[RamGuy]

I've just got my eyes upon the Windows Server 2008..


And rumours claims it to be better then Windows Vista no matter what you are doing on your computer, so it's not just good for servers and companies, but also private persons who do regular stuff and gaming?

Windows Server 2008 is supposed to be the fastest operative system by Microsoft, EVER!

How much truth it's in all of this I have absolutely no idea, to be honest I have never even considered to use a Windows Server edition before.



So what's the difference between Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista?
What is different between the "normal" versions (Windows XP / Vista) and "server" versions (Windows Server 2003 / 2008)


What problems might you run into using a server version?
What benefits do you get from running it?

Does vLite support Windows Server 2008?
And how do you config / tweak Windows Server 2008 to perform optimal for your needs?



So what do you think?
Are these rumours true?

[nuhi]

The core is the same.

Meaning the difference, if any, is in the default settings, like priority and cache schemes.

vLite supports it, except component removals.

[foreverof]

What do you mean by "except component removals", is that mean I couldn't remove any component at all? if I select and what will happen? thanks.

[MagicAndre1981]

nuhi means, that removing components in Server 2008 is available but not recommend. It can break the Add/remove Feature/Role function

[RamGuy]

But what can we actually do with vLite if the remove components doesn't work?

Integrate drivers perhaps?


Will there ever be a xLite for Windows Server 2008?

[RamGuy]

Hmm.. So it's not safe for me to get rid of all the useless drivers which is included in Windows Server 2008 using vLite?

[shahed26]

i have been running server 2008 for 1 month now. it is is simply the best OS from microsoft since windows 95. dont know why it is so fast and responive knowing that it is the same core as vista. games run so fast loads fast, and application fly's like anything. you can have all the vista effects like looks and feel with desktop experience without any sluggish performance, unlike vista even with most components removed with vlite it still runs slow. server 2008 does not include and bloat application so vliting is no recommended as nuhi mentioned. it is highly tuned for security and performance. IMPORTANT: there is no BDA support, means tv tuner (capture) card will not work on server 2008, apart from that everything works and even the drivers for vista. hope this info helps you

[DL.]

Why people doesn't use server OS:es as their main OS is mostly a matter of cost.
If you've got the money or in some other (legal) way have the opportunity to use the OS instead of Vista you may very well do so, I probably will when I buy a new comp later this year.

But the info on missing BDA support was nice to know, do you have any more such info?

I think that's basically what the thread starter an others hare would like to know:
Are there any more reasons why you should not use WS2k8 as your workstation OS?

[MagicAndre1981]

@RamGuy

you can use vLite to remove components, but be careful, if you remove too much, the Add/Remove Role/Features function might fail.

[foreverof]

Is it possible to vlite WS2008 and fit inside a 4 GB Eee and have Desktop Experience?

[GrofLuigi]

DL., on Apr 16 2008, 01:39 PM, said:

But the info on missing BDA support was nice to know, do you have any more such info?

I would like to know this too, because I think it's a misinformation. In Server 2003, BDA (and/or similar components of DirectX needed for TV tuner) are also not present by default, but when you install the TV Tuner driver, it will "pull" ALL necessary components from driver.cab or directx.cab.

Yeah, I would REALLY like someone to verify this (I don't have 2008, so it might have changed) or is it another myth. I've seen this 'information' (but not any proof) on many other places too.

GL

This post has been edited by GrofLuigi: 16 April 2008 - 09:41 AM

[shahed26]

GrofLuigi, on Apr 16 2008, 03:38 PM, said:

DL., on Apr 16 2008, 01:39 PM, said:

But the info on missing BDA support was nice to know, do you have any more such info?

I would like to know this too, because I think it's a misinformation. In Server 2003, BDA (and/or similar components of DirectX needed for TV tuner) are also not present by default, but when you install the TV Tuner driver, it will "pull" ALL necessary components from driver.cab or directx.cab.

Yeah, I would REALLY like someone to verify this (I don't have 2008, so it might have changed) or is it another myth. I've seen this 'information' (but not any proof) on many other places too.

GL

i can confirm this that bda is not supported on server 2008. i have 2 different tv tuner card ( one hauppauge and one technotrend), both with WHQL certified drivers that work on vista x86/x64, but not on server, even with directx 9 installed (march 2008). i even tried many third party tv applications, but they do not work. but am sure there is a work around this to get it work. just hoping someone will come with a solution to this.
check this link
http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPo...9&SiteID=17
and this one with a solution to get bda support, but still does not work
http://www.msfn.org/board/Media-Center-on-....html&st=20
hope this help you guys

[Bilar Crais]

I can confirm that TV tuners do not work under W2k8.

[GrofLuigi]

Thank you both.

Out of curiosity, filemon/regmon/processmon doesn't help?

DScaler doesn't work? (If the hardware is supported, that is).

GL

[deek]

Am I correct in assuming Direct X 10 will work in 2008?

[Steve30x]

I would like to use server 2008 but I dont like the ugly windows 98 look of the theme it comes with. I was a beta tester of the OS and it was fast but ugly.

[shahed26]

deek, on Apr 17 2008, 03:11 AM, said:

Am I correct in assuming Direct X 10 will work in 2008?

yes. directx 10.1 is already in server 2008, and games run much faster on server with more fps compare to vista

This post has been edited by shahed26: 17 April 2008 - 03:44 PM

[shahed26]

Steve30x, on Apr 17 2008, 09:26 PM, said:

I would like to use server 2008 but I dont like the ugly windows 98 look of the theme it comes with. I was a beta tester of the OS and it was fast but ugly.

install desktop experience from "add features" in server 2008 already built in, it will give you all the fancy vista looks but with better performance compare to vista.

[TravisO]

After you apply Vista SP1, both Vista and Win2008 Server run the same kernel, so there's no advantage of 2008 over Vista SP1. And if you want to compare Vista and 2008 Server, I recommend you disable all the bells & whistles in Vista first (ex: remove the widget sidebar, disable Aero).

I'd put money down that Vista and 2008 Server would be equally as fast if you simply setup Vista the same way 2008 server is setup. Nobody is making you use these features, just disable them, don't blame the OS for the differences, it's your config.

This post has been edited by TravisO: 17 April 2008 - 03:49 PM

[shahed26]

TravisO, on Apr 17 2008, 09:47 PM, said:

After you apply Vista SP1, both Vista and Win2008 Server run the same kernel, so there's no advantage of 2008 over Vista SP1. And if you want to compare Vista and 2008 Server, I recommend you disable all the bells & whistles in Vista first (ex: remove the widget sidebar, disable Aero).

I'd put money down that Vista and 2008 Server would be equally as fast if you simply setup Vista the same way 2008 server is setup. Nobody is making you use these features, just disable them, don't blame the OS for the differences, it's your config.

good point, BUT even if you disable all the bells & whistles in vista, server is still faster, because microsoft took their time and putted more effort on server 2008 in terms of tuning and the way it handles applications and memory management. vista is bloated, microsoft rushed vista to the market. Yes its the same kernal (core) but server is highly tuned for performance stabilty and of course security. i have tested both, server 08 normal install and vista sp1 with vlite to remove almost all bloat components, but still sluggish performance when you install to many application compare to server.