Chapter 13: Deploying Windows Server 2008

Now that we’ve examined most of the new features and enhancements that are found in Microsoft Windows Server 2008, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start putting it through its paces. This chapter talks about playing around with Windows Server 2008-how you can get it, and how to install and deploy it for testing and evaluation purposes. After all, you can’t learn about something just by reading about it-you have to get your hands dirty playing with the thing to really understand how it works and what its capabilities are.

Getting Windows Server 2008

How do you get hold of Windows Server 2008 so that you can try it out? You can use a number of channels, but the first place you should go to is TechNet Beta Central-your one-stop location for acquiring public betas and resources for deploying and testing them. At the time of writing this chapter, Windows Server 2008 has almost reached the Beta 3 release milestone, and plans are for Beta 3 to be a public beta that you can download from Beta Central. So to get the latest public release of Windows Server 2008, go to Beta Central, download it, install it, and give it a test drive to see how it handles.

If you have an MSDN or TechNet subscription, you have another avenue for obtaining the bits to play with. In fact, with these subscriptions you can get builds more frequently than you can with the public beta program. If you have an MSDN or TechNet subscription, however, you’ve already had access to several Community Technology Preview (CTP) builds of Windows Server 2008 through the Subscriber Download Center.

Another source of Windows Server 2008 builds is Microsoft Connect, where you can sign up to beta-test various Microsoft products before they’re released to the public. Microsoft Connect not only gives you access to CTP, Beta, and RC builds, it also gives you access to pre-release documentation, private newsgroups, and private Live Meeting events and chats. Microsoft Connect does more than connect you with Microsoft and its upcoming products; it also connects you with a whole community of beta testers around the world. Try it out today. If you haven’t seen it, just go to http://connect.microsoft.com and log on with your Windows Live ID.

Finally, if you’re part of a mid- or large-sized organization and want to test pre-release, upcoming Microsoft platforms with a view to deploying them in your environment, Microsoft’s Technical Adoption Program (TAP) is the way to go. Unfortunately, you usually have to get involved in TAP very early in the development life cycle for a product, so the TAP for Windows Server 2008 is probably already closed as you read this. It’s not too late to start asking about getting on TAP for Windows 7, however! For more information about TAP and other early adopter programs at Microsoft, see http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/isv/bb190411.aspx .