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Tag Archives: Windows Server 2008.

Differences between function of Windows Server Backup and that of NTBACKUP

Windows Server 2008 includes a backup utility named Windows Server Backup which significantly differs from its predecessor application NTBACKUP. Some of the key differences are as follows:

  • Windows Server Backup does not support writing backup files to tape drives, NTBACKUP does.

  • The smallest object that can be backed up through Windows Server Backup is a volume instead of a file as in NTBACKUP.
  • With Windows Server Backup, backup files cannot be written to network locations or optical media during scheduled backup.
  • Windows Server Backup supports only NTFS-formatted volumes, whereas NTBACKUP supports FAT volumes, too.
  • Windows Server Backup writes output files as Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) files, whereas NTBACKUP writes output as .bkf files.
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Failover clustering in Windows 2008 Server

Failover clustering is a technique used in Windows Server 2008 environment to provide high availability of applications. The cluster used in failover clustering works with shared data that can be spread across multiple systems. Failover clustering is managed through the Failover Cluster Management interface in Windows Server 2008. The Failover clustering feature is available only in Windows Server 2008 Enterprise and Datacenter editions.

In a failover clustering, there are two computers (for exmple). One provides the service in normal situations. A second computer is present in order to run the service when the primary system fails and this computer is called failover computer. The primary system is monitored to ensure that the primary system is operating correctly. As soon as the active system fails, the monitoring system detects the failure and the failover system takes over operation of the service.

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Windows Server 2008 Deployment

Deploying Windows 2008 Server is one of the most important objective of 70-640 exam. A brief review is given below to help candidates preparing for the 70-640 test.

Technologies used in installing and deploying Windows Server 2008 are the same as those used for a Windows Vista operating system in a Windows Server 2008 network. The following four methods are typically used in deploying and installing Windows Server 2008 and the Windows Vista operating system.

  • Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
  • System Center Configuration Manager
  • Image file stored on a network
  • Windows Product DVD

The above deployment methods offer different levels of automation and require different levels of resources, expertise, and technical experience. Thus, you can always choose the method that depends upon the available resources and the size of the firm.

Windows Deployment Services

The Windows Deployment Services helps a System Administrator deploy a Windows image to remote computers without being physically present there. WDS also helps an end user, who has no technical expertise, to start a computer with no operating system and simply select a Windows image to install from the boot screen, which is stored on a WDS server. The computers are able to locate the WDS server and download the operating system image files from it with the help of the Pre-boot eXecution Environment (PXE) boot process. However, in order to find a WDS server, a WDS client computer must have a PXE-boot compatible network card. The Windows Deployment Services requires the following resources:

  • Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol: A working DHCP server with an active scope is required on the network, as the WDS uses PXE-boot, which requires the DHCP to locate WDS clients. However, the DHCP server does not need to be on the same Windows Deployment Services server.
  • Active Directory: A WDS server must be a member of an Active Directory domain or a domain controller for an Active Directory domain. Active Directory is required to successfully deploy a Windows image to remote computers.
  • Domain Name System: A working Domain Name System server on the network is required to successfully deploy a Windows image to remote computers through Windows Deployment Services. The DNS server does not have to be installed on the same Windows Deployment Services server.
  • NTFS volume: An NTFS volume is required for the image store to deploy a Windows image using the Windows Deployment Services.
  • A high bandwidth network connection between the WDS server and the client computers: A very high bandwidth network connection is required between the WDS server and the client computers, as the size of Windows Images being deployed to the client computers is very large.

System Center Configuration Manager

The System Center Configuration method is used in conjunction with other deployment methods, which enable a user to apply fully managed deployment solutions for large and medium organizations. System Center Configuration Manager 2007 helps a System Administrator to deploy a fully automated Windows image to remote computers, unlike the WDS method. However, deploying Windows Server 2008 using the System Center Configuration Manager 2007 requires a very high bandwidth network connection between the server computer and target computers because the size of the image file being distributed to these computers is very large. The System Center Configuration Manager 2007 is a separate product which requires a purchase of license and is not included with Windows Server 2008. Installing and configuring a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 infrastructure also requires a significant amount of technical expertise.

Image file Stored on a Network

Windows Server 2008 computers can be deployed by means of an image file stored on a network. The contents of the Windows product media are stored on a network share. The setup is then launched from the command prompt by booting the local computer using the Windows PE CD. However, deploying Windows through a network share is not completely automated and a very high bandwidth network connection is required to copy large operating system files across the network. The image file stored on a network method is needed when you need to deploy only a small number of computers.

Windows Product DVD

Deploying Windows Server 2008 computers onto bare metal computers using the Windows product DVD is the easiest method. This process of deploying Windows could be made fully automated by supplying an answer file at the root of an accessible floppy disk drive while beginning the setup process. System Administrators use this method when no high bandwidth network connection is present in a small environment where up to ten computers are present.

You can use any of these methods for the successful deployment of Windows Server 2008 in your organization, depending upon the resources available and the size of your firm. However, using the Windows Deployment Services server can be the best option for deploying a Windows image in medium and large scale organizations.

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