Microsoft Windows Server 2008: an expert view

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is the long-awaited update to Microsoft’s Windows Server family of products. The 2008 Windows Server platform will eventually replace Microsoft Windows Server 2003 as the core server platform in the majority of enterprises that run Microsoft’s server software.

Windows Server 2008 is due to be released on February 27 along with SQL Server 2008, the latest version of the Microsoft SQL Server database, and application development platform Visual Studio 2008.

The arrival of Windows Server 2008 marks the company’s largest enterprise launch in its history, and Microsoft said it expects there to be at least 80 software applications certified for Windows Server 2008 by the end of February, and roughly 300 more that are considered ready for the new platform.

Windows Server 2008 is essentially the main pillar of the Microsoft stack, with the server operating system being built to interoperate with the Windows Vista desktop operating system.

It also shares a number of Windows Vista’s advanced management and security features, such as integrated Network Access Protection (NAP) and Group Policy.

Other features are an integrated system architecture, network file sharing, managed quality of service and reduced power consumption, and virtualisation technology, which allows users to run multiple instances of applications to reduce costs, and make better use of their hardware.

At its most basic installation, Windows Server 2008 allows users to carry out file and print operations, directory services through Active Directory, web server functions and virtualisation.

However, most users who adopt Microsoft Windows Server 2008 are expected to use the server operating system as a core plank of their IT system, integrating it into their database, communications, and business applications.

Early adopters who have started using Windows Server 2008 have said the operating system offered them improved network administration and IT management. But despite the new improvements, analysts expect most IT directors to delay upgrading until 2009.

Irrespective of when users plan to make the move to Windows Server 2008, both Microsoft and the analysts advise all organisations to take a measured approach to migration.

They urge users to talk to their application vendors and test their software fully to ensure that it is compatible; run Microsoft’s free compatibility tools; and check their hardware carefully.

European Commission to spend £42m to keep kids safe online

It said the programme will fight illegal content and harmful behaviour such as bullying and grooming that use Web 2.0 tools, such as social networking.

The £42m programme, which builds further on the successful Safer Internet programme started in 2005, will run from 2009 to 2013.

Reduce illegal content and tackle harmful conduct online. It will provide the public with national contact points to report illegal online content and harmful conduct, focusing in particular on sexual child abuse material and grooming.
Promote a safer online environment. It will foster self-regulation and encourage children and young people to create a safer online environment, in particular through youth panels.
Raise public awareness among children, their parents and teachers. It will encourage national awareness centres to swap best practices and support contact points where parents and children can receive advice on how to stay safe online.
Develop an online knowledge base fed by European child safety researchers. This will monitor the use of new technologies by children, the effects these have on them, and related risks. It will use this to improve the effectiveness of ongoing actions within the programme.

The initiative is one of a number of EC projects aimed at improving child safety in a connected, multimedia world.

By Ian Grant

Vista SP1 kills and maims security apps, utilities

Microsoft has admitted that Windows Vista service pack one (SP1) renders useless a number of well-known third party security products.

Redmond said in a knowledge base article yesterday that due to "reliability" issues with Vista SP1, it has been forced to prevent some security products from running after the service pack is installed.

So, customers who currently have versions of Jiangmin KV Antivirus or Trend Micro's Internet Security on their Vista computers will no longer be able to use the software, which are suppose to safeguard their machines against hackers and malware, after SP1 is installed.

The two other security products deemed by Microsoft to make Vista SP1 "unreliable" are versions of BitDefender AV and Zone Alarm Security Suite.

It added that it has put a block on Fujitsu's Shock Sensor utility, which protects laptop hard-drives against sudden shocks.

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European Commission fines Microsoft £680m

The European Commission has fined US software firm Microsoft £680m for failing to comply with a 2004 order to stop its monopolistic practices.

The ruling, which applies to how Microsoft sold server software and products such as media players, comes on the day Microsoft launches a new server package,Windows Server 2008, and a week after it agreed to open up its application programme interfaces to third-party software developers.

The commission fined the Redmond company £680.9m after it failed to comply with a 2004 ruling that said that Microsoft was guilty of not providing vital information to rival software makers.

It also required Microsoft to disclose interface documentation that would allow non-Microsoft work group servers to achieve full interoperability with Windows PCs and servers at a reasonable price.

EU regulators said Microsoft was the first firm to break an EU antitrust ruling. The European Court of First Instance upheld this ruling last year, which ordered Microsoft to pay £376m for abusing its dominant market position.

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Yorkshire Water is the UK's Best Place to Work in IT 2008

Yorkshire Water has won the top prize at Computer Weekly's Best Places to Work in IT Awards 2008. The company received its award during a ceremony at the Intercontinental on London's Park Lane on Friday 22 February, winning the Best of the Best award in the face of stiff competition.

Alan Harrison, IT director at Yorkshire Water, said at the ceremony, "It's brilliant. We want to be the best and you can only do that by having great people and by giving them a place where they can flourish."

Yorkshire Water impressed the judges with its positive working environment. "There is an emphasis on helping IT staff understand the business activities and mindset," they said.

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