Application Compatibility May Slow Server Adoption

As with all major OS updates, new and updated Windows Server 2008 features mean server applications need to be tested for compatibility with the new OS. Some Microsoft server applications will require a specific version or service pack that might not be available. Consequently, organizations may want to stage deployment of Windows Server 2008 by concentrating first on infrastructure services, in particular with the new Server Core installation, and other server roles that are less likely to be affected by application compatibility.

Applications that will require compatibility testing can typically be divided into three groups:

• Microsoft server applications (by version and service pack level)
• Third-party applications (such as non-Microsoft database engines, utilities, and security tools)
• In-house or custom line-of-business applications.

Although an organization likely can leave it to Microsoft and other software vendors to test their own applications, customers will want to verify the status of their vendors’ applications and make plans to deploy compatible versions on Windows Server 2008. In addition, customers will want to use the application compatibility and logo testing tools provided by Microsoft to determine whether custom applications will run on Windows Server 2008.