Windows Server 2008 R2 Cool New Features – Cool Feature 4

The UAC got two new levels so it is not just on/off anymore. Instead we have a slide bar:

The levels are:

Never notify:

• Don’t notify me when programs try to install software or try to make changes to my computer
• Don’t notify me when I make changes to Windows settings or programs try to make changes to Windows settings

Only notify me when programs try to make changes to my computer

• Don’t notify me when I make changes to Windows settings
• Note: you’ll still be nofified if a program tries to make changes to your computer, including Windows settings

Always notify me

• Notify me when programs try to install software or make changes to my computer
• Notify me when I make changes to Windows settings or programs try to make changes to Windows settings

Always notify me and wait for my response

• Notify me when programs try to install software or make changes to my computer
• Notify me when I make changes to Windows settings or programs try to make changes to Windows settings

Windows Server 2008 R2 Cool New Features – Cool Feature 3

The Explorer interface has been updated as well. It now consists of Favorites, Libraries, Computer and Network:

I know, Favorites and Libraries may not be that applicable in a server environment, but since I use WS08 as a workstation I like to have there anyway 🙂

It is simple to add new Libraries. Right-clik Libraries and select New Library 

 Name the new library:

Click Include a folder to add a folder to the library.

Browse for the folder:

If you haven’t installed Windows Search Service and enabled Indexing you’ll see this warning:

There we go, the folder is now added to the list.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Cool New Features – Cool Feature 2

We can now add VHD’s directly in Disk Management:

Select More Actions -> Attach VHD

Browse for the VHD

The device drivers are installed

    

The VHD now appears as a drive

At TechEd Emea 2008 it was mentioned that it will be possible to boot a physical server from a VHD but I cannot see that option here. It may because I run this WS08R2 inside Hyper-V.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Cool New Features – Cool Feature 1

When looking at a role in Server Manager in Windows Server 2008 you had a limited number of options:

When looking at the same role in Windows Server 2008 R2 a few more options are available:

The Best Practices option is added in R2 and it gives you the possibility to scan your role to check if they adhere to Microsoft defined best practices for that role.

Hit Scan this role to start a scan:

When the scanning is complete, you get a result saying where you are non-compliant

and where you are compliant:

Getting the properties of any of the tests will give you more information about the test and also point you to a Help Topic to resolve the problem if needed:

This is pretty useful, if you ask me! Unfortunately, the Best Practices scanner is not available for all roles but that will hopefully be added later on.