# Windows Server 2008

> version of the Windows Server line of server operating systems, based on Windows Vista and released in 2008

**Wikidata**: [Q11233](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11233)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Server_2008)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/windows-server-2008

## Summary
Windows Server 2008 is a server operating system developed by Microsoft and released in 2008. It is part of the Windows Server line and is based on the Windows Vista architecture, serving as a platform for network infrastructure and enterprise applications.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** Microsoft (American multinational technology corporation founded in 1975).
- **Release Date:** December 12, 2008.
- **Architecture:** Based on Windows Vista.
- **Version Number:** 6.0.6003.
- **Predecessors:** Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2.
- **License Model:** Shareware, Microsoft Software Assurance, and Client access license.
- **Working Title:** Longhorn Server.
- **Aliases:** Microsoft Windows .NET Server 2008, Windows Server 2k8, ويندوز سيرفر ٢٠٠٨.
- **Classification:** Instance of an operating system; edition of Microsoft Windows.
- **Parent Entity:** Active Directory.
- **Identifiers:** GND ID (7569644-7), Freebase ID (/m/076gw8).
- **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted.
- **Website:** https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/default.mspx.

## FAQs
**Who developed Windows Server 2008?**
Windows Server 2008 was developed by Microsoft, an American technology corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, which was founded on April 4, 1975.

**What operating system is Windows Server 2008 based on?**
It is built on the Windows Vista architecture and carries the internal version number 6.0.6003.

**What were the previous versions in this product line?**
Windows Server 2008 followed Windows Server 2003 and the minor upgrade release, Windows Server 2003 R2.

**What licensing models are used for this software?**
The system utilizes a shareware license model alongside Microsoft Software Assurance and requires a Client access license for management.

**What types of software can run on Windows Server 2008?**
It supports a wide range of applications including Microsoft Office 2003 and 2010, Microsoft SharePoint, Citavi, ABBYY FineReader 11, UltraVNC, and Inno Setup.

**What are the primary competitors to Windows Server 2008?**
Competitors include various Linux distributions such as Gentoo, CentOS, Fedora, Ubuntu, and Arch Linux, as well as Unix-like systems like FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and ReactOS.

## Why It Matters
Windows Server 2008 represents a critical evolution in the Windows Server family by integrating the Windows Vista kernel into a server environment. This release provided enterprises with updated security features, management tools, and application compatibility necessary for modern IT infrastructure. By supporting Active Directory, it plays a foundational role in managing Windows domain networks, which are essential for corporate identity and access management. Its broad compatibility with enterprise software, ranging from office suites to specialized ERP systems like Microsoft Dynamics NAV, underscores its utility as a versatile platform for business operations.

## Notable For
- Being the first server operating system release from Microsoft based on the Windows Vista codebase.
- Having the internal working title "Longhorn Server" during its development cycle.
- Utilizing specific licensing management forms including Client access licenses.
- Supporting a diverse ecosystem of software, from reference management tools (Citavi) to optical character recognition applications (ABBYY FineReader 11).
- Being documented and available in 48 different languages on Wikipedia, indicating widespread global adoption.

## Body

### Development and Creator
Windows Server 2008 was created by Microsoft, an American multinational technology corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft was founded on April 4, 1975, and operates within the technology, software, consumer electronics, and software development industries. The company's headquarters are located at One Microsoft Way in Redmond. Over the years, Microsoft's workforce has expanded significantly, with employee counts recorded at 114,000 in mid-2016, growing to 221,000 by 2022, and reaching 228,000 in 2024.

### Release History and Versions
The operating system was released to the public on December 12, 2008. It succeeded the Windows Server 2003 line, specifically following Windows Server 2003 and the Windows Server 2003 R2 update. During the development phase, the project was known by the working title "Longhorn Server." The final release is identified by version number 6.0.6003 and is classified as an edition of Microsoft Windows. It is also known by several aliases, including Microsoft Windows .NET Server 2008 and Windows Server 2k8.

### Technical Specifications and Architecture
As a server operating system, Windows Server 2008 is an instance of the operating system class designed to manage computer hardware resources. It is intrinsically linked to Active Directory, a Microsoft directory service used for Windows domain networks. The system is based on the architecture of Windows Vista, sharing the same core technology. The software is copyrighted, reflecting its proprietary nature.

### Ecosystem and Compatibility
Windows Server 2008 supports a vast array of software applications and utilities. It is compatible with Microsoft productivity suites such as Microsoft Office 2003 and Microsoft Office 2010. It also runs enterprise platforms like Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics NAV. The system supports various specialized tools, including:
*   **Reference Management:** Citavi.
*   **Utilities:** Autorun Maestro, Microsoft Download Manager, Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel, and Halite.
*   **Security and System Tools:** Encrypting File System, UltraVNC (Remote desktop software), and Inno Setup (Installer authoring tool).
*   **Document and Image Handling:** ABBYY FineReader 11, Windows Photo Viewer, and novaPDF.
*   **Analytics:** Urchin.

### Licensing and Legal Framework
The software operates under a shareware license model. It employs specific licensing mechanisms, including Microsoft Software Assurance and a Client access license, which is a special form of license management. The official website for the product is hosted at microsoft.com. The entity holds a Freebase ID (/m/076gw8) and a GND ID (7569644-7).

### Market Position and Competition
Windows Server 2008 competes in a crowded market of server operating systems against numerous Linux and Unix-like alternatives. Direct competitors include:
*   **Linux Distributions:** Gentoo Linux, CentOS, Fedora Linux, Slackware, Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux.
*   **Unix-like Systems:** OpenBSD, FreeBSD, and GNU.
*   **Compatible Alternatives:** ReactOS, a free software Windows NT-like operating system designed to be compatible with Windows Server applications and drivers.

### Global Presence and Documentation
The system has a significant footprint in online knowledge communities and documentation. It is the subject of a Quora topic, a Zhihu topic (ID: 19683985), a Reddit topic, and a Stack Exchange tag. The software has a dedicated Fandom article and a Wikimedia Commons category. Wikipedia hosts articles on Windows Server 2008 in 48 languages, including Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, German, English, Spanish, Persian, Finnish, French, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Latvian, Minangkabau, Malayalam, Marathi, Malay, Burmese, Dutch, Norwegian, Occitan, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Sinhala, Simple English, Slovak, Albanian, Serbian, Swedish, Tamil, Thai, Tagalog, Turkish, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Yiddish, and Chinese.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [Windows Server 2008 | Microsoft Wiki | Fandom](https://microsoft.fandom.com/wiki/Windows_Server_2008)