With Latest Server, Microsoft Rides The 64-Bit Range: Page 3 of 7

GET TO THE CORE
Microsoft's development team is touting a new installation option for Windows Server 2008, called "Server Core." Andrew Mason, principal program manager in the Windows Server team, says the genesis of Server Core is the role-based fashion in which customers deploy Windows Server. It's been years, Mason says, since he's heard a customer say, "This is my Windows server." Instead, machines might be DNS servers, say, or domain controllers. As a result, Server Core was designed to be a modular, role-based system that addresses the need for a reduced attack surface and footprint.

So what does Server Core look like? Fans of MS-DOS rejoice, because for the first time in a long time, when you boot a Microsoft server OS, your screen will look something like this: C:\>

Server Core is a nongraphical, completely command-line-driven version of Windows Server 2008. What this means: To start, a server installation footprint of 1 Gbyte versus 6 Gbytes and elimination of many client-based apps, such as IE, that have created security threats. Because of the reduced attack surface, Microsoft says the number of server updates should be cut by around 40%.

For those more comfortable in a GUI environment, a Server Core box can be managed via MMC snap-ins running on remote servers. In addition, a limited number of graphical tools can be run on a Server Core build, including Task Manager, Notepad, and Regedit. If you have grand virtualization plans, you should be able to pack plenty of Server Core VMs onto your favorite VMware or Xen machine, and Hyper-V later this year. Roles that can be run on a Server Core build are limited to core Microsoft networking services.

THE POWER'S IN THE SHELL
Server Core isn't the only "Linux-like" new feature. Server and database admins and developers will also gain a powerful new scripting environment, called Windows PowerShell, or Microsoft Command Shell.