Changes in Functionality from 2008 to 2008 R2 (mostly)

Ned here again. We're all snowed in down in Charlotte today, but that doesn't stop the blogging. We've published a new TechNet guide to many of the changes between Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2; it's definitely worth a look and has good links to more details. This guide is not exhaustive in its beta form (where's the DFSR love?) but it's definitely a good start, especially if you have not been keeping up on Win7 lately. Here's a snippet:

Active Directory Recycle Bin
Information technology (IT) professionals can use Active Directory Recycle Bin to undo an accidental deletion of an Active Directory object. Accidental object deletion causes business downtime. Deleted users cannot log on or access corporate resources. This is the number one cause of Active Directory recovery scenarios. Active Directory Recycle Bin works for both AD DS and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) objects. This feature is enabled in AD DS at the Windows Server 2008 R2 forest functional level. For AD LDS, all replicas must be running in a new "application mode." For more information, see
What's New in AD DS: Active Directory Recycle Bin .

You can check out the whole guide here: Changes in Functionality from Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2008 R2 (Beta)

If you're still living the Win2003 life and need to see what vanilla Win2008 buys you, check out the companion guide here: Changes in Functionality from Windows Server 2003 with SP1 to Windows Server 2008

You can still grab the beta ISO for Win2008 R2 server anytime from here.

And yes - we have big plans for blogging about DS technologies in Windows 7 and R2. Look for these around the Release Candidate timeframe, as we'd like to make sure things are good and stable before we start pumping out info. :)

- Ned 'Thin-Blooded Yankee’ Pyle

PS: Kids always love a snow day…