View source for Windows Server 2008

{{Short description|Fourth version of Windows Server, released in 2008}}
{{Hatnote group|
{{Redirect-distinguish|Windows 08|Windows 8}}
{{Hatnote|It is also not to be confused with [[Windows Server 2012]], codenamed "Windows Server 8".}}
}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Windows Server 2008
| version of = [[Windows NT]]
| logo = Windows Server 2008 Logo and Wordmark.png
| logo size = 220px
| screenshot = Windows Server 2008.png
| caption = Screenshot of Windows Server 2008 showing the Server Manager application which is automatically opened when an administrator logs on
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| family = [[Windows Server]]
| source model = {{ubl
| [[Proprietary software|Closed-source]]
| [[Source-available software|Source-available]] (through [[Shared Source Initiative]])
}}
| RTM date = {{Start date and age|2008|2|4}}<ref name="RTM-presspass">{{cite web|title=As Windows Server 2008 RTMs, Customers and Partners Adopting with Help of New Tools, Training|url=https://news.microsoft.com/2008/02/04/as-windows-server-2008-rtms-customers-and-partners-adopting-with-help-of-new-tools-training/|website=News Center|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|location=[[Redmond, WA]]|date=4 February 2008}}</ref>
| GA date = {{Start date and age|2008|2|27}}<ref name="RTM-presspass" />
| release version = Service Pack 2 with June 2025 monthly update rollup (6.0.6003.23351)<ref name=v6003>{{Cite web|title=Build number changing to 6003 in Windows Server 2008|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/build-number-changing-to-6003-in-windows-server-2008-1335e4d4-c155-52eb-4a45-b85bd1909ca8|access-date=2021-03-26|website=support.microsoft.com}}</ref>
| release date = {{Start date and age|2025|6|10}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://support.microsoft.com/help/5061026  |title=June 10, 2025—KB5061026 (Monthly Rollup)|publisher=Microsoft |date=June 10, 2025 }}</ref>
| marketing target = Business
| language = <!-- Supported human languages (English, French, Italian, Arabic, ...) -->
| update model = [[Windows Update]], [[Windows Server Update Services]], [[System Center Configuration Manager|SCCM]]
| package manager = <!-- dpkg, rpm, Windows installer, etc. -->
| supported platforms = 64-bit: [[x86-64]] (and originally [[Itanium]]); 32-bit [[IA-32]]
| kernel type = [[Hybrid kernel|Hybrid]] ([[Architecture of Windows NT#Kernel|Windows NT kernel]])
| ui = [[Windows shell]] ([[Graphical user interface|Graphical]])
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] [[commercial software]]
| preceded by = [[Windows Server 2003]] (2003)
| succeeded by = [[Windows Server 2008 R2]] (2009)
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20080208061615/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/default.aspx Windows Server 2008] (archived at [[Wayback Machine]])
| support status = Mainstream support ended on January 13, 2015<ref name=sup1 /><br /> Extended support ended on January 14, 2020<ref name=sup1 /><br /><br />''Paid updates; only for Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter volume licensed editions:''<ref name="tfosmark-1">{{Cite web|title=Product Lifecycle FAQ – Extended Security Updates – Microsoft Lifecycle|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/extended-security-updates|access-date=2021-03-26|website=docs.microsoft.com|language=en-us}}</ref><ref name="tfosmark-3">{{Cite web|title=Announcing new options for SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 End of Support|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-new-options-for-sql-server-2008-and-windows-server-2008-end-of-support/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=azure.microsoft.com|date=12 July 2018 |language=en}}</ref><br /><br />ESU (Extended Security Updates) support ended on January 10, 2023, for non-[[Microsoft Azure|Azure]] &<br /> January 9, 2024, for Azure.<ref name="tfosmark-2">{{Cite web|title=Extended Security Updates for SQL Server and Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 {{!}} Microsoft|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/extended-security-updates|access-date=2021-03-26|website=www.microsoft.com|language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=sup1 /><br /><br />[[Grandfather clause|Grandfathered]]<ref name=PA2 /> Premium Assurance security update support <!-- excluding Itanium?! And IA-32? --> until January 13, 2026.<ref name=PA /><ref name=PA3 /><br /><br />See {{section link||Paid extended updates}} for details.
}}

{{Windows Vista}}

'''Windows Server 2008''', codenamed "Longhorn Server" (alternatives: "Windows Vista Server" or "Windows Server Vista"), is <!--Do NOT change to "was". This violates [[MOS:TENSE]], which specified that all articles on operating systems are written in previous tense, even if discontinued.--> the seventh major version of the [[Windows NT]] [[operating system]] produced by [[Microsoft]] to be released under the [[Windows Server]] brand name. It was [[Release to manufacturing|released to manufacturing]] on February 4, 2008, and generally to retail on February 27, 2008. Derived from [[Windows Vista]], Windows Server 2008 is the successor to [[Windows Server 2003 R2]] and the predecessor to [[Windows Server 2008 R2]]. It removed support for computers without [[ACPI]], and is the first version that includes [[Hyper-V]].

It is the last version of Windows Server that supports [[32-bit computing|32-bit processors]] ([[IA-32]]).

As of July 2019, 60% of Windows Servers were running Windows Server 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 21, 2020 |title=Not dead yet: Windows Server 2008 users have options |url=https://www.channelasia.tech/article/670375/dead-yet-windows-server-2008-users-options/?fp=2&fpid=1}}</ref>

== History ==
Microsoft had released [[Windows Vista]] to [[Criticism of Windows Vista|mixed reception]], and their [[Windows Server 2003|last Windows Server release]] was based on [[Windows XP]]. The operating system's working title was '''Windows Server Codename "Longhorn"''', but was later changed to '''Windows Server 2008''' when [[Microsoft]] chairman [[Bill Gates]] announced it during his keynote address at [[Windows Hardware Engineering Conference|WinHEC]] on May 16, 2007.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://blog.pcmag.com/blogs/miller/archive/2007/05/15/1883.aspx
|title=Gates at WinHec 2007: Windows Server 2008, Rally, Home Server and More
|author=Miller, Michael J.
|work=Forward Thinking
|date=2007-05-15
|access-date=2007-07-09
|archive-date=2007-06-26
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626032336/http://blog.pcmag.com/blogs/miller/archive/2007/05/15/1883.aspx
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

Beta 1 was released on July 27, 2005; Beta 2 was announced and released on May 23, 2006, at WinHEC 2006 and Beta 3 was released publicly on April 25, 2007.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2007/04/25/beta-3-is-go.aspx
|title=Beta 3 is Go!
|date=2007-04-25
|access-date=2007-04-25
|last=Lowe
|first=David
|work=Windows Server Division WebLog
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
|archive-date=2007-04-28
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428050851/http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2007/04/25/beta-3-is-go.aspx
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> Release Candidate 0 was released to the general public on September 24, 2007<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2007/09/24/windows-server-2008-rc0-released.aspx
|title=Windows Server 2008 Rc0 Released!
|date=2007-09-24
|access-date=2007-09-24
|last=Ralston
|first=Ward
|work=Windows Server Division WebLog
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
|archive-date=2007-10-11
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011054059/http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2007/09/24/windows-server-2008-rc0-released.aspx
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> and Release Candidate 1 was released to the general public on December 5, 2007. Windows Server 2008 was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, and officially launched on the 27th of that month.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.betanews.com/article/New_Windows_Server_Visual_Studio_SQL_Server_to_Launch_in_February/1184080223 | title = New Windows Server, Visual Studio, SQL Server to Launch in February | author = Nate Mook | date = 10 July 2007 | publisher = BetaNews | access-date = 2007-07-11}}</ref>

==Features==
{{See also|Features new to Windows Vista}}

Windows Server 2008 is built from the same codebase as [[Windows Vista]] and thus it shares much of the same architecture and functionality. Since the codebase is common, Windows Server 2008 inherits most of the [[Technical features new to Windows Vista|technical]], [[Security and safety features new to Windows Vista|security]], [[management features new to Windows Vista|management and administrative]] [[features new to Windows Vista]] such as the rewritten [[Windows Vista networking technologies|networking stack]] (native [[IPv6]], native wireless, speed and security improvements); improved [[Windows Imaging Format|image-based]] installation, deployment and recovery; improved diagnostics, monitoring, event logging and reporting tools; [[Security and safety features new to Windows Vista|new security features]] such as [[BitLocker]] and [[address space layout randomization]] (ASLR); the improved [[Windows Firewall#Windows Vista|Windows Firewall]] with secure default configuration; [[.NET Framework 3.0]] technologies, specifically [[Windows Communication Foundation]], [[Microsoft Message Queuing]] and [[Windows Workflow Foundation]]; and the core kernel, memory and file system improvements. Processors and memory devices are modeled as [[Plug and Play]] devices to allow [[hot-plugging]] of these devices. This allows the system resources to be partitioned dynamically using dynamic hardware partitioning – each partition has its own memory, processor and I/O host bridge devices independent of other partitions.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa938679.aspx | title = Dynamic Hardware Partitioning Architecture | publisher = MSDN | access-date = 2007-07-23}}</ref>

=== Server Core ===
[[File:Windows 2008 Server Core.png|thumb|Default [[user interface]] for Server Core. Because Server Core does not include a shell, programs such as [[Windows Notepad|Notepad]] use an embedded file dialog inherited from [[Windows 3.1x|Windows 3.x]]/[[Windows NT 3.1]].]]
Windows Server 2008 includes a variation of installation called [[Server Core]]. Server Core is a significantly scaled-back installation where no [[Windows Explorer]] shell is installed. It also lacks [[Internet Explorer]], and many other non-essential features. All configuration and maintenance is done entirely through [[command-line interface]] windows, or by connecting to the machine remotely using [[Microsoft Management Console]] (MMC). [[Windows Notepad|Notepad]] and some Control Panel applets, such as Regional Settings, are available.

A Server Core installation can be configured for several basic roles, including the [[Domain controller (Windows)|domain controller]] ([[Active Directory Domain Services]]), [[Active Directory#Lightweight Directory Services|Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services]] (formerly known as Active Directory Application Mode<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/hh831593(v%3dws.11)|title=Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services Overview|last=Archiveddocs|website=docs.microsoft.com|language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref>), [[DNS Server]], [[Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol|DHCP server]], [[file server]], [[print server]], [[Windows Media Services|Windows Media Server]], [[Internet Information Services]] 7 web server and [[Hyper-V]] virtual server roles. Server Core can also be used to create a [[computer cluster|cluster]] with [[high availability]] using [[High-availability cluster|failover clustering]] or [[Load balancing (computing)|network load balancing]].

Andrew Mason, a program manager on the Windows Server team, noted that a primary motivation for producing a Server Core variant of Windows Server 2008 was to reduce the [[attack surface]] of the operating system, and that about 70% of the security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows from the prior five years would not have affected Server Core.<ref name="anderson2006">{{cite web
|url=https://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Duncanma/Iain-McDonald-and-Andrew-Mason-show-off-the-new-Windows-Server-OS/
|title=Iain McDonald and Andrew Mason show off the new Windows Server OS
|quote=18:55
|date=May 24, 2006
|access-date=2008-11-01
|work=[[Channel 9 (discussion forum)|Channel 9]]
|publisher=Microsoft}}
</ref>

=== Active Directory ===
The Active Directory domain functionality that was retained from Windows Server 2003 was renamed to Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS).<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2006/11/FutureOfWindows
|title=The Future of Windows: Directory Services in Windows Server 2008
|last=Hynes
|first=Byron
|date=November 2006
|access-date = 2007-05-02
|work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]] Magazine
}}</ref> 
* [[Active Directory Federation Services]] (ADFS) enables enterprises to share credentials with trusted partners and customers, allowing a consultant to use their company user name and password to log in on a client's network.
* Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS), (formerly Active Directory Application Mode, or ADAM)
* Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS) allow administrators to manage user accounts and the [[Public key certificate|digital certificates]] that allow them to access certain services and systems. ''Identity Integration Feature Pack'' is included as ''Active Directory Metadirectory Services''. 
* [[Active Directory Rights Management Services]] (ADRMS)
* Read-only [[Domain controller (Windows)|domain controllers]] (RODCs), intended for use in branch office or other scenarios where a domain controller may reside in a low physical security environment. The RODC holds a non-writeable copy of Active Directory, and redirects all write attempts to a full domain controller. It replicates all accounts except sensitive ones.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/aralves/deploying-windows-server-2008-read-only-domain-controllers|title=Deploying Windows Server 2008 Read Only Domain Controllers|website=docs.microsoft.com|date=16 May 2008 |language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref> In RODC mode, credentials are not cached by default. Also, local administrators can be designated to log on to the machine to perform maintenance tasks without requiring administrative rights on the entire domain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itprotoday.com/windows-8/q-what-read-only-domain-controller-rodc|title=Q. What is a read-only domain controller (RODC)?|date=2008-03-24|website=IT Pro|language=en|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref>
* Restartable Active Directory allows ADDS to be stopped and restarted from the Management Console or the command-line without rebooting the domain controller. This reduces downtime for offline operations and reduces overall DC servicing requirements with ''Server Core''. ADDS is implemented as a ''Domain Controller Service'' in Windows Server 2008.
* All of the [[Group Policy]] [[Management features new to Windows Vista#Group Policy|improvements]] from Windows Vista are included. Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is built-in. The Group Policy objects are indexed for search and can be commented on.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Top 10 Overlooked Windows Server 2008 Features, Part 2
  | last = Ward
  | first = Keith
  | publisher = Redmond Developer News
  | date = 2007-10-08
  | url = https://reddevnews.com/articles/2007/10/08/top-10-overlooked-windows-server-2008-features-part-2.aspx
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090804113107/http://reddevnews.com/articles/2007/10/08/top-10-overlooked-windows-server-2008-features-part-2.aspx
  | archive-date = 2009-08-04
  | access-date = 2014-10-10
 }}</ref>
* Policy-based networking with [[Network Access Protection]], improved branch management and enhanced end user collaboration. Policies can be created to ensure greater [[quality of service]] for certain applications or services that require prioritization of network bandwidth between client and server.
* Granular password settings within a single domain – ability to implement different password policies for administrative accounts on a "group" and "user" basis, instead of a single set of password settings to the whole domain.

=== Failover Clustering ===
{{main|Microsoft Cluster Server}}
Windows Server 2008 offers high availability to services and applications through [[Failover Clustering]].  Most server features and roles can be kept running with little to no downtime.

In Windows Server 2008, the way clusters are qualified changed significantly with the introduction of the cluster validation wizard.<ref>{{cite web | title=Failover Cluster Validation Error 80070005 on Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 | url=https://capitalhead.com/articles/failover-cluster-validation-error-80070005-on-windows-server-2008-r2-x64.aspx | work=Capitalhead | date=2009-11-04 | access-date=2013-10-28 | archive-date=2013-05-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508120459/http://capitalhead.com/articles/failover-cluster-validation-error-80070005-on-windows-server-2008-r2-x64.aspx | url-status=dead}}</ref> The cluster validation wizard is a feature that is integrated into failover clustering in Windows Server 2008. With the cluster validation wizard, an administrator can run a set of focused tests on a collection of servers that are intended to use as nodes in a cluster. This cluster validation process tests the underlying hardware and software directly, and individually, to obtain an accurate assessment of how well failover clustering can be supported on a given configuration.

This feature is only available in Enterprise and Datacenter editions of Windows Server.

=== Disk management and file storage ===
* The ability to resize hard disk partitions without stopping the server, even the system partition. This applies only to simple and spanned volumes, not to striped volumes.
* [[Shadow Copy]] based block-level backup which supports optical media, network shares and [[Windows Recovery Environment]].
* [[Distributed File System (Microsoft)|DFS]] enhancements – SYSVOL on DFS-R, Read-only Folder Replication Member. There is also support for domain-based DFS namespaces that exceed the previous size recommendation of 5,000 folders with targets in a namespace.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2007/07/24/new-in-windows-server-2008-breaking-the-5k-folder-barrier-in-domain-based-namespaces.aspx |title=New in Windows Server 2008: Breaking the 5K Folder "Barrier" in Domain-Based Namespaces |publisher=Microsoft |work=The Storage Team at Microsoft – File Cabinet Blog |first=Jill |last=Zoeller |date=26 July 2007 |access-date=16 August 2013 |archive-date=4 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404042136/http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2007/07/24/new-in-windows-server-2008-breaking-the-5k-folder-barrier-in-domain-based-namespaces.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Several improvements to [[Microsoft Cluster Server|Failover Clustering]] ([[high-availability clusters]]).<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/failover-clusters.mspx
|title=Failover Clustering with Windows Server 2008 including Cluster shared volumes
|date=2007-01-17
|access-date = 2007-07-09
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
}}</ref>
* Internet Storage Naming Server ([[iSNS]]) enables central registration, deregistration and queries for [[iSCSI]] hard drives.
* Self-healing NTFS: In Windows versions prior to Windows Vista, if the operating system detected corruption in the [[file system]] of an [[NTFS]] volume, it marked the volume "dirty"; to correct errors on the volume, it had to be taken offline. With self-healing NTFS, an NTFS worker thread is spawned in the background which performs a localized fix-up of damaged data structures, with only the corrupted files/folders remaining unavailable without locking out the entire volume and needing the server to be taken down. [[Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology|S.M.A.R.T.]] detection techniques were added to help determine when a hard disk may fail.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://download.microsoft.com/download/5/b/9/5b97017b-e28a-4bae-ba48-174cf47d23cd/STO123_WH06.ppt
|title=Storage improvements in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
|last=Loveall
|first=John
|publisher=[[Microsoft Corporation]]
|year=2006
|access-date=2007-07-09
|format=PowerPoint
}}</ref>

=== Hyper-V ===
[[File:Viridian Architecture.svg|thumb|left|Hyper-V architecture]]
{{main|Hyper-V}}
Hyper-V is [[hypervisor]]-based [[Paravirtualization|virtualization]] software, forming a core part of Microsoft's virtualization strategy. It virtualizes servers on an operating system's [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] layer. It can be thought of as partitioning a single physical server into multiple small computational partitions. Hyper-V includes the ability to act as a [[Xen]] virtualization hypervisor host allowing Xen-enabled guest operating systems to run virtualized.<ref>{{cite web | title=Benchmarking Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 | url=https://capitalhead.com/articles/benchmarking-hyper-v-on-windows-server-2008-r2-x64.aspx | date=2010-01-20 | access-date=2010-01-28 | archive-date=2010-02-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218120555/http://capitalhead.com/articles/benchmarking-hyper-v-on-windows-server-2008-r2-x64.aspx | url-status=dead}}</ref> A beta version of Hyper-V shipped with certain [[x86-64]] editions of Windows Server 2008, prior to Microsoft's release of the final version of Hyper-V on 26 June 2008 as a free download. Also, a standalone variant of Hyper-V exists; this variant supports only x86-64 architecture.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/may06/05-22Virtualization.mspx
|title=Microsoft Extends Virtualization Strategy, Outlines Product Road Map
|date=2006-05-22
|access-date = 2007-07-09
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
}}</ref>  While the IA-32 editions of Windows Server 2008 cannot run or install Hyper-V, they can run the [[Microsoft Management Console|MMC]] snap-in for managing Hyper-V.

=== Windows System Resource Manager ===
{{main|Windows System Resource Manager}}
Windows System Resource Manager (WSRM) is integrated into Windows Server 2008. It provides resource management and can be used to control the amount of resources a [[process (computing)|process]] or a user can use based on business priorities. ''Process Matching Criteria'', which is defined by the name, type or owner of the process, enforces restrictions on the resource usage by a process that matches the criteria. CPU time, bandwidth that it can use, number of processors it can be run on, and allocated to a process can be restricted. Restrictions can be set to be imposed only on certain dates as well.

=== Server Manager ===
Server Manager is a new roles-based management tool for Windows Server 2008.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/b3274a34-7574-4ea6-aec0-e05ba297481e1033.mspx?mfr=true
|title=Server Manager
|work=Windows Server 2008 Technical Library
|publisher=[[Microsoft TechNet]]
|date=2007-06-25
|access-date=2007-05-02
|archive-date=2007-10-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024015129/http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/b3274a34-7574-4ea6-aec0-e05ba297481e1033.mspx?mfr=true
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> It is a combination of Manage Your Server and Security Configuration Wizard from Windows Server 2003. Server Manager is an improvement of the ''Configure my server'' dialog that launches by default on Windows Server 2003 machines. However, rather than serve only as a starting point to configuring new roles, ''Server Manager'' gathers together all of the operations users would want to conduct on the server, such as, getting a remote deployment method set up, adding more server roles etc., and provides a consolidated, portal-like view about the status of each role.<ref>{{cite web | title=Unexpected error refreshing Server Manager-0x800706BE and 1601 on Window Server 2008 R2 | url=https://capitalhead.com/articles/unexpected-error-refreshing-server-manager-errors-0x800706be-and-1601-on-window-server-2008-r2.aspx | access-date=2010-11-05 | archive-date=2010-11-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113123904/http://capitalhead.com/articles/unexpected-error-refreshing-server-manager-errors-0x800706be-and-1601-on-window-server-2008-r2.aspx | url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Protocol and cryptography ===
* Support for 128- and 256-bit [[Advanced Encryption Standard|AES]] encryption for the [[Kerberos (protocol)|Kerberos authentication]] protocol.
* New [[cryptography]] (CNG) API which supports [[elliptic-curve cryptography]] and improved certificate management.
* [[Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol]], a new Microsoft [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] [[VPN]] protocol.
* [[AuthIP]], a Microsoft proprietary extension of the [[Internet Key Exchange|IKE]] [[cryptographic protocol]] used in [[IPsec]] [[VPN]] networks.
* [[Windows Vista networking technologies#Server Message Block 2.0|Server Message Block 2.0]] protocol in the new TCP/IP stack provides a number of communication enhancements, including greater performance when connecting to [[Network share|file shares]] over high-latency links and better security through the use of [[mutual authentication]] and message signing.

=== Miscellaneous ===
* Fully componentized operating system.
* Improved [[Software hot patch|hot patching]], a feature that allows non-kernel patches to occur without the need for a reboot.
* Support for being booted from [[Extensible Firmware Interface]] (EFI)-compliant firmware on [[x86-64]] systems.
* Dynamic Hardware Partitioning supports hot-addition or replacement of processors and memory, on capable hardware.
* [[Windows Deployment Services]] (WDS) replacing Automated Deployment Services Windows Server 2008 home entertainment and [[Remote Installation Services]]. Windows Deployment Services supports an enhanced multicast feature when deploying operating system images.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.technet.com/kevinsul_blog/archive/2007/08/28/multicast-os-deployments-at-last-and-in-the-box-with-windows-server-2008.aspx |title=Multicasting OS deployments with Windows Server 2008 |publisher=Microsoft |work=Kevinsul's Management Blog |date=29 August 2007 |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref>
* [[Internet Information Services#Internet Information Services 7.0|Internet Information Services&nbsp;7]] – Increased security, [[Robocopy]] deployment, improved diagnostic tools, [[delegated administration]].
* [[Windows Internal Database]], a variant of [[SQL Server Express]] 2005, which serves as a common storage back-end for several other components such as [[Windows System Resource Manager]], [[Windows SharePoint Services]] and [[Windows Server Update Services]].  It is not intended to be used by third-party applications.
* An optional "desktop experience" component provides the same [[Windows Aero]] user interface as Windows Vista, both for local users, as well as remote users connecting through Remote Desktop.

== Removed features ==
{{See also|Features removed from Windows Vista}}
* The [[Open Shortest Path First]] (OSPF) [[routing protocol]] component in [[Routing and Remote Access Service]] was removed.<ref name="RemovedFeatures">{{cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730711(WS.10).aspx#BKMK_6 |title=Removed technologies in Routing and Remote Access in Windows Server 2008 |publisher=Microsoft |work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]] |date=29 August 2011 |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref>
* Services for [[Macintosh]], which provided file and print sharing via the now deprecated [[AppleTalk]] protocol, has been removed. Services for Macintosh were initially removed in Windows XP but were available in Windows Server 2003.<ref name="RemovedFeatures"/>
* [[NTBackup]] is replaced by Windows Server Backup, and no longer supports backing up to [[tape drive]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc770266(WS.10).aspx |title=Windows Server Backup Step-by-Step Guide for Windows Server 2008 |publisher=Microsoft |work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]] |date=17 January 2013 |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref> As a result of NTBackup removal, Exchange Server 2007 does not have volume snapshot backup functionality; however Exchange Server 2007 SP2 adds back an Exchange backup plug-in for Windows Server Backup which restores partial functionality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2009/05/11/3407440.aspx |title=Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 2 available in Q3 2009 |work=The Exchange Team Blog |date=11 May 2009 |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref> [[Windows Small Business Server]] and [[Windows Essential Business Server]] both include this Exchange backup component.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2008/06/18/3405615.aspx |title=To Backup or Not to Backup? Yes! To backup!! |work=The Exchange Team Blog |date=18 June 2008 |access-date=16 August 2013 |first=Nino |last=Bilic}}</ref>
* The [[Post Office Protocol|POP3]] service has been removed from Internet Information Services 7.0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc268242.aspx |title=IIS 7.0 Protocols |publisher=Microsoft |work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]] |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref> The [[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol|SMTP]] (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) service is not available as a server role in IIS 7.0, it is a server feature managed through IIS 6.0.
* NNTP ([[Network News Transfer Protocol]]) is no longer part of Internet Information Services 7.0.
* [[ReadyBoost]], which is available in Windows Vista, is not supported in Windows Server 2008.

== Editions ==
[[File:Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 DVD.jpg|thumb|Installation disc of Enterprise edition (beta 3)]]
Most editions of Windows Server 2008 are available in [[x86-64]] and [[IA-32]] variants. These editions come in two DVDs: One for installing the IA-32 variant and the other for x64. Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems supports [[IA-64]] processors. The IA-64 variant is optimized for high-workload scenarios like database servers and [[Line of Business]] (LOB) applications. As such, it is not optimized for use as a [[file server]] or [[media server]]. Windows Server 2008 is the last 32-bit Windows server operating system.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2007/05/18/on-64-bit-and-windows-client.aspx
|title=On 64-bit and Windows Client
|last=Heaton
|first=Alex
|work=Windows Vista Team Blog
|date=2007-05-18
|access-date = 2007-07-09
}}</ref>
Editions of Windows Server 2008 include:<ref>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/evaleditions.mspx
|title=Windows Server 2008 Product Editions
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
|date=2007-04-25
|access-date = 2007-07-09
}}</ref>
* Windows Server 2008 Foundation (codenamed "Lima"; x86-64) for OEMs only<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.petri.co.il/introduction-to-windows-server-2008-foundation.htm|title=Windows Server 2008 Foundation: An Entry-Level Server Platform|date=2009-04-17|work=Petri IT Knowledgebase|access-date=2014-01-08|archive-date=2014-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108103456/http://www.petri.co.il/introduction-to-windows-server-2008-foundation.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Windows Server 2008 Standard (IA-32 and x86-64)
* Windows Server 2008 Enterprise (IA-32 and x86-64)
* Windows Server 2008 Datacenter (IA-32 and x86-64)
*Windows Server 2008 for [[Itanium]]-based Systems (IA-64)
*Windows Web Server 2008<!--This is the name of the product. Check the source.--> (IA-32 and x86-64)
*[[Windows HPC Server 2008]] (codenamed "Socrates"; replacing [[Windows Compute Cluster Server]])
* Windows Storage Server 2008 (codenamed "Magni"; IA-32 and x86-64)
* [[Windows Small Business Server]] 2008 (codenamed "Cougar"; x86-64) for [[small business]]es
*[[Windows Essential Business Server 2008]] (codenamed "Centro"; x86-64) for medium-sized businesses<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/2007/11/07/5955270.aspx |title=Announcing Windows Essential Business Server |publisher=Microsoft |date=7 November 2007 |work=Microsoft Small Business Blog |first=Eric |last=Ligman |access-date=2013-08-16}}</ref> – this edition was discontinued in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/ebs/cc164281 |title=Windows Essential Business Server 2008 |website=Technet.microsoft.com |date=2010-12-31 |access-date=2013-01-09}}</ref>

The [[Microsoft Imagine]] program, known as DreamSpark at the time, used to provide verified students with the 32-bit variant of Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition, but the version has since then been removed. However, they still provide the R2 release.

The Server Core feature is available in the Web, Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter editions.

Windows Server 2008 Foundation Released on May 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2008 | title=Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Lifecycle (Look at the Note below links) |website=docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/}}</ref>

== System requirements ==
System requirements for Windows Server 2008 are as follows:
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2 | Criteria
! colspan=2 | 2008
! colspan=2 | 2008 R2
|-
! Minimum<ref name="msdn2.microsoft.com">{{cite web|url=https://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/cc196364.aspx|access-date=2008-03-31|title=Windows Server 2008 System Requirements|date=31 March 2008}}</ref>
! Recommended<ref name="msdn2.microsoft.com"/>
! Minimum<ref name="microsoft.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/system-requirements.aspx |title=Microsoft Windows Server 2008 System Requirements |publisher=Microsoft.com |access-date=2013-01-09}}</ref>
! Recommended<ref name="microsoft.com"/>
|-
| CPU
| {{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|1 [[Hertz|GHz]] (IA-32)|1.4 GHz (x86-64 or Itanium)}} || 2&nbsp;GHz or faster ||1.4&nbsp;GHz (x86-64 or Itanium) ||2&nbsp;GHz or faster
|-
| [[Random-access memory|RAM]]
| 512 [[Megabyte|MB]] || 2 [[Gigabyte|GB]] or greater || 512 MB || 2 [[Gigabyte|GB]] or greater
|-
| [[Hard disk drive|HDD]]{{efn|Computers with more than 16&nbsp;GB of RAM require more disk space for paging, hibernation, and dump files<ref name="microsoft.com"/>}}
| {{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|Other editions, 32-bit: 20 GB|Other editions, 64-bit: 32 GB|Foundation: 10 GB<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/WS08-system-requirements.aspx |title=Microsoft Windows Server 2008 System Requirements |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=2013-01-09}}</ref>}}
| 40 GB or greater
| {{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|Foundation: 10 GB|Other editions: 32 GB}}
| {{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|Foundation: 10 GB or greater|Other editions: 32 GB or greater}}
|-
| Devices
|colspan = "4" | [[DVD drive]], 800 × 600 or higher [[computer monitor|display]], [[computer keyboard|keyboard]] and [[Mouse (computing)|mouse]]
|}

==Scalability==
Windows Server 2008 supports the following maximum hardware specifications:<ref name=winsupersite.com>{{cite web |first=John |last=Savill |url=https://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windowsserver8/windows-server-8s-scalability-numbers-140931 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217020116/http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windowsserver8/windows-server-8s-scalability-numbers-140931 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 17, 2013 |title=Q: What are Windows Server 8's Scalability Numbers? |work=Windows IT Pro |publisher=[[Penton Media]] |date=October 28, 2011 |access-date=November 5, 2011}}</ref><ref name=processormax>{{cite web | url=https://blogs.technet.com/b/matthts/archive/2012/10/14/windows-server-sockets-logical-processors-symmetric-multi-threading.aspx | title=Windows Server – Sockets, Logical Processors, Symmetric Multi Threading | work=Matthijs's blog |publisher=Microsoft | date=October 13, 2012 | access-date=October 14, 2012 | last=Seldam |first=Matthijs ten}}</ref><ref name=msdn-max-mem>{{cite web|title=Memory Limits for Windows and Windows Server Releases|url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa366778%28v=vs.85%29.aspx#physical_memory_limits_windows_server_2008_r2|work=[[MSDN]]|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=13 April 2014}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|-
!Specification
!Windows Server 2008 !! Windows Server 2008 R2
|-
| [[CPU|Physical processors]]<br />("sockets"){{r|processormax}}
|{{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|Standard: 4|Enterprise: 8|Datacenter: 32}}
|{{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|Standard: 4|Enterprise: 8|Datacenter: 64}}
|-
| [[Logical processor]]s<br />when [[Hyper-V]] is disabled{{r|processormax}}
|{{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|[[IA-32]]: 32|[[x64]]: 64}}
|256
|-
| Logical processors<br />when Hyper-V is enabled{{r|processormax}}
|{{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|[[IA-32]]: N/A|[[x64]]: 24}}
|64
|-
| [[Random-access memory|Memory]]<br />on [[IA-32]]{{r|msdn-max-mem}}
|{{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|Standard, Web: 4 GB|Enterprise, Datacenter: 64 GB}}
|{{N/A}}
|-
| [[Random-access memory|Memory]]<br />on [[x64]]{{r|msdn-max-mem}}
|{{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|                 Standard, Web: 32 GB|HPC: 128 GB|Enterprise, Datacenter: 1 TB}}
|{{unbulleted list|item_style=text-align:center|Foundation: 8 GB|Standard, Web: 32 GB|HPC: 128 GB|Enterprise, Datacenter: 2 TB}}
|-
| [[Random-access memory|Memory]]<br />on [[Itanium]]{{r|msdn-max-mem}}
| colspan="2" |2 TB
|}

== Updates ==
{{Main|Windows Vista#Updates}}

Windows Server 2008 shares most of its updates with [[Windows Vista]], given that the operating systems share a codebase. A workaround using the [[Microsoft Update Catalog]] allowed the installation of updates for Windows Server 2008 on Windows Vista,<ref name="vistaupdates">{{Cite web|date=2017-06-24|title=Extend Windows Vista support by installing Windows Server 2008 updates – gHacks Tech News|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2017/06/24/windows-vista-server-2008-updates/|access-date=2021-06-30|website=gHacks Technology News|language=en-US}}</ref> adding nearly 3 years of security updates to that operating system (Support for Windows Vista ended on April 11, 2017,<ref name="WindowsVistaSupportPolicy">{{cite web |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/search/?sort=PN&alpha=Windows%20Vista&Filter=FilterNO |title=Windows Vista Lifecycle Policy |publisher=[[Microsoft]] | access-date=January 2, 2017}}</ref> while support for Windows Server 2008 ended on January 14, 2020).

=== Service Pack 2 ===
{{Main|Windows Vista#Service Pack 2}}
The RTM release of Windows Server 2008 already includes the updates and fixes of [[Windows Vista]] Service Pack 1.

Service Pack 2 was initially announced on October 24, 2008<ref name="nash2008sp2">{{cite web
|url=https://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2008/10/24/windows-server-2008-service-pack-2-beta.aspx
|title=Windows Server 2008 Service Pack&nbsp;2 beta
|date=October 24, 2008
|access-date=2008-10-29
|author=Justin Graham
|publisher=Microsoft
|archive-date=2008-10-28
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028173310/http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2008/10/24/windows-server-2008-service-pack-2-beta.aspx
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> and released on May 26, 2009. Service Pack 2 added new features, such as Windows Search 4.0, support for Bluetooth 2.1, the ability to write to [[Blu-ray]] discs, and simpler Wi-Fi configuration. Windows Server 2008 specifically received the final release of [[Hyper-V]] 1.0, improved backwards compatibility with Terminal Server license keys and an approximate 10% reduction in power usage with this service pack.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=605&pgno=0#vista_new|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090212213723/https://techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=605&pgno=0#vista_new|archive-date = 2009-02-12|title = Tech ARP – ED#107 : Latest Details on Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Rev. 2.2}}</ref>

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 share the same service pack update binary.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windows/archive/b/windowsvista/archive/2008/10/24/windows-vista-service-pack-2-beta.aspx |title=Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta |website=blogs.windows.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509023652/https://blogs.windows.com/windows/archive/b/windowsvista/archive/2008/10/24/windows-vista-service-pack-2-beta.aspx |archive-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Platform Update ===
On October 27, 2009, Microsoft released the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista. It [[backports]] several APIs and libraries introduced in [[Windows Server 2008 R2]] and [[Windows 7]] to Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista, including the [[Ribbon (computing)|Ribbon]] API, [[DirectX]] 11, the XPS library, the Windows Automation API and the Portable Device Platform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2009/10/27/announcing-final-releases-of-platform-update-for-windows-vista-technologies/|title = Announcing Final Releases of Platform Update for Windows Vista Technologies|date = 27 October 2009}}</ref> A supplemental update was released in 2011 to provide improvements and bug fixes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2117917/platform-update-supplement-for-windows-vista-and-for-windows-server-20 | title=Platform Update Supplement for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008}}</ref>

=== Internet Explorer 9 ===
{{Main|Internet Explorer 9}}
Windows Server 2008 shipped with [[Internet Explorer 7]], the same version that shipped with Windows Vista. The last supported version of Internet Explorer for Windows Server 2008 was Internet Explorer 9, released in 2011. Internet Explorer 9 was continually updated with cumulative monthly update rollups until support for Internet Explorer 9 on Windows Server 2008 ended on January 14, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cumulative security update for Internet Explorer: January 14, 2020|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/cumulative-security-update-for-internet-explorer-january-14-2020-81079350-5364-2a6f-a883-30f1d8830219|access-date=2021-03-26|website=support.microsoft.com}}</ref> IE9 continued to receive updates as long as the operating system was with Extended Security Updates until January 10, 2023 for non-Azure customers and January 9, 2024 for [[Microsoft Azure|Azure]] customers respectively and January 2026 for Premium Assurance customers.

=== .NET Framework ===
The latest supported version of the [[.NET Framework]] officially is version 4.6, released on October 15, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=48130|title = Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6 (Web Installer)|website = [[Microsoft]]}}</ref>

=== TLS 1.1 and 1.2 support ===
In July 2017, Microsoft released an update to add [[Transport Layer Security|TLS]] 1.1 and 1.2 support to Windows Server 2008, however it is disabled by default after installing the update.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-07-20|title=TLS 1.2 Support added to Windows Server 2008|url=https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2017/07/20/tls-1-2-support-added-to-windows-server-2008/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Microsoft Security|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== SHA-2 signing support ===
Starting in March 2019, Microsoft began transitioning to exclusively [[Code signing|signing]] Windows updates with the [[SHA-2]] algorithm. As a result of this Microsoft released several updates throughout 2019 to add SHA-2 signing support to Windows Server 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-hk/help/4472027/2019-sha-2-code-signing-support-requirement-for-windows-and-wsus|title = 2019 SHA-2 Code Signing Support requirement for Windows and WSUS}}</ref>

=== Monthly update rollups ===
In June 2018, Microsoft announced that they would be moving Windows Server 2008 to a monthly update model beginning with updates released in September 2018<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Mackie|first1=Kurt|date=June 13, 2018 |title=Microsoft Switching Windows Server 2008 SP2 to Monthly Update Rollup Model |url=https://redmondmag.com/articles/2018/06/13/windows-server-2008-sp2-update-model-change.aspx|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Redmondmag|language=en-US}}</ref> – two years after Microsoft switched the rest of their supported operating systems to that model.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Community|url=https://forums.ivanti.com/s/article/Microsoft-Patching-Changes-Starting-In-October-2016?language=en_US|access-date=2021-03-26|website=forums.ivanti.com}}</ref>

With the new update model, instead of updates being released as they became available, only two update packages were released on the [[Patch Tuesday|second Tuesday of every month]] until Windows Server 2008 reached its end of life – one package containing security and quality updates, and a smaller package that contained only the security updates. Users could choose which package they wanted to install each month. Later in the month, another package would be released which was a preview of the next month's security and quality update rollup.

Installing the preview rollup package released for Windows Server 2008 on March 19, 2019, or any later released rollup package, will update the operating system kernel's build number from version 6.0.6002 to 6.0.6003. This change was made so Microsoft could continue to service the operating system while avoiding "version-related issues".<ref name=v6003 />

The last free security update rollup packages were released on January 14, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=January 14, 2020—KB4534303 (Monthly Rollup)|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/january-14-2020-kb4534303-monthly-rollup-0c2afab3-18d0-4b73-5061-b2007eabc407|access-date=2021-03-26|website=support.microsoft.com}}</ref>

== Windows Server 2008 R2 ==
{{main|Windows Server 2008 R2}}
A second release of Windows Server 2008 (codenamed: Windows Server 7) based on Windows 7, '''Windows Server 2008 R2''', was [[released to manufacturing]] on July 22, 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2009/07/22/windows-server-2008-r2-rtm.aspx |title=Windows Server 2008 R2 Reaches the RTM Milestone! – Windows Server Blog – Site Home – TechNet Blogs |publisher=Blogs.technet.com |date=2009-07-22 |access-date=2013-01-09 |archive-date=2010-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408051341/http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2009/07/22/windows-server-2008-r2-rtm.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> and became [[General availability|generally available]] on October 22, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2009/07/22/when-to-expect-windows-server-2008-r2-rtm.aspx |title=When to expect Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM – Windows Server Blog – Site Home – TechNet Blogs |publisher=Blogs.technet.com |date=2009-07-22 |access-date=2013-01-09 |archive-date=2009-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725061001/http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2009/07/22/when-to-expect-windows-server-2008-r2-rtm.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> New features added in Windows Server 2008 R2 include new virtualization features, new Active Directory features, Internet Information Services 7.5 and support for up to 256 logical processors. It is the first server operating system by Microsoft to exclusively support 64-bit processors, while consumer-oriented versions of Windows maintained 32-bit support until [[Windows 11]] in 2021. It is also the final version of Windows Server that supports [[IA-64]]-based processors.

A [[service pack]] for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, formally designed '''Service Pack 1''', was released in February 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2011/02/09/announcing-availability-of-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1/ |title=Announcing Availability of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 | website=Windows Experience Blog|publisher=Microsoft |date=February 9, 2011 |first=Brandon |last=LeBlanc}}</ref>

== Support lifecycle ==
Support for the RTM version of Windows Server 2008 ended on July 12, 2011,<ref name=sup1>{{cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2008 |title=Microsoft Product Lifecycle |website=Support |publisher=Microsoft |accessdate=April 12, 2022}}</ref> and users can no longer receive further security updates for the operating system. As a component of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 with Service Pack 2 continued to be supported with security updates, lasting until January 14, 2020, the same respective end-of-life dates of its successor, [[Windows Server 2008 R2]] and [[Windows 7]].

Microsoft planned to end support for Windows Server 2008 on January 12, 2016. However, in order to give customers more time to migrate to newer Windows versions, particularly in developing or emerging markets, Microsoft decided to extend support to January 14, 2020.<ref name="tfosmark-1" /><ref name="tfosmark-2" /><ref name="tfosmark-3" /> 

=== Paid extended updates ===
Windows Server 2008 was eligible for the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. The program allowed volume license customers to purchase, in yearly installments, security updates for the operating system for three additional years, until January 10, 2023. The program was also included with [[Microsoft Azure]] purchases, and Azure customers received an extra year of support, until January 9, 2024. The licenses are paid for on a per-machine basis. If a user purchases an Extended Security Updates license in a later year of the program, they must pay for any previous years of Extended Security Updates as well.<ref name="tfosmark-1"/><ref name=ESU>{{cite web
|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2008
|title=Windows Server 2008 Product Lifecycle
|quote=18:55
|date=January 14, 2020
|access-date=January 9, 2022
|publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> 

Prior to the ESU program becoming available, Windows Server 2008 was eligible for the now discontinued, paid Premium Assurance program (an add-on to [[Microsoft Software Assurance]]) available to volume license customers. Microsoft will, however, honor the program for customers who purchased it between March 2017 and July 2018 (while it was available). The program provides an extra six years of security update support, until January 13, 2026.<ref name=PA>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-to-offer-option-of-16-years-of-windows-server-sql-server-support-through-new-premium/|title=Microsoft to offer option of 16 years of Windows Server, SQL Server support through new Premium Assurance offer|last=Foley|first=Mary Jo|website=[[ZDNet]]|publisher=[[Red Ventures]]|date=December 8, 2016|access-date=May 11, 2024}}</ref><ref name=PA2>{{cite web|url=https://rcpmag.com/Articles/2018/07/13/Microsoft-Replacing-Premiere-Assurance.aspx|title=Microsoft Replacing 'Premiere Assurance' Support with New Security Plan|last=Mackie|first=Kurt|website=Redmond Channel Partner|publisher=1105 Media|date=July 13, 2018|access-date=May 11, 2024}}</ref><ref name=PA3>{{cite web|url=https://www.licensingschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/SQL_Server_and_Windows_Server_Premium_Assurance_Datasheet-December-2016.pdf|title=Windows Server Premium Assurance SQL Server Premium Assurance|website=Licensing School|access-date=May 11, 2024}}</ref><ref name=MSCat1>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Update Catalog 2024-04 |url=https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=2024-04%20windows%20server%202008 |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=catalog.update.microsoft.com}}</ref> This will mark the final end of all security updates for the [[Windows NT 6.0]] product line after 19 years, 2 months, and 5 days.

Paid extended updates are not available for [[Itanium]] customers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Update Catalog 2022-01 |url=https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=2022-01%20windows%20server%202008 |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=catalog.update.microsoft.com}}</ref><ref name=MSCat1 />

== See also ==
* [[BlueKeep|BlueKeep (security vulnerability)]]
* [[Comparison of Microsoft Windows versions]]
* [[Comparison of operating systems]]
* [[Microsoft Windows version history]]
* [[List of operating systems]]
* [[Microsoft Servers]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite web|title=What's New in Networking|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd391869%28WS.10%29.aspx|work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=16 August 2013}}
* {{cite web|title=Changes in Functionality from Windows Server 2003 with SP1 to Windows Server 2008|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0e0d96cd-935b-48d0-b5ba-c70a979fadbc.aspx|work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=16 August 2013|date=21 January 2008}}
* {{cite web|title=Description of the Microsoft server applications that are supported on Windows Server 2008|url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/948680|work=Support|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=16 August 2013|date=23 April 2012}}
* {{cite web|title=Windows Server 2008 System Requirements|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb414778|work=[[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=16 August 2013}}
* {{cite web|last1=Henderson|last2=Dvorak|first1=Tom|first2=Rand|title=Windows Server 2008: Faster, more manageable and secure, but still missing the virtual link|url=https://www.networkworld.com/reviews/2008/022108-windows-2008-server-test.html|work=Network World|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|access-date=16 August 2013|date=21 February 2008}}
* {{cite web|last=Radzikowski|first=Przemek|title=How to Find Build and Revision Number of Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 Installed|url=https://capitalhead.com/articles/how-to-find-build-and-revision-number-of-windows-vista-or-windows-server-2008-installed.aspx|work=Capitalhead|publisher=Capitalhead Pty. Ltd|access-date=16 August 2013|date=21 February 2010|archive-date=8 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508093652/http://capitalhead.com/articles/how-to-find-build-and-revision-number-of-windows-vista-or-windows-server-2008-installed.aspx|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book|title=Windows Server 2008 Inside Out|isbn=978-0-7356-2438-2|year=2008|publisher=[[Microsoft Press]]|last=Stanek |first=William}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiversity|Windows Server}}
* [https://blogs.technet.com/winserverperformance/ Windows Server Performance Team Blog]

{{History of Windows}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Windows Server 2008| ]]
[[Category:2008 software]]
[[Category:IA-32 operating systems]]
[[Category:X86-64 operating systems]]
[[Category:Microsoft Windows]]