Server 2008 R2 is now a 64bit only OS.

Updated Hyper-V.

  • Now supports “Live Migration”. The MS answer to VMware VMotion.
    • Requires the use of Windows Failover Clustering, Clustering Services, and Shared Volume technology.

Active Directory Administrative Center.

  • Provides a task-driven interface for managing AD.
  • ADAC is meant to replace AD Users and Computers, Sites and Services, and Domains and Trusts. The original management tools are still available.
  • ADAC is automatically installed when a 2008 R2 servers is promoted to a DC.
  • ADAC currently only runs on Server 2008 R2.

Managed Service Accounts.

  • Designed to provide crucial applications such as SQL Server or IIS with the isolation of their own accounts, while eliminating the need for an administrator to manually administer the SPN and credentials for these accounts.

Offline Domain Join.

  • Allows a client PC to join a domain without being connected to the domain.

AD Recycle Bin.

  • Allows deleted AD objects to be restored.
  • Requires Server 2008 R2 forest functional level.

Server Manager.

  • Server Manager is now able to manage local and remote Server 2008 servers.

Terminal Services is now Remote Desktop Services.

  • The new RemoteApp and Desktop Connection support Aero Glass, multi-monitor support, multimedia redirection, audio recording, and DirectX 9,10, and 11 redirection.

PowerShell 2.0.

.Net Framework support in Server Core.

  • Server Core still does not support SQL Server or Exchange.

IIS 7.5.

Core Parking.

  • Allows the OS to dynamically control the number of cores used. Unused cores can be put into sleep mode to reduce power.
  • Can be controlled through new GPO settings.

ACPI P-states.

  • Allows running CPUs at lower CPU speeds and reduce power consumption.
  • Can be controlled through new GPO settings.

Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC).

Read-Only DFS Support.

Windows Deployment Services.

  • Dynamic Driver Provisioning: Add driver images prior to deployment.
  • Virtual Hard Disk Deployment.
  • Additional Multicasting.
  • PXE Provider For Transport Server.
  • Additional EFI Functionality.

New Biometric Support.

File Server Resource Manager.

  • File Classification.
  • File Management Tasks.

 

Find the rest of the additions to Server 2008 R2 – Here