Evolution of the species

"From a support perspective it's quite compelling for IT administrators to get access to the extra support and ease of management features," he said. "While the end-users won't notice anything very much, it's offering a range of features similar to those in Windows Server 2003 in a more stable management environment."

The sorts of added features which have been particularly useful to customers running pre-launch systems are a rejig of the 2003 Remote Installation Service, and a remote performance monitor. Combined, these features enable administrators to work on remote systems, adding new computers to the network, and troubleshooting without actually having to visit remote offices.

"There's a whole range of technology here which makes it ideally suited to branch offices, and remote admin," Mai-Viet said. "It's a good combination of security and administration improvements."

Web engines at the ready

While most of the features associated with Windows Server 2008 are firmly focused on the back-end, there is one which will make it an easy sell for the business. Significant improvements in the Web interface and engines will provide a cogent upgrade driver for businesses looking to expand their online presence, and improve online interaction internally, with other businesses or with consumers.

According to OSS Infotech's Saini, the latest version of Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS 7.0) integrates security and management features which will streamline the development process associated with hosting Web applications and services.

"The IIS 7.0 feature will suit any business which requires an SOA Web interface for the Internet or for intranet services," Saini said. "It basically offers more reliability and better performance for any system which you want to run on the Web, especially for e-commerce or transaction-based processing, where there's a significant improvement in the speed at which transactions are processed."

Specifi cally, the IIS 7.0 offers administrators increased control over Web servers, as well as customization features, so that specifi c modules can be independently installed, and turned on or off, improving security and reducing the system footprint. A new set of Web server APIs also increase customisation opportunities for Web developers, while a unified, distributable confi guration model will streamline the Web-based application development and management procedures.

Between a rock and a hardware place

All this efficiency, improved administration and streamlined security is a mixed blessing for channel players. There's no doubt that virtualisation will prove a winner in terms of service revenues as customers consolidate their datacentres and streamline disaster recovery. At the same time the modular features will facilitate branch office rollout, remote management, and Web-based applications.

Technologically it's a winner for administrators, but with such virtualisation and administration features built in, it also signifies perhaps the last death knell for associated server sales.

Saini said most organisations would be able to migrate to Windows Server 2008 through an upgrade but to achieve the full benefits he recommended 64-bit processing, 2GB CPUs, 2GB of RAM, and 40GB of disk space as a minimum.

However, with the features focused on the back-end most companies are expected to go with a gradual upgrade rather than adopt a whole new system. Outside of the Web-facing world, the commercial imperatives for adoption of Windows Server 2008 are less tangible, and IT managers will need help to demonstrate business benefit if a comprehensive upgrade is warranted.

"There are some customers who need a hardware and software overhaul, where their hardware requirements are not sufficient to run the technology," Saini said. "But most will tweak their current systems, and not use all the features the software has to offer until the next hardware replacement cycle."

Given a single virtualised server can replace anywhere up to 10 standalone systems, even the scheduled hardware upgrades will be less lucrative. IDC has already cut its growth predictions for server sales by almost half, thanks to a combination of server virtualisation technology, as well as the improved performance offered by dual- and quad-core systems.

However, server vendors are surprisingly upbeat regarding the new technology.

HP product marketing manager for ProLiant servers, Deke Rayner-Harvey, said Windows Server 2008 was part of a gradual progression towards an increased reliance on smart software solutions.

"Typically in the past we used to solve most IT challenges by simply throwing more hardware at the problems," he said. "Typically when we speak to customers today, as their IT dollar restricts them from endlessly purchasing hardware, they are looking at addressing future needs differently."

The appropriate response, according to Rayner-Harvey, is for infrastructure to be designed with future software requirements in mind.

"The ProLiant servers we've been manufacturing since 2006 are ready to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 and will be able to offer all the capabilities and functionalities the software has to offer, so we're not going to see an increase in sales," Rayner-Harvey said. "But Windows Server 2008 should provoke some new thinking in terms of the technology pathways customers follow."

To upgrade or not to upgrade

A great technology, but no gravy chain, the launch of Windows Server 2008 will force the channel to review its business and communication skills, because it's a technology which can only be sold based on the business case. While Microsoft has done well to integrate a range of useful, robust technologies, no one is expecting a sudden rush of interest, and it will be up to the channel to implement relevant and appropriate configurations of Windows Server 2008.

The challenge is probably best summed up by Brennan IT's Mai-Viet.

"It's not going to drive huge growth in sales, but this new Microsoft product will help us deal with some of those problems being faced every day by our current customer base," he said. "We're not looking at a revolution, it's more of an evolutionary process that allows us to consolidate our customers and provide them with a good solid IT basis to grow their business further."