Server 2008 R2 benefits

[boognish]

Im trying to figure out what benefits R2 adds to a SCCM 2007 SP2 environment. And if there are benefits what servers actually need to be R2. Any links or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Site Server

Management Point Server

State Migration Point Server

Distribution Point Server(s)

Software Update Point Server

[anyweb]

 

• power management (core parking)
  
• branchcache
  
• direct access
   
   
  

 

just a few thoughts,

 

cheers

niall

[boognish]

Thanks,

 

So in terms of deployment and managing systems, in a single site, no branches, there really is no added benefit to SCCM by having server 2008 R2... However if I had an MDT 2010 and WDS setup R2 would gain me the following.

 

 

 

The following changes to Windows Deployment Services are available in Windows Server 2008 R2:

 

* Dynamic driver provisioning. The ability to deploy driver packages to client computers as part of an installation, and the ability to add driver packages to boot images prior to deployment. For details, see Driver package provisioning later in this topic.

 

* Virtual hard disk deployment. The ability to deploy virtual hard disk (.vhd) images as part of an unattended installation. For details, see .vhd deployment later in this topic.

 

* Additional multicasting functionality. The ability to automatically disconnect slow clients and divide transmissions into multiple streams based on client speeds. Also provides support for multicasting in environments that use IPv6.

 

* PXE provider for Transport Server. Includes a PXE provider when you install the Transport Server role service. You can use Transport Server to network boot, multicast data, or both as part of an advanced configuration. Transport Server is a stand-alone server. That is, when you use Transport Server for network booting and multicasting, your environment does not need Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) or Domain Name System (DNS). For instructions, see the Configuring Transport Server topic.

 

* Additional EFI functionality. Supports network booting of x64-based computers with EFI, including Auto-add functionality, DHCP referral to direct clients to a specific PXE server, and the ability to deploy boot images by using multicasting.