Windows Server 2008 - 64 BIT

osaddictosaddict London, UK
edited May 2009 in Science & Tech
We have a fairly big infrastructure move planned in the next few weeks. New servers will be running Windows Server 2008 standard edition.

Originally we were going to go for the 32bit version - as our requirements aren't overly intensive so the maximum 4GB limit on RAM shouldn' be too much of a problem.

However, the price for 64bit and 32bit - both the OS and the CALS is identical from Dell, so my thinking was it's better to go for the 64bit and have that expansion possible in the future, should we want to go over 4GB of RAM.

I know people who have used 64bit Vista and have cited compatibility issues, however, I'm not sure how relevent this would be in our structure, which is pretty simple.

The clients are all (or will be eventually!) running Vista Business, servers will be used as domain controllers, file servers, and a SQL server (for SQL 2008)

So, what issues, if any would I need to be aware of when going for 64bit over 32bit? - Is it too simplistic a view to take that essentially cost is identical so 64bit should be chosen over 32bit due to the future proofing it provides?

Comments

  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited May 2009
    Get the 64bit version. There are some server software that will only work on 64bit and while Vista and XP 64 had some driver/software issues with older programs and some printers. You won't be running any of those things on your server so that kind of compatibility won't be an issue.

    Furthermore not only will the 64bit allow for more ram the 64bit version is better at handling more tasks which, sql will take full advantage of.

    Oh and as a side note 2008 server is an amazing piece of software. I love it and I'm generally a Mac/Linux fanboy.
  • ButtersButters CA Icrontian
    edited May 2009
    64 bit is the only way to go. I've ran into issues with Server 2008 compatibility issues with Microsoft's own server software that was release before server 2008 came out, which only ran on Server 2003, but those issues are slowly going away with new service packs and new releases. (Virtualized a 2003 server on a 2008 server to get around it).

    With 64-bit you would be able to run Hyper-V, Exchange 2007, Terminal Server with much more that 4gigs of ram, SQL 2008 64bit which is highly recommended, etc. However, some server software require more than 1 server, but thats an entirely different issue.
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