New server - 2003 or upgrade to 2008 ??

[contink]

Stupid question but I'm guessing Win2k3 can co-exist ok on the same domain so long as you upgrade the Win2k3 network to use 2008 AD yes?

Next up: Does that kill the legacy RIS on the 2k3 server? I ask because I'm still not up to speed on WDS and don't want to mess with something that works just yet.

[JamesC]

How about considering VMWare ESX and running what ever you want? Hardware spec permitting of course :-)

[Michael]

Stupid question but I'm guessing Win2k3 can co-exist ok on the same domain so long as you upgrade the Win2k3 network to use 2008 AD yes?

2003 and 2008 can exist on the same network and both act as domain controllers. You may have to update the schema on 2003 server however, as 2008 AD has a lot more features.

[EduTech]

got server 2008, no problems here is great. only dc and exchange at the moment =]

go for it.. why not.

and i suspect if your using vista on the clients go with server 2008 on the server

jame

[SeanVin]

We’re combining or Admin and curriculum networks by building a new network from scratch, our current networks have evolved from the original NT4 servers and it shows. Although it is ‘ambitious’ to use a brand new operating system, it seems short-sighted not to take advantage 2008. We’re wanting to use NAP, to have better control of printers and TS looks good too. The one thing that I’m not sure about is if Ranger For Networks will run on Server 2008 (has anybody tried it?). It needs to run on a DC, if it won’t run on 2008 then we can only run at 2003 domain functional level and lose all the extra server 2008 AD goodies.

[HodgeHi]

Don't you have to upgrade your CAL licenses to connect to the new 2008 server?

IIRC it was mentioned to me when i was looking at 2003 R2. I reconfirmed on here and someone pointed out to me that this was not the case.

But i think i read somewhere that with newer releases of server editions that you do.

I may be wrong though as i usually am :P

Just found this...

2008 licensing

[SeanVin]

Don't you have to upgrade your CAL licenses to connect to the new 2008 server?

I am working on the assumption that we have to update our CALs for Sever 2008, however if we have to run at Server 2003 functional level to support Ranger for Networks (see my last post) then I am not going to update the CALs.

[HodgeHi]

Sorry i actually meant to point that towards the OP as it may have been something that he forgot to factor in when upgrading server versions. I know i always do

But does it matter at what domain level you run at (or have i misunderstood) since if your clients connect to the server 08 for anything then they will need the updated CALs. That is how understand the way CALs work. If i am wrong then please enlighten me as it may save me some cash.

[SYNACK]

Sorry i actually meant to point that towards the OP as it may have been something that he forgot to factor in when upgrading server versions. I know i always do

But does it matter at what domain level you run at (or have i misunderstood) since if your clients connect to the server 08 for anything then they will need the updated CALs. That is how understand the way CALs work. If i am wrong then please enlighten me as it may save me some cash.

You are right, the CALs do not depend on the functional level. All the functional level does is define how the AD servers talk to each other. If you are connecting to a 2008 machine you still need a 2008 CAL.

[everton4europe]

I am in the position where i am installing a new server this week and had the choice of 2k3 or 2k8. I went for 2k3 as there were no drivers for the raid cards i use until december and there are no clear drivers for the printers we use. I would asume that windows would have the drivers built in until i can get a straight answer that other hard ware will work i am sticking with 2k3.

[Michael]

Although Vista's and 2008's driver database is much more comprehensive than XP's and 2003's, the same driver rules that apply to Vista also apply to 2008. A lot still need to be re-written.

I don't think Microsoft's tactic including the keywords "SP1" in Windows Server 2008 will wash. I'm still going to wait 12 months until I know for sure it is up to the job. Although I value everyone's opinion on here, migrating to a newer server platform does need a lot of planning and testing too.

[dhoward_westexetc]

We have just had delivery of a new server that will be our new Exchange 2007 server. Although we could have put Windows server 2008 (as we bought a new 2008 license with 2003 downgrade rights) we put 2003 R2 x64 on it to save on CALs. We can still put 2008 server on if we want to on that server without an extra cost.

If you are already mostly 2003, then it is perhaps best to put 2003 R2 on a new server (and buy a new 2008 license and use the downgrade rights). You can then install 2008 when you decide to migrate all servers over to it, which makes the CALs purchase worthwhile.

[dave.81]

I'm looking at redoing 3 out of our 5 servers this summer and at present the plan is to stick 2008 on them and upgrade the other windows server from 2003 R2.

We will have some Vista machines going onto the network so might as well have the latest server version to control them.