Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is the next generation of Windows Server series of operating system. Windows Server 2008 builds on the success and strengths of its predecessor Windows Server 2003, and also the new technology implemented in Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows Server 2003 R2, while delivering valuable new functionality and powerful improvements to the base operating system to provide solid foundation for information technology (IT) infrastructure.
Windows Server 2008 features Server Manager that provides a unified management console for simplified and streamlined server setup, configuration, and ongoing management; Windows PowerShell command-line shell for automating routine system administration tasks across multiple servers; Windows Deployment Services enables rapid deployment of the operating system via network-based installations; Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering wizards; full Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) support; consolidated management of Network Load Balancing; Server Core installation option for installation of server roles with only the necessary components and subsystems without a graphical user interface; built-in hypervisor-based server virtualization of Windows Server Hyper-V; built-in Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0; plus various security enhancements and high performance computing (HPC) environment.
Microsoft provides free download to various editions of Windows Server 2008 trial software for users and developers to evaluate and try the Windows Server 2008 free for initial 60 days (extendable to 240 days), without the need for product activation or entering a product key). Although it’s mentioned as trial software, the installed copy of Windows Server 2008 can be activated with a valid and genuine product key and used as full version product with no expiry date or grace period for activation.
Installing Windows Server 2008 R2; Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Notes; How to manually rearm the 10 day activation grace period When the initial 10-day activation period nears its end, you can run the Slmgr.vbs script to reset it back to 10 days. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, and then click Command Prompt.
For convenient, here’s the direct download links from official Microsoft Download Center server for all editions of Windows Server 2008. Do note that the download will be big – normally between 1 to 5 GB.
- 2008 R2 Sp1 32 Bit free download - Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 ISO, Bit Che, Adobe Captivate (32-bit), and many more programs.
- The 32-bit (x86) Windows Server 2008 and Vista SP2 Beta Symbols (MSDN/TechNet 289914) DVD ISO image is an integrated images for Windows Server 2008 SP2 and Windows Vista SP2 for clean install or upgrade scenarios for computers with one or more of the following languages: English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish and applicable to Windows.
Windows Server 2008 Standard (MDC Page)
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise (MDC Page)
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter (MDC Page)
32-bit (x86) English: 6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_Server_en-us-KRMSFRE_EN_DVD.iso
64-bit (x64) English: 6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_Server_en-us-KRMSXFRE_EN_DVD.iso
32-bit (x86) French: 6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_Server_fr-fr-KRMSFRE_FR_DVD.iso
64-bit (x64) French: 6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_Server_fr-fr-KRMSXFRE_FR_DVD.iso
32-bit (x86) German: 6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_Server_de-de-KRMSFRE_DE_DVD.iso
64-bit (x64) German: 6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_Server_de-de-KRMSXFRE_DE_DVD.iso
32-bit (x86) Japanese: 6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_Server_ja-jp-KRMSFRE_JA_DVD.iso
64-bit (x64) Japanese: 6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_Server_ja-jp-KRMSXFRE_JA_DVD.iso
32-bit (x86) Spanish: 6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_Server_es-es-KRMSFRE_ES_DVD.iso
64-bit (x64) Spanish: 6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_Server_es-es-KRMSXFRE_ES_DVD.iso
Windows Web Server 2008 (MDC Page)
32-bit (x86) English: 6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_ServerWeb_en-us-KRMWFRE_EN_DVD.iso
64-bit (x64) English: 6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_ServerWeb_en-us-KRMWXFRE_EN_DVD.iso
32-bit (x86) French: 6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_ServerWeb_fr-fr-KRMWFRE_FR_DVD.iso
64-bit (x64) French: 6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_ServerWeb_fr-fr-KRMWXFRE_FR_DVD.iso
32-bit (x86) German: 6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_ServerWeb_de-de-KRMWFRE_DE_DVD.iso
64-bit (x64) German: 6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_ServerWeb_de-de-KRMWXFRE_DE_DVD.iso
32-bit (x86) Japanese: 6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_ServerWeb_ja-jp-KRMWFRE_JA_DVD.iso
64-bit (x64) Japanese: 6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_ServerWeb_ja-jp-KRMWXFRE_JA_DVD.iso
32-bit (x86) Spanish: 6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_ServerWeb_es-es-KRMWFRE_ES_DVD.iso
64-bit (x64) Spanish: 6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_ServerWeb_es-es-KRMWXFRE_ES_DVD.iso
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems (MDC Page)
English: 6001.18000.080118-1840_ia64fre_ServerEnterpriseIA64_en-us-KRMIAIFRE_EN_DVD.iso
French: 6001.18000.080118-1840_ia64fre_ServerEnterpriseIA64_fr-fr-KRMIAIFRE_FR_DVD.iso
German: 6001.18000.080118-1840_ia64fre_ServerEnterpriseIA64_de-de-KRMIAIFRE_DE_DVD.iso
Japanese: 6001.18000.080118-1840_ia64fre_ServerEnterpriseIA64_ja-jp-KRMIAIFRE_JA_DVD.iso
All editions of Windows Server 2008 can be installed without activation for up to 240 days.
Update: Download Windows Server 2008 with SP2 ISO images.