Windows Server 2008

When my blog was hacked in 2019 the server version was 2003, while gainfully employed I bought four installation cd's with CAL's, three with 5 CAL (Client Access License) and one 10 CAL. That was in 2006 it is now 2021 and I have retired three of those 2003 servers by upgrading to Server 2008. This is an introduction and index of my journey with Server 2008.

The Server Two-thousand-eight section is for those that still have installations of Server 2008 and those like me that can not afford to be or do not want to be on the bleeding edge of server technology.

The main reason for upgrading from Server 2003 wasn't that Microsoft had stopped supporting the Operating System it was because the applications I needed were not compatible with Server 2003.

I needed IIS 7+ to upgrade my blog software (the software was the reason for the blog getting hacked) so I checked around and found a newer version of Windows Server I could afford. I found on eBay a package of three (new - still sealed and never Activated) installation DVD's with 5 CAL license each; cost less than 100 USD. While I was searching I looked at the price for 2016 and 2019, 2016 was with in my budget for one install DVD with a 5 CAL license but not two or three versions. In retrospect I think I did the right thing, this version is still supported by Microsoft (how long it will last is unknown but Server versions usually out last the workstation version by five to ten years so they still have some life left.)

Microsoft has made installing Server versions like the counterpart workstation simpler over the years, once you have your installation done is when the real work starts, you need to set up the applications that you need the server version for such as DNS, DHCP, Active Directory, maybe the VPN or IIS.

As with all computer operating systems there is improvements in the performance, added functions, features and design changes. Some of the design changes are ho-hum, some are better than the old, some are down right annoying.

Unless the feature / application / service has large changes I will link to the server section for 2003, most of the setup of these items has been covered there and why duplicate the work (and search engines will ding this web site for duplicate content) although most install and configuration sections have changed I may do a compare / contrast for some of the tasks you would do for setting up say a DNS / DHCP service or Active Directory.

In this day and age everyone knows and understands why you or your business needs a server so I will only say this about installing one: Increase the security of your network!

Windows Server 2008 Index

You may want to also read through the Server 2016 Index for more information and configuration settings.