After getting approval for a new test server after my 2003 server became inadequate towards our goals, I have been given a new server in which to use Server 2008! I don't have it all put together yet, but I am sure I will have some questions once I start using it. I am creating this thread as a starting point, and perhaps some of you will be interested in seeing the development of this project as well. In this thread you can comment on the ideas we have or the hardware we are going to be using, or ask the usual questions I get such as "why would you do such a thing"...

Anyways, here is the hardware we have lined up:

OS: Server 2008 64bit
MB: Intel SE7520BD23
CPU: 2x Xeon 2.80GHz dualies
RAM: 2x 2GB (4GB) Crucial C35DR260
Intel Pro/1000 MT DUAL PORT nic

RAID: 3Ware 9550SXU-4LP + 2x WD 80GB SATA for mirrored system volume.
RAID5: 3Ware 9550DX-8LP + 6x WD 400GB SATA for storage

We'll see how this server board turns out. Our big problem might be that Intel has no plans to qualify this hardware for 2008. Let me know what you think of this setup, or possible issues I may run into, besides the obvious motherboard drivers problem.



This post has been edited by Tripredacus: May 15 2008, 10:00 AM

I have to say that one of the hardest parts of this project is that upper management thinks that we (the guy who handles the REAL server and myself, who handles the product testing/development) can get the new server system up in running in no time. He has no idea that we will have to do tons of testing first... uggg...

Today I actually did some more work. On the 2003, I added the new server (GEARS) to the Domain Controllers group, and added a domain user (SHARK\GEARS) to the Domain Admin group. Then I joined Gears to the Shark domain, and added the roles of AD DS and WDS. I also added some functions such as Backup Services. To my disappointment, I was unable to add Hyper-V because it said the CPU was not supported, even tho the server has the 2 dual core Xeons in it... What exactly does Hyper-V require anyways? I also formatted the RAID-5 and was pleased to see the 1493GB listing there in Disk Administrator!

I still have a bunch of notebooks to image using the 2003 as the WDS, so my role migration will have to wait until those are done...

I do have a question regarding my config with the 2003 server (UNCLESOCKS)... here is the setup:

Domain Controllers: GEARS (Computer)
Delegated Control for active directory functions to GEARS (Computer)
Domain Admins: GEARS (User)
but when I log into GEARS, I use the Administrator account. Should I add GEARS\Administrators into the Domain Admins group instead? When I log into GEARS, it doesn't give me an option to log into a domain, or is there another option I should be enabling?

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008...icalInformation

You need Xeons running Intel's VT from this list (Select "Intel Virtualization Technology" from the "Supported Features" list and click the "Filter on Selections" button). I am not sure if it's a guarantee that everything on that list will work, but it's for sure anything not on that list isn't .