Vijayshinva Karnure, a IIS, ASP and ASP.NET troubleshooter as well as a consultant for developers and system admins of Microsoft India is so cool! He has published an article on how you, yes, you can turn Microsofts latest Windows Server release into a SUPER FAST workstation complete with Hyper-V (hardware virtualization capabilities). Well he beat me to the punch, and this probably has a lot more merit than the Server 2003 as a Workstation guide that we published here shortly after the release of Server 2008's predecessor, due to the addition of Hyper-V which does not ship -even with Vista Ultimate.
His article begins below.
Windows Server 2008 is the best OS to be released till date from Microsoft's stable. And the moment I got hold of the RTM build I could not resist installing it on my workstation. Due to the nature of my work I always prefer running a Server OS on my main workstation... I have been running Windows 2003 disguised as XP (with all the themes and stuff) all these days.
So here is my tale of how I went about setting up Windows Server 2008 to look and fell like its desktop counterpart Windows Vista.
His article begins below.
Windows Server 2008 is the best OS to be released till date from Microsoft's stable. And the moment I got hold of the RTM build I could not resist installing it on my workstation. Due to the nature of my work I always prefer running a Server OS on my main workstation... I have been running Windows 2003 disguised as XP (with all the themes and stuff) all these days.
So here is my tale of how I went about setting up Windows Server 2008 to look and fell like its desktop counterpart Windows Vista.
1. Enable Hardware Virtualization
My workstation is a x64 machine with hardware virtualization capabilities. This means I can run Hyper-V on my machine. Even if your machine's hardware supports virtualization it is most likely not going to be enabled by default. You have to enable it via your BIOS setup.
2. Install the latest Graphics and Audio drivers
Being a server OS Windows 2008 carries with it basic graphics and audio drivers. To utilize the full strength of your hardware ensure you install the latest drivers for both graphics and audio hardware. Only with the proper graphics drivers will you be able to enable the "Aero" experience on Windows 2008.
Link: Continue Reading: Using Windows Server 2008 as a SUPER workstation OS Link: Neowin Forum Discussion - Thanks Chadbr
It is mentioned at the source however.
As if any of the poeple who follow this article actually bought their copy to start with.
As if any of the poeple who follow this article actually bought their copy to start with.
I could swear at one point I had access to Server 2003 Enterprise through MSDNAA. After the winter term started they took them off. Hopefully they'll get Server 2008 up on MSDNAA.
As if any of the poeple who follow this article actually bought their copy to start with.
That's what gets me, who can actually afford that, unless they get MSDN from their university, or from work.... that is the only way I can "afford" it.
Come on, my Windows 98SE box would beat this ANYDAY
I guess if that's the nature of your work, more power to you. Not the nature of mine, and sounds like going through unnecessary changes for anything else, so, I'll stick with X Pro also.
The support for vista was so bad from 3rd party application dev's: that made me to switch back to trusted old xp. Vista in itself was okay, but unlike linux it does not comes pack with applications. All the 3rd party application developers were simple left clueless when confronted with numerous mysterious errors under vista.
I've not seen numerous errors, what errors app devs may seem certainly aren't mysterius.
and the majority of problems is that app devs are quite simply bad coders, and they kept coding stuff that requires admin access when they didn't have to and when not doing so even requires less resources, coding and hassle.
well lets start with an app that is free so you can try it yourself. there is this app call MEGUI an media encoder. it will not run on vista for no good reason. the dev broke his head and it wasnt weeks until that it was discovered that under vista while MS groove is installed (part of office suite), the app wont run for reasons only MS know. uninstall groove and it works fine (with admin privileges). Under XP, it doesnt matter. You can have MS goorve isntalled, but the app works fine. Try this yourself and then give an explanation to convince a dev.
Now you can be more elite than your buddies running Server 2003 as a workstation FOR NO GOOD REASON other than to be elite.
Now you can be more elite than your buddies running Server 2003 as a workstation FOR NO GOOD REASON other than to be elite.
is that ELITE or L33T
Now you can be more elite than your buddies running Server 2003 as a workstation FOR NO GOOD REASON other than to be elite.
is that ELITE or L33T
Currently, l33t slang is used only for script kiddies and wannabes.
Now you can be more elite than your buddies running Server 2003 as a workstation FOR NO GOOD REASON other than to be elite.
is that ELITE or L33T
Currently, l33t slang is used only for script kiddies and wannabes.
And wannabe script kiddies lol.
Now you can be more elite than your buddies running Server 2003 as a workstation FOR NO GOOD REASON other than to be elite.
is that ELITE or L33T
Currently, l33t slang is used only for script kiddies and wannabes.
What about enama
Win2k3 has better process scheduling for multi-core CPUs, and you can permanently set affinity for processes. It also has PAE that works, if you use the 32-bit version, for access to more than 4GB of RAM. Security is also slightly better than XP.
That's just what I know, I'm sure there are other differences.
Wow! You personally know that EVERY SINGLE REASON that anyone might have for running Server 2003 as a workstation is a bad one!
Wow! It must be nice being an omniscient computer GOD!
ENOUGH!
I use 2003 at work and really looking forward to upgrading once we get it, looks very interesting
I don't know what the hell you guys are running on your computers, but Vista has provided zero compatibility issues for me.
I run data analysis programs, AutoDeskt Invetor 2008...I game COD 4 via steam and Portal, everything just works. It also boots up in under a minute, and my battery life is 4 hours and 25 minutes if I am just typing notes and surfing the web.
I respect your decision to remain with XP, but you cannot be resistant to change forever, this slows down the adoption process. Granted Vista isn't as cheap as OSX but it was 5 years of updates and not 2.
People asking for speed tests, it wont tell you much, Vista probably is technically slower than XP, at least in certain things, I find downloads are faster with the new network stack some CPU intensive tasks are faster (especially in Supreme Commander) ... etc.
Remember 98 vs XP, that was a huge leap, roxio made drives disappear...lots of things were broke.
Vista may not be the most polished OS, but it really isn�t that bad, I'm sure you can find "proof" that it is, being that 80% of the news articles about vista are negative, I assure you, they are exaggerated. XP has one major flaw, that is having to run as an administrator for day to day use. UAC fixes that in Vista...it is only annoying if you have to install a driver, install an app, and change your system time... I mean come on, how often do you have to do those things? Day to day use, I rarely see it. I run as a standard user, and type my credentials in when needed, as a result, I run no anti virus, I feel no need, see "Choosing Anti Anti Virus".
I know, right? People with very poor experiences are either 1. using ****ty 3rd party apps or 2. using ****ty drivers from ****ty OEMs
I mean, yes, I can say that for me, Vista can be inconsistent, in that some days, my laptop comes out of sleep in 2 seconds, and some days it takes 15....... that's what I see as its biggest problem. But overall, My problems with it are extremely limited, and by no means worse enough for me to consider going back to..... *throws up in his mouth a little*...... XP. *shudders*
You must be joking, right? Ever used XP?
Last edited by bmaher on 16 Feb 2008 - 18:34
Well, thankfully it's your opinion (and we all know what opinions are like), cause I have a 2.4 GHz laptop with 1 GB memory and it runs Vista Business just fine.
Last edited by bmaher on 16 Feb 2008 - 18:35
Now it's hard to identify the tiny layer that difference a server and a workstation, years ago the difference between a server and a workstation (hw and software) is the level of complexity and cost involved , now between a HP server and a HP workstation, the more noticeable difference is the applications and services running, also ecc memories.
i'm tempted to add " It's windows it will always be a workstation OS" but i'll refrain...
i'm tempted to add " It's windows it will always be a workstation OS" but i'll refrain...
Good idea, because that would make you look like a jackass!
i have it installed on a laptop at work and love it.. granted its only for playing about with at the moment, but it is certainly more then capable at being a desktop OS (i currently just use it to make virtual machines and play about)
will give vista sp1 a whirl in a week or so when i have time, compare contrast etc etc
FAIL
The article doesn't mention software compatibility though. You'll probably run into apps like antivirus and firewalls complaining that they don't like "server" OSs. I had this problem with 2003. The good free stuff like antivir and comodo don't work.
I wonder if he looked at this link
Nah...he couldn't have
I mean he is .. "Vijayshinva Karnure"
Aaaaeeeeeeeey (as in Allah)
could it install XP and play games under it or just the same crappy gpu all virtual mahines/box/workstation have ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-V
is that a yes or no or a sometimes
Only 2 devices that are unknow, and 4gb of ram useable, Vista had 5 devices, and only saw 3.4gb of ram.
Only 2 devices that are unknow, and 4gb of ram useable, Vista had 5 devices, and only saw 3.4gb of ram.
It probably only saw 3.4GB of ram because you were using the 32bit version
Only 2 devices that are unknow, and 4gb of ram useable, Vista had 5 devices, and only saw 3.4gb of ram.
It probably only saw 3.4GB of ram because you were using the 32bit version
EXACTLY!
Eset NOD32 works on Server 2003 (it recognises that 2003 and doesn't enable HTTP filter by default) as well as Vista, so I see no reason why it shouldn't work on 2k8. It also isn't super expensive. Or you could try Symantec (not standard resource-hogging bloatware Norton, but the proper Corporate antivirus). Depends on your budget. If it is zero then you're most likely out of luck.
Eset NOD32 works on Server 2003 (it recognises that 2003 and doesn't enable HTTP filter by default) as well as Vista, so I see no reason why it shouldn't work on 2k8. It also isn't super expensive. Or you could try Symantec (not standard resource-hogging bloatware Norton, but the proper Corporate antivirus). Depends on your budget. If it is zero then you're most likely out of luck.
Yes, I like Symantec. It does its job, and is content to STFU. Depending on how nefarious you are and how badly you want it, it an be found on torrent sites pretty easily.
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