Where’s Lou

This is what Vista should have been.

Granted my experience with Vista was limited to a notebook which ran it for a few weeks before re-installing with server 2003. Over the years working with internet properties served on Microsoft platforms I’ve always had the best luck running the same operating system on my workstation as is running in production. You learn the quirks, which helps you design and troubleshoot, and you’re also eliminating differences between your development environment and your production environment, which helps smooth out the surprises that pop up during releases.

So I more or less have gone from windows server 2003 to windows server 2008 on my development workstation. I have to say I love everything about it so far.

Even though it’s only psychological, I also like how it installed a classic 2003 or XP look with the Aero theme (Vista) as an optional feature you could add afterwards. Once I had gotten my bearings, installed drivers, figured out where the basics had moved to, the theme was one of the first things I added.

And I’ve managed to avoid the dark side on the security front as well. I’m running as a normal user, not a machine administrator, and I’ve been able to install applications and compile and debug with the developer tools without tearing holes in the default security model. Yes – it does flash my monitors at me and ask for an administrator password to install software or open computer management screens – but hey! Think “sudo” or the gnome package manager. That’s just the way it goes when you have a secure operating system.

Another thing about 2008 which might interest Linux aficionados, or at least sound familiar, is the “Server Core” installation option available if you’re doing a clean install. Much like the server distribution of Ubuntu it’s the same kernel and service packages without the heavier windows explorer shell. It would take some discipline, especially if you’re addicted to terminal client, but I could see how you could make the case you’re better off in the long run administrating a web farm with remote management consoles, command line scripting, and the system center platform.

And that’s just the superficial experience so far! IIS7 has blown be away. I’m embarrased it’s taken me this long to do more than glance at it superficially. Like I heard someone say, IIS7 really is the most significant generational leap forward since it was originally released on windows NT 4.0 ten years ago.

Explore The Web Server For Windows Vista And Beyond

I often hear people-both inside and outside of Microsoft-refer to the new IIS 7.0 Web server as one of the most important developments coming out of Microsoft over the past several years.

I have to agree from just the tip of the iceberg I’ve seen so far they’ve really hit it out of the park. It sounds like a lot of people agree.