Description

• Large-scale virtualization

  Server virtualization technology lets you optimize system utilization and resources and realize significant infrastructure and management cost savings. Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter provides an ideal platform for enterprise-scale virtualization. Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter features Hyper-V, a flexible high-performance hypervisor-based virtualization technology. In addition, Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter licenses include unlimited virtualization rights, meaning that you have rights to run an unlimited number of Windows Server instances on servers licensed with Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter.

• Increased scalability

  As organizations rapidly grow and change, IT infrastructures must remain flexible and scalable to help support, manage, and secure expanded functionality, an influx of additional users and locations, and increasingly robust applications. Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter easily scales to adapt to the increased needs of data warehousing and transaction processing. This scalability also allows for improved resource planning.

• High availability

  Succeeding in the global marketplace requires that remote employees and international customers and partners have around-the-clock access to information. A disruption in services can result in diminished productivity and lost opportunities. Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter offers features that enhance the availability of your applications and services, including failover clustering, dynamic hardware partitioning, and the Windows Server 2008 R2 high availability program.

• Failover clustering

  Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter provides robust, rapid failover clustering that is easy to manage and automatically takes action in the event of a failed node, maintaining service so that users experience minimal disruption. High availability is also about avoiding downtime before it occurs. The risk of downtime due to driver issues has been decreased in Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter, because nonessential functions have been removed by default. The result is a singularly productive operating system, optimized for running the most demanding data center workloads.

• Dynamic hardware partitioning

  Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter further enhances server availability with dynamic hardware partitioning. Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter works with one or more isolated hardware partitions, each assigned its own processors, memory, and I/O host bridges that are independent from any other hardware partitions. You can hot replace or add additional processors and memory to these partitions without restarting the server. This increases the reliability, availability, and serviceability of your servers; for example, you can replace a processor that shows signs of failing or add spare processors to a partition as demand increases.

• Windows Server 2008 R2 high availability program

  For customers whose business demands high levels of availability, Microsoft offers the Windows Server 2008 R2 high availability program. Microsoft developed this optional program to provide customers with mission-critical server requirements with high quality server hardware configurations, support for Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter, and change-management processes for the most reliable and complete Windows Server solutions. The Windows Server 2008 R2 high availability program provides the support you need to ensure maximum uptime for your applications.

• Advanced identity and access management

  Today, employees are doing more business in more places - and on a wider variety of devices. At the same time, information loss, whether via outright theft or accidental leakage, is a growing concern for many enterprises. To keep people productive while securely managing the flow of data across your organization through multiple devices in a security-enhanced environment, Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter delivers advanced identity and access management features. The authentication architecture in Windows Server 2008 R2 helps you guard against malicious software attacks and helps prevent data and confidential information from being distributed inappropriately.

Specifications