Considering changing my OS from Server 08 R2 to Windows 7

[djjd47130]

First of all, I am a software developer. I like to have a powerful environment for my client PC. Now I've been using Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 for over a year as my primary client OS. I've tweaked it to work and look just like Windows 7, but I have been having many compatibility issues. For example, there's many audio codecs which aren't compatible, FL Studio (music production) won't work, and some software such as TeamViewer simple doesn't let you install on a server OS (at least not the free version).

On another note, I don't necessarily need a server OS even though I'm running my own little private domain with DNS, DHCP etc. on the network. Not necessary though. I just have a feeling I'd still be better off with Windows 7, because many other developers have told me they prefer Server 08 too because of its features. But it becomes a little too complex too. Any opinions or ideas? I know I can run both side by side, which I already am, but I need to decide which is the primary.

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[mrdenny]

Are you using any features that are in the server OS but not in the client OS? If you want a server OS to do server stuff then run a server at home. There isn't really any need for a server OS for your desktop.

There are lots of things that won't work on a server because there's no need for them to work on a server OS like audio, games, etc. because it's a server not a desktop.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2008 BI / MWSS 3.0: Configuration / MOSS 2007: Configuration)
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[itsp1965]

For all intents and purposes Windows 2008 and Windows 7 share the same code base and are more or less essentially the same. I concur with mrdenny, it's all up to how you want to use your system. I myself run Windows 7 and VMware workstation which allows me to virtualize stuff like Windows and Linux servers for testing purposes

 

[djjd47130]

Thanks for the opinions, I just heard from some other developers that they prefer S'08 over W/7 because of its capabilities. I did notice that in fact S'08 and W'7 version numbers are IDENTICALLY the same - the only thing that differentiates them is the flag saying that it's a Server OS (thus making it Server '08 instead of Win7). I was making use of Active Directory and DNS, but not necessary. It's more of an experimental trial - I wanted to make sure I know how to use a Server OS.

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[kmcferrin]

If you're not doing something that is graphically intensive or timing-sensitive, you can always enable the Hyper-V role on the server and use a Windows 7 VM for those things that are not compatible with the server. Most of the developers that I know who use Server 2008/R2 use it specifically for Hyper-V. Then they can create multiple VMs for testing, create demo VMs, take snapshots, etc.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Server Administrator
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator
MCITP:Virtualization Administrator 2008 R2
Certified Quest vWorkspace Administrator

 

[djjd47130]

Thanks. That would in fact be an issue because my hardware cannot support Hyper-V. Installing Windows 7 it is.

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[mrdenny]

Grab a VMware Workstation license (they aren't that much) then you can build all the server OS VMs that you need to for testing.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2008 BI / MWSS 3.0: Configuration / MOSS 2007: Configuration)
MCITP (SQL 2005 DBA / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2005 DBD / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 BI)
MCM (SQL 2008)
MVP

My Site

 

[kmcferrin]

I like to have a powerful environment for my client PC.

That would in fact be an issue because my hardware cannot support Hyper-V.

Are you sure? The only hardware requirement for Hyper-V is support for either AMD-V (Pacifica) or Intel-VT (Vanderpool) hardware assisted virtualization extensions. These extensions debuted in CPUs that started shipping in 2005 or 2006, and it's been ages since I've seen a CPU that didn't support them.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Server Administrator
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator
MCITP:Virtualization Administrator 2008 R2
Certified Quest vWorkspace Administrator

 

[itsp1965]

I still have a Windows XP laptop from circa 2004 running the freebie Vmware Server. I am able to virtualize various Linux distros, FreeBSD, Solaris (32-bit) and the 32-bit version of Windows 2008 server which I still think can be downloaded here

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=8371

 

[mrdenny]

itsp,
You'll need to upgrade at some point soon. Windows 2008 R2 and higher only come in an x64 edition so you'll be kind of stuck if you stay on a 32bit platform on that machine.


Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2008 BI / MWSS 3.0: Configuration / MOSS 2007: Configuration)
MCITP (SQL 2005 DBA / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2005 DBD / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 BI)
MCM (SQL 2008)
MVP

My Site

 

[djjd47130]

I knew there was a reason I was running a server OS. Like I mentioned, I was hosting a personal domain, as well as DNS. Now I'm also on a subnet of a larger network (4.XXX while others are 3.XXX) and now I have no DNS server syncing with the DNS on the other subnet's server. I'm supposed to keep this subnet apart from the other in every aspect, it's divided at the firewall. Therefore I still need to create my own domain in respect to the firewall router's lack of DHCP (switched off) and so on. In other words, I still need to manage all the networking myself anyway.

I think I will take the idea of virtualizing Server08 and Win7 together. With that, I think it's about time that I upgrade my computer, as I've been wanting to do for a while now anyway.


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