Executive Summary

Windows Server 2008 R2 continues to build on the solid foundation of Windows Server and offers an OS that is like Windows Server 2008. It continues to evolve into a more secure, reliable OS that performs well on the new generation of 64-bit (x64) processors, including those designed to assist with hardware virtualization. Therefore, the decision to deploy Windows Server 2008 R2 will be based on several considerations:

• Whether organizations are using technologies (such as the Hyper-V virtualization system) improved in the release
• Whether all the server software an organization uses is compatible with the new release
• Whether the organization is already entitled to server licenses for the version under programs such as Software Assurance.

In general, customers using the Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation, the Windows Hyper-V hypervisor for hardware virtualization, the Active Directory Domain Services, and any customers who struggle to administer large numbers of local and remote servers in an efficient and consistent manner will benefit from the improvements in Windows Server 2008 R2. Customers who are deploying Windows 7 might also benefit from two features, DirectAccess and BranchCache, which only work on Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7.