I have to answer this question, I study windows server and was wondering if someone could help me with this. You are installing the first windows 2008 server in an existing 2003 domain. This server is suppose to be an application server with 8CPU and 32GB RAM. And should offer three standalone DFS share. Windows 2008 Enterprise Core is suggested. Do you mean that this solution will work or not? Why?

A Server Core installation provides a minimal environment for running specific server roles, which reduces the maintenance and management requirements and the attack surface for those server roles. A server running a Server Core installation supports the following server roles: Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) DHCP Server DNS Server File Services Print Services Streaming Media Services Internet Information Services (IIS) Hyper-V In Windows Server 2008, Server Core installation does not include the traditional full graphical user interface (GUI). Benefits of a Server Core installation The Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 and R2 provides the following benefits: Reduced maintenance - Because the Server Core installation option installs only what is required to have a manageable server for the AD DS, AD LDS, AD CS, DHCP Server, DNS Server, File Services, Print Services, Web Server and Hyper-V server roles, less maintenance is required than on a full installation of Windows Server 2008. Reduced attack surface - Because Server Core installations are minimal, there are fewer applications running on the server, which decreases the attack surface. Reduced management - Because fewer applications and services are installed on a server running the Server Core installation, there is less to manage. Less disk space required - A Server Core installation requires only about 1.5 gigabyte (GB) of disk space to install and approximately 2 GB for operations after the installation. Lower risk of bugs - Reducing the amount of code can help reduce the amount of bugs. In your case you are going to run an application and I don't think that it is supported in Windows 2008 Enterprise Core. If it was, then using Windows 2008 Enterprise Core will be the best way to proceed. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

Just as a note, the DFS Management snap-in will not run on core so that component will need to be installed on another server.Visit: anITKB.com, an IT Knowledge Base.

Hi Ajasto , Thanks for post here. Web Server (IIS) and File Services server roles had been supported in Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008. So the requirement you mentioned might be met by using it . Mr x has listed the benefit that why use Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008, it should helpful for you to answer this question. However , regard which version of windows server should be chosen , it’s depend on the service requirement , budget…etc. You may like to compare each windows server 2008 edition to make appropriate decision. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/editions.aspx Thanks. Tiger Li Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Thank you so much all of you. This was very helpfull.