State of server OSes - April 2012

[jamesfed]

Just a little poll to keep the mind going.

 

With Windows Server 8 not that far away what do we all consider to be our main 'Windows Server OS' - by main I mean the one most of your services run off.

[CyberNerd]

Difficult question for our school. I put 2008R2 as most 'windows services' run from 2008R2. However we have far more 2003 servers that run a single service (RDP,Citrix). We have more applications running on linux than both put together (not counting citrix applications). only pay for a license where its needed.

[FN-GM]

Only got Server 2008 R2 for Windows servers

[Sylv3r]

2008R2 throughout here, but will not be making wholesale changes to Server 8 when released and will migrate as and when required.

[Norphy]

2008 R2 for the most part. The only servers that are running 2003 are the Exchange servers, the RM DCs and a couple of legacy file servers. Oh and the Exchange brick level backup proxy but only because I couldn't get that going on anything more modern!

[zag]

Our DC's and terminal server are still on 2003.

 

But the rest are 2008 R2 now.

[Davit2005]

Running 2008 on most things, 2003 left on a few legacy servers, 2008 R2 where hardware allows, avoiding putting 2003 on anything unless legacy hardware or software limits.

[FN-GM]

Our DC's and terminal server are still on 2003.

 

But the rest are 2008 R2 now.

 

@zag Can i ask why you havent upgraded your DC's please? This is where i usually start when upgrading server OS.

[newpersn]

Runnig 2008 RC2 as DC's But file serv and mail is on 2003. Scheme is still on 2003. But hopefully changing to 2008 within the next few months. (once more windows 7 desktops have came in)

[36Degrees]

@zag Can i ask why you havent upgraded your DC's please? This is where i usually start when upgrading server OS.

 

I'm in the same position as @zag so I'll reply as well!

 

As I've needed to replace a server (or servers if consolidating) I've put 2008 or 2008R2 as appropriate. Unfortunately I haven't yet needed to replace the DCs or had the budget to replace them as a nicety - hopefully I will have the budget this summer.

[gshaw]

Mainly 2008 R2 VMs but a couple of 2003 physical machines to move over or for little management software VMs where compatibility could be dubious

[nickbro]

Going to be retiring our last 2003 R2 server during Half Term, will then be running 2008 R2 on all servers, with only a Linux box for filtering that is non MS (1xRMCC4FRDC,1xRMCC4SDC,1xEXCH2010,1xDiskbox,1xRDP/WebServer,1xAdminDC)

[zag]

@zag Can i ask why you havent upgraded your DC's please? This is where i usually start when upgrading server OS.

 

Yeh good question

 

Mainly because there is no need to upgrade the DC's. They just log people on and off so I don't see the point other than the ability of DCHP to ban addresses on 2008

 

Saying that I will do it eventually. Just need to be brave enough really.

[sidewinder]

Only 2003 server left here is what was the old Hebron server, I've kept it on as a print server and will move printing to 2008R2 when we migrate to W7 in the summer.

Then again I totally rebuilt the network last year so made sense to start from scratch with 2008R2

[cpjitservices]

All 2008 R2 here and not looking to move for a very long time, the DC & Exchange are 2k8 R2 - Exchange being 2010 SP1.

 

Our old phone system used to run Server 2003 with no service packs.;.. I'm glad thats gone now (off the network anyway).

 

Everything else we run (VM's, Sendmail, Postfix, HTTP, Samba) all Linux Servers running on a Linux KVM server.

[januttall]

Yeh good question

 

Mainly because there is no need to upgrade the DC's. They just log people on and off so I don't see the point other than the ability of DCHP to ban addresses on 2008

 

Saying that I will do it eventually. Just need to be brave enough really.

What about all the incresed domain functionality, and the incresed functions for say win7 ?

[gshaw]

I was the other way around, didn't want to run any Windows 7 machines in anger until 2008 R2 running on the DCs. Always feel that it's a good idea to have your server OS running at the same level as the clients (i.e. 2003 \ XP, 2008 R2 \ 7)

[bondbill2k2]

Still on the 2003 R2 but this changing in the summer

[zag]

What about all the incresed domain functionality, and the incresed functions for say win7 ?

 

Windows 7 works fine with 2003 DC's. I just create the policies on a windows 7 client.

[Norphy]

They work fine, yes but there are additional features that are available on Windows 2008 R2 domains which are potentially useful and which aren't when your DCs are running 2003. This is what raising the domain level does for you. That's the point that people are trying to get across to you I think, not that they think that W7 won't work

[FN-GM]

They work fine, yes but there are additional features that are available on Windows 2008 R2 domains which are potentially useful and which aren't when your DCs are running 2003. This is what raising the domain level does for you. That's the point that people are trying to get across to you I think, not that they think that W7 won't work

 

The AD recycle bin is a good example. Saved my bacon not long ago!