Windows Server 2008 R2 release highlights TechEd kickoff 11 May, 2009 By Mark Cox

Windows Server 2008 R2 RC has several new features which Microsoft says promise to deliver real cost savings and productivity increases. The company is also touting a "better together" message that these enhancements will be particularly effective combined with the new Windows 7 OS. Two of these new features -- BranchCache and DirectAccess -- will in fact require the new OS to work. Other enhancements like Live Migration and File Classification Infrastructure (FCI) are specific to Windows Server 2008 and its functionality, and so will work on an older OS.

BranchCache reduces network traffic between the main and branch offices, thus reducing bandwidth use and latency.

"BranchCache caches the information accessed across the WAN so that it never has to come across the WAN again," said Scott Charlton, Windows Server Product Manager, Microsoft Canada. "Users can now have it on their machines locally. This reduces WAN bandwidth use and latency issues and is especially useful in making sure the WAN doesn't get clogged after major announcements that get lots of hits." There is no security trade-off for this, Charlton noted, because the only difference is how the file is accessed. The policies for the users are no different, so the system is as secure as it was before.

DirectAccess is another new feature, which allows remote workers to connect to an organization's network.

"DirectAccess means that you no longer have to install VPN third party software like you did before to get that connectivity," Charlton said. "That means better remote management and improved security."

The new features which will work on existing Windows OS as well are impressive. They include File Classification Infrastructure (FCI), a built-in solution for file classification and management. In addition, Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V now gives customers the ability to scale up to 64 logical processors, up from 24, which will reduce the number of servers needed.

Windows Server 2008 R2 also adds a Live Migration feature to Hyper V, which Charlton called exciting, letting customers migrate onto fewer servers with no downtime. It replaces the Quick Migration feature in Hyper V that had a relatively short downtime, but downtime nonetheless.

"Customers said this was the issue in migrating that concerned them, that downtime," Charlton said." Quick Migration in Hyper V before meant some downtime. Live Migration solves that."

Charlton also thinks the Live Migration feature will be critical for partners, giving them an opportunity to take an active consultation and implementation role, especially on the virtualization front.

"Live migration is important to customers," he said. Most customers -- 70 percent in Canada -- are still on Windows Server 2003, which enters early next year into extended support model. "Partners can tell their customers that they know they will have to move some time, and Hyper V is free, and that this virtualization is the cost benefit they are looking for."

Reprinted by permission of Integrated mar.com (integratedmar.com), EchannelLine © Copyright 2009 Integratedmar.com Corporation.