Windows Server 2008 features are in response to Linux’s challenge
Linux, having less of a surface area, is what Windows Server 2008 will be promoting as one of the idea in it’s features set. Surface area is an IT term use to define the total resource footprint of an operating system. Surface area includes the amount of code, features, network resources like number of ports which could potentially break the system due to attacks.
Bill Laing, Microsoft Windows Server General Manager pointed out that “Having less surface area does reduce the servicing and amount of code running and exposed, so we have done a lot of work in 2008 to make the system more modular”. He also added that there are more than 30 components not installed by default which a huge change. For some IT managers, system administrators and technicians, having these components turned on by default will mean harder time for attackers in finding out a hole in the system. One more noteable feature according to Laing is a server core where it doesn’t have (and don’t need ) the graphical user interface in order to bring up the system.
I guess, what Microsoft is trying to do is to attract old/new Linux enthusiast AND mostl importantly small and medium enterprise to finally consider Windows Server for their IT operations need. This is another challenge for Linux which I personally think is not really that of a bigger deal. This kind of competition will benefit the most important part of the IT industry, no one else but the users. I just hope that Microsoft can come up with a better pricing scheme for their new products or else Linux will continue it’s rise to the enterprise and probably dominate in this field.
On OSnews.com discussion, Shanya Almafeta said “Speaking as a long time Windows customer, I can’t see how this would be good. Having 30 more components that aren’t included in the default build just means 30 more ways to break compatiblity, as well as 30 more things we might have to buy.” This is just one of the many reactions that will pop up as soon as Microsoft intensify their marketing effort for Windows 2008.
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Update: Changed some of the instances of “Windows 2008″ to “Windows Server 2008″.