Definition: Windows Server 2008

An earlier version of Windows Server that superseded Windows Server 2003. Supporting 128-bit IPv6 addressing for the Internet and BitLocker drive encryption, Windows Server 2008 added numerous security, network and system administration enhancements.

Integrated Hyper-V Server
Optional on all but the Web server and Itanium versions, Hyper-V Server provides a virtual machine capability that eliminates the need for a third-party product such as VMware.

A Slimmer Install Option
The Server Core option installs essential operating system components without the user interface. It is used for dedicated servers such as an Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, print or Web server.

Revision 2 (Windows Server 2008 R2)
Released at the end of 2009, service pack 2 added extensive revisions to its thin client computing services (see Remote Desktop Services and Microsoft VDI). See Windows HPC Server, BitLocker, IPv6 and Windows Server 2016.

   Edition of             SMP
   Windows Server 2008    Support  RAM

   With or Without Hyper-V

   32-bit Standard        4-way    4GB
   64-bit Standard        4-way   32GB

   32-bit Enterprise      8-way   64GB
   64-bit Enterprise      8-way    2TB

   32-bit DataCenter     32-way   64GB
   64-bit DataCenter     64-way    2TB


   Without Hyper-V

   32-bit Web Server      4-way    4GB
   64-bit Web Server      4-way   32GB

   64-bit Itanium        64-way    2TB