Introduction to Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 Foundation

This document introduces you to the Windows Server® 2008 R2 Foundation operating system, which is the most recent edition of Windows Server, and it describes the differences between Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation and other editions of Windows Server 2008 R2.

Note

This is version 1 of this document. For the latest version of “Introduction to Windows Server 2008 Foundation," see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=139026).

Understanding Windows Server 2008 Foundation

Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is an operating system that enables core IT resources, such as file and print sharing, remote access, and security. It provides a network foundation from which you can centrally manage settings on your computers that are based on the Windows® operating system, and upon which you can run the most popular business applications. It also provides a familiar Windows user experience that helps you manage users and safeguard business information.

As your business grows, you can use Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation to upgrade to more advanced versions of Windows Server. And because Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation comes pre-installed with your server hardware, you do not need to separately obtain and then install the hardware and operating system. Perhaps best of all, Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is supported by an extensive network of certified professionals who can to provide service for your Windows Server network.

By design, Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation uses the Windows Server Catalog. For a list of hardware that is supported by Windows Server 2008 R2, see the Windows Server Catalog ( https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140227). All server hardware must meet the requirements that are established for the Windows Server 2008 R2 Logo Program for Systems. For more information about these requirements, see the Windows Server 2008 R2 logo information page at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140230).

How Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation differs from other editions of Windows Server 2008 R2

Although the core features are the same, there are important differences between Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation and other editions of Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation that you should be aware of before you deploy Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation. This section describes these differences. The following table provides a brief summary of key differences.

Comparison of Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation to other editions of Windows Server 2008 R2

Feature Foundation Server Standard Server Web Server Enterprise Server

X86 Sockets

0

4

4

8

X64 Sockets

1

4

4

8

RAM: 64-bit platforms

8 GB

32 GB

32 GB

2 TB

Failover Cluster Nodes

0

0

0

16

Network Access Connections (RRAS)

50

250

0

Unlimited

Network Access Connections (NPS)

10

50

0

Unlimited

Terminal Services Gateway Connections

50

250

0

Unlimited

Active Directory limits

In the Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation operating system, the server must be a member of a workgroup or, if joined to a domain, joined at the root of the forest as a member server or domain controller.

You will receive a warning message if the server is not joined to an Active Directory® domain at the root of the forest. If you do not correct this, the server will restart approximately hourly. If your server is not joined to the domain at the root of the forest, disjoin the domain and then rejoin the domain at the root.

To disjoin the domain

  1. If the server is a domain controller, follow the steps at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=128114.

  2. If the server is a member server, click Start, click Computer, and then right-click Properties.

  3. On the Computer Name tab, click Change.

  4. In the Member of section, click Workgroup, and then type a name for the workgroup.

  5. Click OK and restart the computer.

If you intend to keep the server as a member of the workgroup, no further steps are necessary.

To rejoin the domain at the root

  1. If the server is to be a domain controller, follow the steps at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=150359. In that procedure, at the point where you select the domain for the new domain controller on the Select a Domain page, ensure that you select the root domain. The root domain will appear as the highest domain in the tree and will be identified by forest root domain.

  2. If the server is to be a member server, click Start, click Computer, and then right-click Properties.

  3. On the Computer Name tab, click Change.

  4. In the Member of section, click Domain, and then enter the name of the forest root domain. For example: contoso.com.

  5. Provide the requested credentials when prompted and then restart the computer.

In the Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation operating system, you will also receive a warning message if your server in an Active Directory domain has established a trust with a domain in another forest. If this occurs, remove the trust with the cross-forest domain. For steps to remove a trust, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=150360.

Supported users

You can use Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation in either Active Directory® or workgroup environments to create up to 15 user accounts that can access and use the server software. Each user account permits one user, using any device, to access and use your server software. In the Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation operating system, you will receive a warning message if you exceed the fifteen-user limit. For steps to remove user accounts from Active Directory, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=150361. For steps to remove user accounts from a workgroup environment, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=150362.

If you need to support more than 15 users, install either Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or one of the other Windows Server 2008 R2 editions.

X86 sockets

Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is available only as a 64-bit operating system. If you need to support 32-bit sockets, install either Windows Server 2008 Standard or one of the other Windows Server 2008 editions.

X64 Sockets

You can use an x64 socket to run a 64-bit application. Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation includes support for one x64 socket. If you need to support additional x64 sockets, install either Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or one of the other Windows Server 2008 R2 editions.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

With a 64-bit platform, you can access available RAM that exceeds the 4 GB limitation that is imposed by 32-bit systems. However, Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation provides access to a maximum of 8 GB of available memory. Therefore, if you need to install applications that require more than 8 GB of memory to run, install either Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or one of the other Windows Server 2008 R2 editions.

Failover cluster nodes

A failover cluster node is a server that is a member of a failover cluster. A failover cluster node can own and run clustered services and applications. You cannot deploy Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation as a failover cluster node. If you want to add a failover cluster node, you should deploy Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise.

For more information about failover clusters, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140233).

Server Message Block connections

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes Server Message Block (SMB) 2.0 to provide users and devices with shared, simultaneous access to network resources. Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation supports a maximum of 30 simultaneous inbound connections. This means that the total combined number of user accounts and devices that can connect to the server at any given time cannot exceed 30. Connection attempts that exceed the allowable 30 receive a message informing them that the server cannot accept any additional connections at that time.

If you need to support more than 30 simultaneous inbound connections, install either Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or one of the other Windows Server 2008 editions.

Important

Although Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation supports up to 30 simultaneous connections, the End User License Agreement (EULA) for Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation supports a maximum of 15 user accounts.

For more information about SMB 2.0, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140234).

Network access connections (RRAS)

The Routing and Remote Access service (RRAS) in Windows Server 2008 R2 supports remote user or site-to-site connectivity by using virtual private networking (VPN) or dial-up connections.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation supports a maximum of 50 RRAS connections. If you need to support more than 50 RRAS connections, install either Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise.

For more information about RRAS, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140235).

Network access connections (NPS)

Network Policy Server (NPS) is the Microsoft implementation of a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server and proxy in Windows Server 2008. NPS is the replacement for Internet Authentication Service (IAS) in Windows Server 2003. NPS performs centralized connection authentication, authorization, and accounting for many types of network access, including wireless and virtual private network (VPN) connections.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation supports a maximum of 10 NPS connections. If you need to support more than 10 NPS connections, install either Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or one of the other Windows Server 2008 editions.

For more information about NPS, see “Network Policy Server” at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140236).

Terminal Services Gateway connections

A Terminal Services Gateway (TS Gateway) connection enables authorized remote users to connect to terminal servers and to remote desktops on the corporate network from any Internet-connected device that is running Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 6.0.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation supports a maximum of 50 TS Gateway connections. If you need to support more than 50 TS Gateway connections, install either Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or one of the other Windows Server 2008 editions. .

For more information about TS Gateway, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140237).

Note

In order to access a hosted application, such as Microsoft® Office, you must acquire a Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services client access license (TS CAL) for each user account (not to exceed 15 user accounts) that uses TS Gateway to connect to the server. For more information about TS CALs , see “Terminal Services Licensing” in the Windows Server 2008 Technical Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140238).

Virtual image use rights

Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is licensed to run only in a physical operating system environment.

For information about server virtualization on Windows Server 2008 R2, see the Microsoft Virtualization Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140239).

Obtaining Windows Server 2008 Foundation

Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is only available preinstalled on server computers. You cannot obtain installation media for Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation at retail locations.

Upgrading Windows Server 2008 Foundation

Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation supports the following upgrade scenario:

  • “In-place” upgrade of Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation to Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation does not support the following upgrade scenario:

  • “In-place” upgrade of Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation to Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Core.

Additional references

For more information about Windows Server 2008 R2, see the Windows Server 2008 Technical Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=140240). The Windows Server 2008 Technical Library is your source for the most recent technical information about Windows Server for IT pros, including technical articles and downloads, links to the product documentation, links to the community, links to support resources, and more.