Windows 8 and Server 2008 R2

[Fleetwood]

I know this is something I could 'Google' but frankly I trust this place more than those search results.

 

Has anybody taken the plunge and deployed Windows 8 on a Server 2008-R2 network? If so, how does it work in terms of compatability. Are you able to still customise things with scripts okay due to not being able to use GPO's for it? Reason I'm asking is we're on a Windows XP/Server-2003 network and we're in the process of migrating to 08R2. We were supposed to also migrate XP to Windows 7 but the boss can't stand 7, so he's wanting to deploy Windows 8. Of course, this was something he decided after buying 08R2 and the license, so getting Server 2012 won't be a possibility right now.

 

My main concerns are how well we could customise the 'Modern UI' start menu, redirecting the libraries and all the basic steps for setting it up.

Cheers

[sted]

oud basically be in the same boat as win7 with 08r1 server you can do most stuff but not all so for some gpo settings you would need a win8 box with rsat

 

as to managing metro have fun thre are no policies foir it period to my knowledge

[cheesypete]

On the whole it works fine, but without RSAT / Windows 2012 the Metro UI will play silly devils. Having upgraded my machine in the name of testing, i find myself with a completely blank Start screen (no tiles) when logged onto the domain. Log on as a local user and its fine.

[sted]

On the whole it works fine, but without RSAT / Windows 2012 the Metro UI will play silly devils. Having upgraded my machine in the name of testing, i find myself with a completely blank Start screen (no tiles) when logged onto the domain. Log on as a local user and its fine.

 

ive not found that i had a standard start screen full o silly tiles. Couldnt get ie to work at all though with gpo's had to do a wpad file and im still getting a gpo error about ie branding which i havnt done lol