As presented at System Center Universe 2015 APAC edition

2. My top 10 things in Windows
Server R2 that will make your
life easier
Mike Resseler
Evangelist
Veeam Software
@mikeresseler | @veeam

3. Trends
The Cloud OS
Top 10 features
Q&A

4. Compute
Network
Storage
Transformational trends

5. The Cloud OS
Modernplatformfortheworld’sapps
CONSISTENT
PLATFORM

6. Number 1: Server Manager

7. Number 2: PowerShell!
• Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration
• Save-help
• Windows PowerShell debugger
• Additional bugfixes and enhancements

8. Number 3: Core!
Windows Server 2012 allows you to have three levels of user interface
• Server Core
Traditional server core with command line-only interface
• Minimal Installation Shell (“MiniShell”)
Server Core plus select UI elements such as MMC support and Server
Manager
• Full Shell
Full Windows desktop, which can also include the Desktop Experience

9. • Server Core now supports more roles and
services, including the .Net Framework 4.5
and SQL Server 2012
• Firewall-friendly remote management
(WinRM) and Windows PowerShell are
enabled and installed by default
• Added the ability to easily move between
Server Core and MiniShell
Microsoft promotes Server Core as the
primary server deployment option
• .Net Framework 4.5
• Active Directory (AD)
• Active Directory Lightweight Directory
Services (ADLDS)
• Active Directory Certificate Services
(ADCS)
• DHCP Server
• DNS Server
• File Services
• BITS Server
• BranchCache
• Hyper-V
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• Printing Services
• Streaming Media Services
• iSCSI
• Load Balancing
• MPIO
• qWave
• Telnet
• Unix Migration
• SQL Server 2012
Server Core

10. Server Core Minimal Server
Interface
Server with a GUI Desktop Experience
Command Prompt a a a a
Windows PowerShell/.NET a a a a
Server Manager x a a a
MMC x a a a
Control Panel x x a a
CPL Applets x Some a a
Explorer Shell x x a a
Taskbar x x a a
System Tray x x a a
Internet Explorer x x a a
Help x x a a
Themes x x x a
Start screen (Metro) x x a a
Metro-style apps x x x a
Media Player x x x a

11. Number 4: Hyper-V Replication!
• Allows a Hyper-V administrator to execute a failover of production workloads
to replica servers at a secondary location within minutes (in the event of fire,
power outage, server failure, etc.)
• Provides the necessary management APIs to enable IT management vendors
to build an enterprise class Disaster Recovery solution for customers
• Enables Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) for hosting providers that host
dedicated/virtual servers for customers
• Seamlessly integrates with Clustering and Volume Shadow Services (VSS)
• Supports heterogeneous storage between primary and recovery
• Previously multi-site clustering required a 3rd party replication solution

12. Number 5: Storage Spaces!
• New in Windows Server 2012
• Provides an in-box storage virtualization that can use low-cost
commodity storage devices
• Aggregates unallocated space on physical disks installed in or
connected to servers through a “pooling” model
• Can provide a cost-effective platform for business critical
storage across a variety of scenarios
• Tiered Storage spaces (R2)

13. Storage Spaces + Thin Provisioning
• “Just-in-Time” allocations of storage with the ability to
reclaim storage (“Trim”)
• Integrated with Storage Spaces

14. Number 6: IPAM!
A Windows Server 2012 built-in framework for discovering, monitoring, auditing, and
managing the IP address space used on a corporate network
Automatic IP address infrastructure discovery
• Domain controllers, DHCP servers, and DNS servers in the domains you choose
Custom IP address space display, reporting, and management
• Display of IP addresses is highly customizable
• Detailed tracking and utilization data is available
Audit of server configuration changes and tracking of IP address usage
• Operational events are displayed for the IPAM server and managed DHCP servers
• IP address tracking is enabled using DHCP lease events and user logon events collected from Network Policy
Server (NPS), domain controllers, and DHCP servers
• Tracking is available by IP address, client ID, host name, or user name
Monitoring and management of DHCP and DNS services
• Automated service availability monitoring for Microsoft DHCP and DNS servers across the forest
• The IPAM console displays DNS zone health and detailed DHCP server and scope management

15. How Does IPAM Work?

16. Number 7: Data Deduplication!
• VDI Support
• Yes, CSV is now supported
• Optimization of OPEN files
• Improved optimization performance
• Improved read/write performance

17. Number 8: Automatic VM Activation!
• Proof of Purchase mechanism
• Only Datacenter edition needed (OEM / Volume
license)
• Guest: R2 family
• slmgr /ipk <AVMA_key>

18. Number 9: Storage QoS!
• Specify the maximum IOPS for a VHD(X)
• Receive notification when the minimum IOPS is not
met
• Monitoring

19. Number 10: Hyper-V Enhanced Session
Mode!
• RDP (a-like) connectivity
• Redirection possibilities (display, audio, printers,
clipboard, smart cards, usb devices, drives, P&P
devices
• Host must be Windows Server 2012 R2
• Guest: Windows 8.1 / or 2012 R2
• Disabled by default on Server

20. Additional info
• Additional info: http://hyperv.veeam.com/top-10-
unknown-unloved-features-windows-server-2012-r2-
4855/

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23. Image References
• Slide 2: (agenda): https://www.flickr.com/photos/77144005@N00/29789408/