Downgrade from 2008 R2 to 2008

[hagjohn]

Buying a Dell but I have a question about a Windows Server 2008 downgrade. We want to use 2008 Server Standard Edition, instead of the 2008 Server R2 that is the default option.

Question: how easy is it to downgrade 2008 R2 to 2008 server? Do I need to re-install the complete OS or is it just a change of license key?

[c.grz]

You'll have to re-install the O.S.

[morphen]

Well, first of all; bad move.

and second; Server 2008 R2 has the same core as Windows 7, Server 2008 has the same core as Vista; complete re-install.

May I ask why you would want to use 2008 standard over 2008 r2 standard?

[Anthonyd]

May I ask why you would want to use 2008 standard over 2008 r2 standard?

I put 5 bucks on some random hate about the new taskbar or something close to it :p

[morphen]

choosing 2008 over 2008 r2 is actually like choosing Vista over 7 so i am having trouble seeing the benefits...I doubt there is any.

[+LightEco Subscriber²]

Also interested about why the downgrade. Pretty much anything that worked on 2008 still works on R2, just like most everything that worked on Vista works on 7. Also even for compatibility of domains or whatever, you can usually use a compatibility mode.

[Rudy]

choosing 2008 over 2008 r2 is actually like choosing Vista over 7 so i am having trouble seeing the benefits...I doubt there is any.

Maybe ity's because he already has other Win08 servers and he wants a common environment?

[DPyro]

The only difference is 2008 R2 is 64-bit only, so unless you don't have a 64-bit processor there is absolutely no reason to use 2008.

[+BudMan MVC]

I am also very curious to why someone would want to run 2k8 vs 2k8r2??

Other than maybe adhering to some org policy that all servers run same level, etc. or some vendor saying they do not support r2 for some specific application I am at a loss to why someone would want to do this.

But yeah going to have to install to get down from r2

edit:

"The only difference is 2008 R2 is 64-bit only"

There are a few more difference than that ;) If you meant to say there is no 32bit version of R2, then ok sure -- but there is lots and lots of things different and new in r2 vs the just 2k8

[hagjohn]

Boss just wants to use the same OS as we are currently using (Server 2008 standard). I'm trying to talk him out of it. We plan on using it as a 2ndary PDC and fileserver. Has nothing to do with the taskbar. :D

FYI... The 5 user license is only for terminal services only and not domain user, right?

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

The only difference is 2008 R2 is 64-bit only, so unless you don't have a 64-bit processor there is absolutely no reason to use 2008.

erm, what? :huh:

fwiw, our environment uses both 2008 and R2... just depends on when the server was purchased. In one instance, however, we host an application that wont run on 64-bit OS's; therefore, we have to run it on 32-bit 2008. kind of sad, but hey.

[Grinch]

erm, what? :huh:

Server 2008 = x86 and x64

Server 2008 R2 = x64

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

Server 2008 = x86 and x64

Server 2008 R2 = x64

im well aware, but the quote was "the only difference" between the two. that's not true.

[Kelxin]

Boss just wants to use the same OS as we are currently using (Server 2008 standard). I'm trying to talk him out of it. We plan on using it as a 2ndary PDC and fileserver. Has nothing to do with the taskbar. :D

FYI... The 5 user license is only for terminal services only and not domain user, right?

I would tred VERY carefully, as Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2 active directory and domain controllers have a TON of differences especially with the naming structure and compatibility. If you want the two machines to work together as a fail over, or even as a cluster, you may get more a of a cluster f**k. Start mixing other things in such as SQL on both machines, or Microsoft TMG and all hell will start to break loose. My advice, either get Server 2008 R2 on both machines, or use Microsofts downgrade rights and take that 2008 R2 license back to 2008 for free.

As far as the licenses, there's multiple kinds of those also. Terminal Services licenses (two different kinds, user and device) and access licenses for across a network which can be used on a domain or work-group, it just means a computer is accessing a server.

If you have 20 licenses for server A for 20 computers to connect to it, and those same computers connecting also to server B, you also need 20 licenses for it too, making 40 licenses. Personally I think its ridiculous, but hey, that's why Microsoft is making the big bucks, and I'm not.

[xendrome]

The only difference is 2008 R2 is 64-bit only, so unless you don't have a 64-bit processor there is absolutely no reason to use 2008.

Wow, bad advice.... Forget the fact that R2 is base don 7 and 2008 is based on Vista. There are a ton of different features, BranchCache for example.

[ToneKnee]

I would tred VERY carefully, as Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2 active directory and domain controllers have a TON of differences especially with the naming structure and compatibility. If you want the two machines to work together as a fail over, or even as a cluster, you may get more a of a cluster f**k. Start mixing other things in such as SQL on both machines, or Microsoft TMG and all hell will start to break loose. My advice, either get Server 2008 R2 on both machines, or use Microsofts downgrade rights and take that 2008 R2 license back to 2008 for free.

As far as the licenses, there's multiple kinds of those also. Terminal Services licenses (two different kinds, user and device) and access licenses for across a network which can be used on a domain or work-group, it just means a computer is accessing a server.

If you have 20 licenses for server A for 20 computers to connect to it, and those same computers connecting also to server B, you also need 20 licenses for it too, making 40 licenses. Personally I think its ridiculous, but hey, that's why Microsoft is making the big bucks, and I'm not.

I'm pretty sure Windows 2008 R2 can be put in a 2008/2003 mode?

[Kelxin]

Yes and no.... Beyond that, if it is put into compatibility mode for 2008 on the domain, then you have to ensure the patch level between servers is identical, same with any additional services that are ran beyond just the domain and file server. I've found in my past getting things such as SQL 2008 32 bit and SQL 2008 64bit to the same patch level can be tricky at times because of the patch inconsistency between the versions. Sometimes one needs patches the other doesn't, and even further, Server 2008 will never act identically to Server 2008 R2 even if the later is in compatibility mode but for the most part you can get it to "work" but if you don't know the differences between the two you can easily be broadsided with downtime or larger issues.

Edit: Trying to remember exactly though, I believe it wouldn't let me make a Server 2008 R2 machine a backup primary domain controller for a 2008 domain, and vice versa, I think for a 2008 R2 domain, all of the domain controllers had to be running 2008 R2, but secondary servers such as mail, firewalls, file servers, etc could be running almost any OS that could be on the active directory.