josephritchey.com

This week I was finally able to take Windows Server 2008 for a test spin. When I first started installing it I saw the usual Windows installer that I expected. Like with previous version of the Windows Server line the installer grabs the look and feel of the workstation line. Windows Server 2008 is no different. As I am going through the paces with the installer, I am thinking "yes it looks good, but can it blend?"

Then it happens, two installation options, full installation and a core installation. What?? A core installation, what is this? I can now install Windows Server in a small installation for a specific task like a file server, or a DNS server. See this link for full list of what you can do with a core Server Core Installation Options
So Microsoft does listen. They are just too big to move quickly. I think because of Microsoft\'s successes it is tough for them to be on the cutting edge and nearly impossible to be on the bleeding edge. If anything I think this is the biggest success of alternative OS\'s like Linux. Update: Okay I\'ve been running Win 2K8 Server for a few weeks now and here are some thoughts. Hyper-V unstable and nearly unusable. Even without a guest running but the Hyper-V service running alone in the back ground I would get the random kernel panic. This would be on a 2.6Ghz, Quad-Core system with 8Gb of RAM.

This would be the same system I had Parallels Virtuozzo running on for about 2 1/2 without a crash. My thought is MS has a long way to go before the can reach the stability of Parallels or Vmware.