Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2
developer	Microsoft
License (s)	Microsoft EULA ( Closed Source )
First publ.	October 22, 2009
Current  version	6.1 Build 7601 (SP1) (February 22, 2011)
ancestry	\ Windows NT
Architecture (s)	x64 , IA-64
timeline	Windows NT 3.1 Windows NT 3.5 Windows NT 3.51 Windows NT 4.0 Windows 2000 Windows XP Windows Server 2003 Windows XP Prof. x64 Windows Vista Windows Server 2008 Windows 7 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows 8 Windows Phone 8 Windows RT Windows Server 2012 Windows 10 Windows 10 Mobile Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2019
Others	Development discontinued Support discontinued on January 14, 2020 ESU (Extended Security Updates) probably end of support: January 10, 2023
support.microsoft.com

Windows Server 2008 R2 is a server operating system from Microsoft and was released on October 22, 2009. In contrast to Windows Server 2003 R2 , Windows Server 2008 R2 is not closely related to its direct predecessor Windows Server 2008 ; Windows Server 2008 is based on Windows Vista , while Windows Server 2008 R2 is based on Windows 7 . Windows Server 2008 R2 is the last Windows Server to support the Intel Itanium architecture . The successor Windows Server 2012 only supports the x64 architecture .

The first service pack was released on February 22, 2011, jointly for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7.

Windows Small Business Server 2011 , the last version of the Windows Small Business Server product line, is based on Windows Server 2008 R2 and was released in 2011.

Windows Server 2008 R2 is the first Microsoft operating system to be no longer available for 32-bit processors. It can only be installed on 64-bit x86 processors and Intel Itanium computers.

Support for Windows Server 2008 R2 and thus the delivery of security updates was discontinued on January 14, 2020.

With the ESU ( Extended Security Updates ) program, which is subject to a fee , support for bulk buyers can be extended through the volume licensing program up to a maximum of January 10, 2023. Support for Windows SQL Server 2008 / R2 and Windows SQL Server 2008 for Embedded Systems will end on July 12, 2022.

Editions

Windows Server 2008 R2 is available in the following editions:

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter (64-bit)
• Windows Web Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)
• Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium- based Systems (64-bit)

In addition, the Small Business Servers 2011 were released on the basis of the Server 2008 R2 code :

• Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials and Standard
• Windows Small Business Server 2011 Premium Add-on

What's new in Windows Server 2008 R2

In Windows Server 2008 R2 there are the following innovations compared to Windows Server 2008 :

• Support of up to 256 logical processors .

• The new Windows 7 interface (new jump bars in the start menu; new taskbar etc.)

• Direct Access : This is an extension of the VPN (virtual network connection, e.g. access to an internal network via the Internet). (Only works with Windows 7 or higher)

• BranchCache : A cache for centrally managed files. (Only works with Windows 7 or higher)

• Automatic restoration of VPN connections

• The provisioning service can handle Windows 7 better

• In the Active Directory there is a kind of recycle bin so that deletions by users or computers can be quickly undone.

• No more 32 bit support.

• The new Foundation Edition is available for smaller computer networks that only have limited hardware requirements.

System requirements

The following requirements must be met for the installation of Server 2008 R2:

component	Requirement
processor	At least: 1.4 GHz (x64 processor) Note: An Intel Itanium 2 processor is required for Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems.
random access memory	At least: 512 MB RAM Maximum (64-bit systems): 32 GB (Standard Edition, Webserver Edition) or 2 TB (Enterprise Edition, Datacenter Edition and Itanium-based systems)
hard disk	At least: 32 GB free Note: Computers with more than 16 GB of memory require more space for swap, hibernation, and dump files.
drive	DVD-ROM drive
Display and peripherals	Super VGA (800 × 600) monitor or higher resolution monitor Keyboard and Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device Internet access

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ESU program - Support for Windows Server 2008 ends on January 10, 2023. In: Lifecycle of the extended security updates. Microsoft, accessed February 8, 2020 . 
2. ↑ Windows Server 2008 R2 to Phase Out Itanium . ( microsoft.com [accessed August 12, 2017]).
3. ↑ Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 SP1 Releases to Manufacturing Today. Microsoft TechNet, accessed August 27, 2013 . 
4. ↑ Support for Windows Server 2008 R2 ends on January 14, 2020. In: Windows Support. Microsoft, accessed January 12, 2020 . 
5. ↑ ESU program - Support for Windows Server 2008 ends on January 10, 2023. In: Lifecycle of the extended security updates. Microsoft, accessed March 6, 2020 . 
6. ↑ ESU program - Support for Windows SQL Server 2008 for Embedded Systems ends on July 12, 2022. In: Lifecycle of the extended security updates. Microsoft, accessed March 6, 2020 . 
7. ↑ Dirk Makowski: Windows 2008 R2 Server. Retrieved August 12, 2017 . 
8. ↑ Install Windows Server 2008 R2. Microsoft TechNet, accessed August 27, 2013 .