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Is anyone doing a Win 2008 Server as a workstation guide?

That won't be published, of course?

I have it on a workstation - very impressive responsiveness compared to Vista, but I haven't installed the "desktop enhancements"

thanks --

There is absoutly NO reason for W2K8 to be a workstation... with SP1 anything that was in W2K8 has been updated to be the same in Vista... this is something they didnt do in XP with w2k3...

the kernel even in Vista was updated to match W2K8! which was the main reason for the w2k3 workstation thing...

even IIS7 was updated in vista to match the new version in w2k8...

all the performance is the same... now they are using the same exact code basically minus the server components...

so in the end there is no real reason for it

The only reason it feels fast it because there is no "desktop enhancements". This slows it down.

Can you please show your testing method to show your claimed "very impressive responsiveness compared to Vista"

In Vista SP1, At a administrative command prompt, type 'net stop themes'.

You have now turned off the desktop experience.

Vista will operate like Windows Server 2008, only without most server components.

re: why

- same reason they had the 2k3 as a workstation guide - some people need the server components for everyday work.

re: show your testing method

- nothing to show - I have 2 identical dell workstations that sit side by side. one has vista pre-sp1, one has 2008. The speed difference, as I said in my post, is probably because of the desktop stuff not being on - and almost nothing is installed yet...



Sooo - I'm guessing that's a "no" -- nobody is working on one...

Thanks --

and what server components do you need? Terminal services? DNS? DHCP? MSMQ? IIS? A lot of them you can get in Vista with out wasting the money on server... IIS is there to start with in business... DNS and DHCP you generally get with a router... or a freeware tool... Terminal services... if you are running this on a workstation then you should rethink why (not talking remote desktop here)...

The reason you probably see the speed difference is because your Vista desktop is pre-SP1. Install SP1 on it and it should run the same as Server 2008, except it will have the eye candy (which you can disable) and it won't have all the server components that you probably wouldn't use on a normal desktop.

Wow, it's amazing how fast you jumped down the guy's throat for wanting to use Server 2008 as a desktop OS. You want a reason?

HYPER-V

Google it. If any of you knew anything about Server 2008 you'd know that right there is reason enough for A LOT of people to want to use it as a desktop OS. It's the main reason I am using it as one. And don't bother countering with VMware. VMware Server doesn't work correctly with Vista x64, and Workstation doesn't allow VM's to run as services and launch at boot. Not to mention, Hyper-V is DAMN FAST in 2008, even in beta form.

And as for your insistence that Server 2008 is no faster than Vista just because it uses the same kernel, have any of you ACTUALLY TRIED running the two in comparable states? You say the speed difference is "probably because of the desktop stuff not being on." Go ahead, turn it all on. It still MUCH faster than Vista. I'm running 2008 with the Desktop Experience on, Aero Glass with full effects, AND THREE VIRTUAL MACHINES, (two running Server 2008, and one Vista x64 SP1, each with 1 CPU and 1GB of RAM) and the OS is STILL faster and more responsive than Vista SP1.

If you check out TheHotfix.net's forums, you'll see that people have pared down Vista's services to match 2008's running services and they are still getting upwards of 20FPS improvements in games like F.E.A.R.

Think of 2008 like this: Basically, Microsoft took Vista and streamlined and tweaked the hell out of it for a year, and made it as efficient as possible. Then they added in all the server role options. That's what Server 2008 is.

I have to say that I never bought into the "2003 Server as a workstation" scenario before, but if it yielded the kinds of performance gains I've gotten with 2008 vs. Vista, I completely understand now.

I know this is my first post, and I usually start off with something pleasant to say, but I had to back the OP up on this one. OP, just wait a bit. As more people discover what we have someone will make a great "how-to" for running 2008 as a workstation. I'm really only waiting for someone to hack DreamScene and/or Media Center into it and I'd be happy as a clam!

What the price of a Server 2008 license ? , can one buy a single license ?, I think it would be too costly.

Most users will probably get it from MSDN or Academic MSDN (I get XP, 2003 Server, Vista Business free). It will cost probably as much as 2003 Server, maybe $800 for a 5CAL OEM.

An MS employee already posted one:

http://blogs.msdn.com/vijaysk/archive/2008...desktop-os.aspx

Nice, I was thinking of Vista but I'm skipping Vista to Windows Server 2008 just need to test some of my games and see if they actually work before I move over

Games should work fine. The ones I've installed have so far.

Think of Vista SP1 like this: They brought the Server '08 and Vista code branches back together, so in a LOT of cases, the code you're running on Vista SP1 will be exactly the same as with Server '08.