Windows Server 2008 SP2 Hyper-V (and Vista SP2) update
With the focus (quite rightly on) Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, the benefits/features of Windows Server 2008 (and Vista) SP2 have largely gone unheralded. SP2 was released three weeks ago and for Windows Server 2008 SP2 the virtualisaytion enhancements include
- final Hyper-V release is an integrated feature in SP2 making it easier and faster to deploy Hyper-V
- scalability enhancements for running on systems with up to 24 logical processors which enables support for up to 192 running virtual machines
- update for Hyper-V when managed with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008
- updates for backup/restore of virtual machines with the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)
Across both Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2
- integrates the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless, which contains support for Bluetooth v2.1 and Windows Connect Now (WCN) Wi-Fi Configuration. Bluetooth v2.1 is the most recent specification for Bluetooth wireless technology
- improves performance for Wi-Fi connections after resuming from sleep mode.
- includes updates to the RSS feeds sidebar for improved performance and responsiveness.
- includes ability to record data to Blu-Ray Disc media.
- includes Windows Search 4.0, which builds on Microsoft’s search technology with improved indexing and search relevance. It also helps find and preview documents, e-mail (including signed e-mail messages), music files, photos, and other items on the computer. The search engine in Windows Search 4.0 is a Microsoft Windows® service that is also used by programs such as Microsoft Office Outlook® 2007 and Microsoft Office OneNote® 2007. Autotuning Diagnostics in SP2 now interprets current network conditions when implementing Windows scaling. This feature includes full netsh support.
- improves Windows Media Center (WMC) in the area of content protection for TV.
- removes the limit of 10 half open outbound TCP connections. By default, SP2 has no limit on the number of half open outbound TCP connections.
