Take the time to load the Beta copy of Server 8 on a box in your lab and take a look. Every Enterprise Server Team needs to take a look and start getting familiar with this new OS. This isn't a boring iteration on a previous server operating system wherein a few tweaks have been achieved and nothing really changes. Server 8 - along with the suite of associated 2012-ish server applications - is nothing short of a complete redefinition of the server landscape. I'm impressed, and I hope Microsoft comes up with a cool name for this OS and not just Windows Server 8.
Whereas Windows 8 is about radically redefining and limiting how we work (smart move), Windows Server 8's equally radical approach is to provide us with the ability to do whatever we want to do in as open and standards-compliant manner as is possible. It is such a fundamental change in attitude that I don't think anyone fully understands the long-term repercussions just yet. Is this a modular approach to the OS? Will they be able to upgrade or update different modules of the OS without waiting for another major release? I think we have some more research to do.
The storage team in particular is due some "open" accolades. They are pushing standards-based storage management. They've been very active participants within the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA), which involves working closely with all major storage players (including open source teams) to ensure that SMB 2.2 did not end up a proprietary protocol. Plus, does this bring EMC to the table with some open standard tools? Perhaps. SNIA has some great ideas - I love to follow their progress.
Windows 8 includes an NFS stack rewritten from the ground up. It solves a lot of the compatibility issues suffered by previous implementations and offers massive performance increases. They aren't implementing some kludged in-house frankenversion either: Microsoft bit the bullet and paid to have it done right. Plus I don't see any vaporware yet in the beta version I have. What has been said is present. How cool is that?
The storage team have also produced the best PowerShell reference sheet yet. Interesting, as PowerShell scriptability is another important marker of Microsoft's growing commitment to openness and standards.
Compared to its precedents, Server 8 was designed backwards; everything in Server 8 can be manipulated via APIs and PowerShell scriptlets. GUIs are simply ease-of-use layers that offer a visual method of scriptlet control. I also like the improved GUI. Many IT SMEs like the scripts, but there is a risk with doing things in scripts - easy errors can occur.
That means that anyone can build an interface to control any aspect of Server 8 from any operating system they wish. If you want to run a fleet of Windows 8 servers from Linux, Microsoft is not only happy to help, it built components for that. Now, that is taking a leader role, don't you agree?
Server 8 is also set to start breaking down some very important barriers by commoditising traditionally proprietary (and expensive) technologies and integrating them into the core OS. Long overdue features like NIC teaming join game-changers like deduplication, virtual HBAs and a thoroughly tested, enterprise-ready iSCSI target. Storage Spaces offers Drobo-like functionality, and Cluster Shared Volumes have moved beyond "Hyper-V only." So next is to see how this will play with enterprise storage environments.
There are of course Microsoft-centric advances to Server 8 as well. Hyper-V, now supports Hyper-V Replica, Cluster Aware Updates, SMB 2.2 storage, and more. Start putting the pieces together and you get affordable HA Scale Out Storage – something that will radically redefine midmarket virtualisation deployments, but may prove to be insignificant to the large enterprise.
Hyper-V has gained forward momentum; live migration has been enhanced to the point where clustered storage is no longer a requirement. Branch Cache has improved significantly: it now uses bittorrent-esque technology to access files that may live on the local client, a nearby file server or out across the WAN. CHKDSK has been redone – it's faster, smarter and better. Bitlocker now supports clustered disks. I also like some of the management tools. Check them out -
There's more. A lot more. Windows Server 8 beta has only been in my hands for a week, but it is already completely changing the way I think about IT. Technologies that last year were only accessible to most well-funded of enterprise IT departments, (or the most dedicated of open source administrators,) will now be available to everyone. SMB will gain significant technology with Server 8.
Microsoft's newly found openness means that no one is forced to use Windows 8 for administration. What's more, Windows Server 8 is a versatile and feature-rich backend for non-Microsoft client operating systems. Whether your business chooses Linux, Windows, Apple or BYOD client deployments, the case for Windows Server 8 as the backend is easily made, and now a real asset to the technology architecture.
Take some time to get familiar with it - I think we have a game changer on the way. Exciting!
Keep it positive!
Scott Arnett
scott.arnett@charter.net
About Me
- Scott Arnett
- Scott Arnett is an Information Technology & Security Professional Executive with over 30 years experience in IT. Scott has worked in various industries such as health care, insurance, manufacturing, broadcast, printing, and consulting and in enterprises ranging in size from $50M to $20B in revenue. Scott’s experience encompasses the following areas of specialization: Leadership, Strategy, Architecture, Business Partnership & Acumen, Process Management, Infrastructure and Security. With his broad understanding of technology and his ability to communicate successfully with both Executives and Technical Specialists, Scott has been consistently recognized as someone who not only can "Connect the Dots", but who can also create a workable solution. Scott is equally comfortable playing technical, project management/leadership and organizational leadership roles through experience gained throughout his career. Scott has previously acted in the role of CIO, CTO, and VP of IT, successfully built 9 data centers across the country, and is expert in understanding ITIL, PCI Compliance, SOX, HIPAA, FERPA, FRCP and COBIT.
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