Server 2008: The Launch is Here! By William Alan Matthey The long awaited arrival of Microsoft’s new Server 2008 Operating system is upon us. While Server 2008 builds on the management structure of 2003 Server, it also adds a wide range of security and management options.

If Microsoft’s Server 2008 is in your future, you should look at the Microsoft Learning Site at www.microsoft.com/learning/windowsserver2008/default.mspx. You can also download a free evaluation version of Server 2008 to get familiar with its increased functionality (technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/2008/bb405966.aspx).

Finally, consider planning, creating and using a virtual lab environment to gain some ideas about the impact of the new Server 2008 features on your current systems.

The scope of the management undertaking for Vista/Server 2008 environments is embodied in the list of available group policy settings available for the administration of the Enterprise (see Microsoft links below)—(Group Policy Settings) nearly 3000 ways to assail the bodies/boxes of your minions).

There are considerable resources available from Microsoft, training providers, consultants and blog sites to help you work through even the toughest problems. Start slowly, measure twice or thrice, execute carefully—and Server 2008 in either 32- or 64-bit versions will make your Enterprise more manageable and productive.

As a final note, I also want to communicate that there will be no more MCSEs (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) from Microsoft. If you have any interest in a broad server-based certification, you should consider completing the 2003 Server MCSE requirements while they are available—probably prior to yearend, 2008. After these exams are discontinued, the only available certifications will be the more granular MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) and similar certifications.