring DPM 2007. Get this guide and some other important implementation guides below.

Get it @ http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=293d933f-a54d-4bad-bbfd-7b424e1a2b73&DisplayLang=en.

Planning

This document explains the features of DPM 2007 and how DPM works. It also provides the information that you need to plan a DPM deployment, including protection group and DPM server configuration.

Get it @ http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=50b54355-d497-4e8b-89bc-5c52cf0fb76a&DisplayLang=en.

Deployment

Deploying DPM 2007 provides step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring DPM 2007, and includes an introduction to the DPM user interface. Deploying DPM 2007 also provides information on troubleshooting your DPM installation and how to repair and uninstall DPM 2007.

Get it @ http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2812640f-a4a7-4ff8-b4c9-0d73b828328d&DisplayLang=en.

Troubleshooting

Provides troubleshooting guidance for DPM 2007 issues such as performance, tape library management, and data recovery.

Get it @ http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1e2e2439-5ecc-422f-8965-238b7efca736&DisplayLang=en.

Microsoft Application Support for Windows Server 2008

apawar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:48:58 GMT

At the time of writing this blog entry here is a list of Microsoft applications

Technorati Tags: Windows,Server,2008,Application,Support

that work on Windows Server 2008 and indicative timeline for when new application will be supported on Windows Server 2008

Released

.Net Framework 2.0
.Net Framework 3.0 sp1
.Net Framework 3.5
Dynamics CRM 4.0
Exchange Server 2007 SP1
Forefront Security Server 1.0
Forefront Server Security 10.1
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 SP1
SQL Sever 2005 SP2
System Center Data Protection Manager 2007
System Center Operations Manager 2007
Windows Sharepoint Services 3.0 SP1
Visual Studio 2008

1st Half of 2008

Dynamics AX 2009
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1
System Center Essentials SP1
System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1

2nd Half of 2008

Application Virtualiazation 4.5
Commerce Server 2007 SP2
Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 SP1
Host Integration Server 2006 SP1
SQL Server 2008
System Center Virtual Machine Manager ("vNext")
Windows Business Essentials Server
Windows Small Business Server 2008
Windows High Performance Computing Server 2008
Windows Storage Server 2008

Not Supported

ISA Server 2004
ISA Server 2006
SMS 2003
System Center Reporting Manager

Upgrade paths available for Windows Server 2008

apawar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:27:21 GMT

Technorati Tags: Windows,Server,2003,2008,R2,Upgrade,Server Core

If you are currently running:	You can upgrade to:
Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition (R2, Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2)	Full Installation of Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition Full Installation of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition
Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition (R2, Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2)	Full Installation of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition
Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition (R2, Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2)	Full Installation of Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Edition

There are a couple of important things to remember here.

With the exception of Windows Server 2008 for Itanium, the table above applies to both x86 and x64 versions. However, cross-platform upgrades (x86 to x64 or vice-versa) are not supported.
It is also not possible to upgrade from a previous version of Windows to Windows Server 2008 Server Core Edition.

Windows Server 2008 in the Enterprise an overview

apawar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:28:59 GMT

Technorati Tags: Windows Server 2008,Overview,Web,Virtualization,Foundation,Infrastrcuture,Security

By now you have either heard or read something somewhere that Microsoft is about to release a new Serve operating System. The new server operating system is Windows Server 2008, slated for world wide release on February 27 2007. I have now been working with and presenting on Windows Server 2008 for the past one year and the first thing I talk to customers about is why this is a significant release of Window Server Platform, and the top reasons for why they should consider Windows Server 2008 as a important part of their IT Infrastructure platform.

The capabilities the new version of Windows Server brings to an IT infrastructure is a strategic asset and the critical foundation upon which software can deliver services and user applications that a business needs in order to operate effectively and succeed. Windows Server 2008 enables greater business success by providing a platform that supports mission critical solutions and applications, making them available to your organization when it needs them. Windows Server 2008 is the platform on which our customers can build their business on.

The Four Pillars of Windows Server 2008

Windows Server Platform – What’s New in Windows Server 2008

Windows Server Virtualization (Hyper-V): The Windows Server 2008 wave will include Windows Server Virtualization (Hyper-V), a powerful, performant, virtualization technology with strong management and security features. Windows Server virtualization will help businesses reduce costs, increase agility and system availability for production server consolidation, disaster recovery, test and development, and, when coupled with System Center Virtual Machine Manager, the end-to-end management of dynamic datacenters.
A World-Class Web and Applications Platform: Windows Server 2008 provides a secure, easy-to-manage platform for developing and reliably hosting applications and services that are delivered from the server or over the Web. New features include simplified management, increased security, and both performance and extensibility improvements which delivers a unified platform for Web publishing that integrates Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7), ASP.NET, Windows Communication Foundation, and Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services.
Improved Networking Performance: Windows Server 2008 introduces the biggest change in the networking stack since Windows NT 4.0. Technologies like Receive Window Auto-tuning, Receive Side Scaling, and Quality of Service (QOS) allow organizations to take full advantage of today's multi-Gigabit networks. Integrated IPsec and the new Windows Firewall with Advanced Security allow organizations to completely secure and control the flow of network traffic.
Enhanced Security and Compliance: Windows Server 2008 has been developed from the ground up with the strictest security in mind. Always "shields up," Windows Server 2008 installs only the needed services for the roles the server is performing. Enhanced auditing, Drive Encryption, event forwarding, and Rights Management Services are just some of the technologies that help organization adhere to today's strict IT compliance standards.
Take Back Control Over Your Remote Infrastructure: Managing servers, services, and security at remote locations is an on-going challenge for IT Professionals. Windows Server 2008 simplifies administration of the servers in branch offices with enhancements to Active Directory, including Read-Only Domain Controllers and administrative role separation. Technologies like BitLocker and the Server Core installation option are specific features that increase security and address the unique needs of branch offices.
Server Management Made Easier: Simplifying the day-to-day complexities of server administration is a key theme in many of the enhancements included in Windows Server 2008. New management tools like the Server Manager Console provides a single, unified console for managing a server's configuration and system information, displaying server status, identifying problems with server role configuration, and managing all roles installed on the server.
Enhanced Scripting and Task Automation: New technologies like Windows PowerShell, a command-line shell and scripting language, helps IT Professionals automate common tasks. With a new admin-focused scripting language, more than 120 standard command-line tools, and consistent syntax and utilities, Windows PowerShell allows IT professionals to more easily control system administration and to accelerate automation.
Presentation Virtualization: With Windows Sever 2008, users will have secure access to internal applications through firewall-friendly ports. With Windows Server Terminal Services RemoteApp, only the application window, not the entire remote desktop, launches and runs in its own resizable, interactive window on the client computer's desktop.
Protect Unhealthy Computers from Entering the Network: Network Access Protection (NAP) addresses the industry-wide problem of unhealthy computers accessing and compromising an organization's network. NAP is used to ensure that any computer connecting to the network meets corporate policy for "healthy" requirements, to limit network access for computers not meeting the predefined policy, providing remediation services to get those computers back to a healthy state, and to provide ongoing compliance-checking.
Better Together with Windows Vista: Because Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 are built as part of a single development project, they share a number of new technologies across networking, storage, security and management. Organizations will immediately see the benefits of running Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista as their client and server solution.