Check out these cool Windows Server 2008 videos…

Windows Server 2008 - Crouching Robot

Windows Server 2008 - Command Line

Windows Server 2008 - Exerciser

More great stuff about Windows Server 2008 can be found at http://serverunleashed.com.

Update for Windows Vista (KB949587)
Install this update to enable remote management of a Windows Server 2008 computer running the Hyper-V RC1 role.

Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB950049)
The Release Candidate 1 (RC1) update to the Hyper-V role provides improvements to security, stability, performance, user experience, forward compatibility of configurations, and the programming model.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB949587)
Install this update to enable remote management of a Windows Server 2008 computer running the Hyper-V RC1 role.

Friday I passed the both the "TS: Configuring System Center Configuration Manager 2007" and the "PRO: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator" test (exam number 70-401 and 70-647). The ConfigMgr test was very easy but the Enterprise test was a challenge. I recommend that you update your trust skills before taking this test. The passing score for both tests was 700, and my score was 971 and 893.

A few weeks ago I also managed to passed the 70-620 (Configuring Windows Vista Client), and the 70-622 (Desktop Support Enterprise). This completes my MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician and MCITP: Enterprise Administrator certification.

Microsoft  Certification Exam Completed:
647 Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator
401 TS: Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager, Configuring
622 Pro: Microsoft Desktop Support – ENTERPRISE
620 TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client
649 TS: Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist
648 TS: Upgrading your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist
089 Designing, Implementing, and Managing, a Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 Infrastructure
284 Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
296 Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000
292 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000
216 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Network Infrastructure
222 Migrating from Microsoft® Windows NT® 4.0 to Microsoft® Windows® 2000
224 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Exchange 2000 Server
219 Designing a Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure
217 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure
215 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server
210 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional

The Windows Vista Service Pack 1 management tools for the Hyper-V release candidate are now available. This update package installs the Hyper-V remote management tools on a computer that is running Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). This package includes the following:

•The Hyper-V Manager. The Hyper-V Manager is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that provides management access to a Windows Server 2008-based server that uses the Hyper-V role.

•The Virtual Machine Connection. The Virtual Machine Connection is a remote connection tool that you can use to establish an interactive session on a virtual machine

Download:

Download the Update for Windows Vista x86 edition (KB949758) package.

Download the Update for Windows Vista x64 edition (KB949758) package.

More Information: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949758

Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tool (RSAT) for Windows Vista is now available for download. RSAT enables IT administrators to remotely manage roles and features in Windows Server 2008 from a computer running Windows Vista SP1. It includes support for remote management of computers running either a Server Core or full installation option of Windows Server 2008.

Download:

• x86 version
• x64 version

Microsoft has released a number of whitepapers on Windows Server 2008 clustering:

• Microsoft High Availability Strategy White Paper
• Overview of Failover Clustering with Windows Server 2008
• Quick Migration with Hyper-V
• Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering Architecture Overview
• WS2008 Failover Clustering Datasheet
• WS2008 Multi Site Clustering

Download

As scheduled I passed the "TS: Upgrading your MCSE from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008" test Today (exam number 70-649). The test is 55 questions with a passing score on 700 out of 1000. My score was 1000 :-D.

This upgrade test gives me the following Windows Server 2008 exams:

• 70-640 TS: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory
• 70-642 TS: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure.
• 70-643 TS: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Applications.

I have to say that the questions are very easy when you consider its a upgrade test. Lots of the questions could be part of a Windows Server 2003 test and 1/3 of the questions was 100% the same as in 70-648.

To complete the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator I allso need 70-620 or 70-624 and the not yet released 70-647. So I hope to complete the Vista test (70-620) within this month, so I can focus on 70-647 and take the test when it becomes avalible.

Exam 70-647: Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator is in development. It is expected to be released in early 2008. 

Today I passed the "TS: Upgrading your MCSA from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008" test (exam number 70-648).
The test is 55 questions (28 + 27) with a passing score on 700 out of 1000. My score was 1000 :-D.

This upgrade test gives me the following Windows Server 2008 exams:

• 70-640 TS: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory
• 70-642 TS: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure.

Next: My focus is now at 70-649, and the test is scheduled to january 4th 2008.

Go and get it while it's hot:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=8F22F69E-D1AF-49F0-8236-2B742B354919&displaylang=en

This is Windows Server 2008 RC1 with the Hyper-V Beta components. 

Lots of changes since the preview, huge improvements in performance, stability and compatibility as well as:

1. Support for installing Hyper-V on Windows Server core.
2. Support for clustering of Hyper-V.
3. Support for VSS backup of Hyper-V.
4. Integration Services are now part of Windows Server 2008 (which means that if you use the CD image of this beta to install Windows Server 2008 inside a virtual machine - Integration Services will automatically be there with no need for you to perform extra steps).

I will post detailed installation instructions soon - but two pointers to get you started:

1. There are no .MSUs anymore.  Just install Windows, select to install a new server role, and select 'Hyper-V'.
2. You need to install using 'English (United States)'.  If you install with any other language (or flavor of English) Hyper-V will not work.  However - you can change the local / keyboard preferences for your user after installation without any problems.

Active Directory Certificate Services
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=48545

Active Directory Domain Services
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48547

Active Directory Federation Services
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48542

Active Directory Rights Management Services
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48554

Application Server
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48544

Availability and Scalability
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=90922

DNS Server
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48548

File Services
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48550

Group Policy
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=90923

Network Policy and Access Services
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48552

Performance and Reliability
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=90924

Print Services
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48553

Security and Protection
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=90925

Server Manager
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48541

Streaming Media Services
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48551

Terminal Services
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=48555

Web Server
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48558

Windows Deployment Services
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=48559

Windows Server 2008, when it ships later this year, will include an installation option called “Server Core” that allows admins to set up a minimal environment to run a handful of roles. At TechEd 2007 in Orlando, Microsoft announced that it will be adding yet another admin-selectable role option to Server Core: Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7), Microsoft’s Web server.

Windows Server 2008 (the product which was known, until quite recently as Longhorn Server) has been designed since its inception to consist of a core foundation with roles layered atop it. Instead of uninstalling functionality, customers will add on specific roles and features that they want/need to run.

You can enable 8 different types of role in Core:

• Active Directory Domain Services
• Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS)
• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server
• DNS Server
• File Services
• Print Server
• Streaming Media Services
• IIS 7 (just added)
• Codename Viridian (Hypervisor virtualisation) - Confirmed june 8th. ny Microsoft.

There’s also some basic functionality that you can use:

• Microsoft Failover Cluster
• Network Load Balancing
• Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications
• Windows Backup
• Multipath I/O
• Removable Storage Management
• Windows Bitlocker Drive Encryption
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
• Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS)
• Telnet client
• Quality of Service (QoS)

For example, you could have a branch office that requires a lightweight DC but does not have appropriate physical security.  They’ll probably also want DHCP and DNS.  The answer?  Install a Core OS, enable the AD Services, DHCP and DNS roles, promote it to be a read-only domain controller and use BitLocker to encrypt the hard drive.  You’ve now provided the necessary network services for the branch office and protected the infrastructure against potential theft of a DC (something that is very, very bad).

I can also see how Core would be great for organisations with a huge web presence, e.g. hosting companies.  You can deploy many lightweight virtual Core servers with IIS enabled.  Their OS caused disk and RAM footprint will be small which is perfect for virtualisation.  Now you can sell many exclusive use servers to your clients with little impact on your infrastructure and at a much reduced cost.

Microsoft lists the following benefits:

• Reduced maintenance. Because a Server Core installation installs only what is required to have a manageable DHCP, File, Print, DNS, Media Services, AD LDS, or Active Directory server, less maintenance is required.
• Reduced attack surface. Because Server Core installations are minimal, fewer services and applications run on the server, thereby decreasing the attack surface.
• Reduced management. Because fewer applications and services are installed on a server running the Server Core installation, there is less to manage.
• Less disk space required. A Server Core installation only requires about 1 gigabyte (GB) of disk space to install and approximately 2 GB for operations after the installation.

Check it out if this sounds of interest to you.  Beta 3 of Windows Server 2008 was released to the public (for testing and evaluation only) about a month ago.