Windows Server 2008 - Considering the version and edition requirements

The differences between the Windows Server 2008 versions and editions. The features that each version and edition provide require resources. For example, when you install Internet Information Server (IIS) 7 on your system, the system requires additional resources to support IIS 7. Every feature, in fact, consumes resources, and you need to plan for those resources as part of the installation prerequisites. Load your server too heavily and it can’t respond to user requests — and your company will lose money on the installation.

Choosing the right version and edition is important because different versionand- edition combinations provide you with a different mix of features and performance. A Server Core installation can provide an excellent setup as long as you need it to perform only certain roles, including the following:

• Active Directory (domain controller)
• Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS), formerly known as Active Directory Application Mode
• Domain Name System (DNS)
• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
• File server
• Media Services
• Internet Information Services without ASP.NET support, but with both scripted (such as ASP) and static content support
• Print server

The problem with Server Core is that it also lacks functionality, so it may not be a good choice. An Enterprise edition of Server Core doesn’t have the same functionality as an Enterprise edition of the full (GUI) version. In fact, it’s missing these features:

• ASP.NET
• The IIS Management Console version 7 (because it requires a graphical interface)
• The IIS Management Service
• The IIS Legacy Snap-In or IIS Management Console version 6, for managing legacy Web sites
• IIS FTP management
• The Windows Activation Service

Because of the limitations that Server Core has, you can’t use it for roles such as an application server, even though you might be using the Enterprise edition of the product. Offsetting this lack of functionality is that Server Core uses resources very efficiently and runs considerably faster than a comparable full-version installation of the product. Consequently, you must consider not only the edition you want but the version as well. The tradeoffs between versions and editions are considerable, and they affect how you install the product and what you can expect from the product later.

Source of Information : For Dummies Windows Server 2008 For Dummies