Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Once an arduous and sometimes intimidating task, installing a Windows
server has become an easy, straightforward process with Windows Server 2008. The installation
process in Windows Server 2008 is similar to the Vista process and requires little user interaction
from start to finish.
The real work of a Windows Server 2008 installation takes place before you actually begin—
in the planning phase. This chapter covers the actual installation process, but more important, dis-
cusses the planning that should go into installing a server in a production environment. Answers
to questions about how the server will be used, whether the installation is an upgrade or new instal-
lation, and roles the server will play in the network factor into how you decide to install the oper-
ating system. After installing your server, you need to undertake some postinstallation tasks right
away, many of which depend on decisions you made in the planning phase. This topic doesn't cover
in detail the tools for deploying Windows Server 2008 in large numbers; instead, it focuses on the
planning process for both small and large installations and the postinstallation tasks.
Two new installation options in Windows Server 2008 also factor into your installation decisions.
The lightweight server environment called Server Core offers a new option for installing a Windows
server. Similarly, the Hyper-V role that can be installed on an existing server gives you the option of
installing your server as a virtual machine rather than a physical server. This chapter explores all these
options so that you can make wise choices when you deploy Windows Server 2008 on your network.
The actual process of installing Windows Server 2008 has been simplified to the point that you
might be inclined to get out the DVD and forge ahead without much forethought. However, that
temptation could be a time-consuming and costly mistake if you don't have a well-thought-out plan
for using the technologies in Windows Server 2008. Aside from selecting an edition, choosing an
upgrade or a new install, and deciding whether to use a domain controller, among other decisions,
your installation options have expanded. Today, you can do a full installation or just a Server Core
installation, and you can install your server on physical hardware or as a virtual machine.
Admittedly, a single server installation for a small business with 25 users doesn't present a
major challenge requiring weeks of careful consideration and planning. You can make a few
decisions and get on with it. However, situations such as installing 400 servers or bringing a
branch office online, which requires integrating its server with the existing network, involve
more planning. This section doesn't attempt to cover every possible server installation you might
encounter. Instead, it gives you the knowledge you need to understand some potential issues and
arms you with questions you need to answer before proceeding.
This topic doesn't cover Windows Deployment Services (WDS), a tool
for deploying Windows OSs (particularly Vista and Server 2008) via a
network installation, because it's not a topic of the 70-640 certification
exam. WDS is described briefly in Chapter 1 and covered in
MCTS Guide
to Configuring Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Application Infrastructure
(Course Technology, 2008).
The network environment in which you're deploying a server and the roles a server will play
on the network are the key considerations in planning Windows Server 2008 installations. In the
following sections, you examine these common installation situations and some of the issues and
options involved:
• Installing the first server in a new Windows network
• Expanding your network by adding a second server or installing a server in a branch office
• Upgrading from earlier Windows versions
Installing Windows Server 2008 in a new network that doesn't already have Windows servers
operating is usually the most straightforward installation situation. The following descriptions
assume you're installing the first server in a small network with fewer than 100 users.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search