Server 2008 - 64bit or not?

[witch]

We are upgrading to Server 2008 in the summer and we are wondering about 64 bit? Yes, I know we can set up a Virtual Server to run the 32 bit stuff, but I wanted to know whether the general feeling is that we SHOULD go for 64 bit or whether it is a bit of a non-issue. I want more RAM and can only get 4GB with 32 bit

Apart from Superlogo and the Epson C1100n which has NO DRIVERS FOR 2008 AT ALL!!!, I cannot see a huge problem. I am presuming that software in the future will be 64 bit but am I right?

Debate!!

[Dos_Box]

I would go 64 bit, not only because of the extra memory you can access, but for future proofing. Almost all Microsoft back end apps will be x64 only, and you would only have to upgrade later anyway. I've got all of my servers on x64 and have yet to experience any problems with older applications such as backup software (Retrospect) and can now run Exchange 2007. Doing it now will save you a lot or heartache and work later on IMHO.

[CyberNerd]

Our linux servers have been 64bit for years. no problems here and if MS servers are half as good as redhat then they shouldn't be a problem either.

[nephilim]

we are also looking at this. If we ran a 64bit, how would we go about virtualising for 32bit software?

[zag]

No real advantages though unless your running some super computer that needs loads of ram constantly

[Butuz]

Virtualise your servers with a 64 bit hypervisor such as Citrix Xen Server - then you can shove as much RAM in the box as you want and allow your 64 bit or 32 bit VMs to use what they need.

I had to put only 16GB in each of my XEN boxes due to cost contrstraints but will upgrade them to 32GB or preferably 64GB next year. You can never have too much RAM available for your VMs! (you can on the other hand definatly have too little RAM).

Butuz

[Kipling]

We’ve been running 64bit 2008 for a while now and have never really had a problem. Almost all our servers are virtual (running under hyper-V) with most of the virtual servers being 64bit too.

The only two problems I can remember having were with installing sims, and with printer drivers (the print server is now happily running back as 32bit).

[sted]

if its a print server it be a ballache as you need files from a 32bit install (or just mount the sources.wim from a 32 bit disk) and you need drivers for 64 and 32 bit and they have to be the same version. All the servers were installing atm are 2008 x64 and so far touch wood few problems (on the plus side winsuite dosent work so i get to kill that as well)

[DrCheese]

Been running x64 2003 servers for years with no issues at all. At this point it's much better to go with x64 given that a lot of MS's server applications are or will be x64 only (exchange is a big one)

and of course, Server 2008 R2 is x64 only.

[SYNACK]

Go 64bit, as others have said it will save you hassel in the long run and you will need to do it eventually. There are also certain things that work much better on 64bit. The global catalogue role for instance can handle 10-15 times more clients on the same hardware when running under 64bit (MS Webcast) and some other services also get a boost, SQL and if I recall file shareing gets a bump in speed of 10 - 20%. Along with the the better memory addressing makes 64bit a good choice for both future proofing and current use.

[john]

64 bit for me as well, from summer my DCs will be 64 bit 2008 ones to get us ready for the future. Anything that I need to run that doesn't like that will go onto a different server or a VM that runs on them using MS Virtual Server or Hyper-V

[FN-GM]

The majority of our servers run Server 2008 x64. No problems at all

[tmcd35]

I'm still planning to install my first Windows 2008 R2 server in October Half-Term. It will be 64bit - not least of all because I want to use Hyper-V and 64bit is a requirement. I'd run 32bit 2003R2 VM's for the odd app that needs it.

[PiqueABoo]

2K8 R2 RTMs on 13th July which, for me, makes thinking about doing any 2K8 installs from now on a teensy bit bit hard.

2K8 R2 obviously only comes as 64bit - so if you are installing plain 2K8 I'd take that as a hint for using 64-bit (unless of course some prized app simply won't cope).

[sparkeh]

Yep like others have said x64 is the way to go I think, for all the reasons mentioned.

However its a bit of a tricky time with R2 right round the corner, you might just want to hold off for a bit?