Guest post by “Windows Server 2012 probably won’t have the adoption lag in the enterprise that Windows 8 is bound to face. That’s because, aside from the Metro GUI, Server 2012’s biggest changes are in substance rather than style, building upon what the company delivered with Windows Server 2008 Release 2 three years ago. In particular, Server 2012 takes two management features Server 2008 R2 admins will be familiar with – Server Manager and PowerShell – and expands on them considerably.”
Actually, I’m not a fan of PowerShell. It’s freaking slow.
In startup time, runtime performance, or your workflow (i.e., using the language)?
The startup time for PowerShell 3.0, at least on Windows 8/Server 2012 (haven’t tried it down-level, but it should be similar) is near instant (on par with opening Command Prompt).
Runtime performance should be faster over prior versions as well, in part, due to the new, DLR-based engine, .NET 4.5 optimizations, and general optimizations to PowerShell itself.
The language has gained a few shortcuts and simplifications for some scenarios, but their value it’s largely subjective if the language is what you’re criticizing.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/powershell/archive/2012/06/14/new-v3-langua…
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh857339
I haven’t checked all the other properties of the langauge or runtime, but this is a scripting language.
Startup time is really, really important. Without good startup time a scripting language is almost useless from the start.
lol, what?
Just checked on my PC, I ain’t even using Powershell 3.0, 1 second after the Window was displayed.
Try installing some PowerShell modules.
Take any server with Microsoft software installed, it installs lots of modules.
That is when it gets slow, by default it loads all the modules installed.
Just tried Nuget Package Manager in VS2010 … which would be something equivalent … 4 seconds.
I have a HP Z600 sitting under my desk, which would the similar to
In any case, I have no idea why startup time of a few seconds would be that critical.
Scripting is about iterative development, fast iterative development. Change, run/test, done.
I think Linus Torvalds said it best in his Google tech talk about Git:
When something is fast, you use it differently.
If it takes less time to build, thus it is cheaper.
You don’t have to use cheap programmers/cheap labor to do it. Actually I would recommend not do so.
When making larger things, you want some programmers to take time to investigate and think before they start. You want to make some proper choices about structurale/architecture. Lay a good foundation and stick to that.
Where should PowerShell be used ? System administration ?
When something isn’t working a busy sysadmin just wants to do a quick fix to a script to keep the systems running. And probably come up with a proper solution later.
First priority: keep systems running.
The perfect example of an environment that asks for for quick iterative development ?
No not really. Quick fixes and bodges ends up with un-maintainable scripts.
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.
One of the changes with v3 is that modules are now loaded on-demand. You can enumerate cmdlets for all available modules without actually loading the module into the session. They are only loaded when one of the cmdlets they contain is called.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh857339#BKMK_AutoLoad
There’s a lot more in W2012 than ServerManager and Powershell only (even if both has expanded). Storage, virtualization, performance and scalability improvements… you name it.
Great release.
And hopefully we will finally have a released version of Windows that can be up for more than 497 days: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2553549
lol good point.
However 400+ days without rebooting means more than one year of missed patches… not exactly an ideal situation..
OK, I’m just a home user so this ‘Cloud’ thing just goes over my head….bit disappointed Home Server went AWOL, which is my limit/need for a server.
Back to the more important server stuff, thank you
The article mentions:
“Two other versions of Server 2012 will be available. The first, Foundation edition, will only be sold through OEMs, and is intended as a totally bare-bones server with no virtualization support.”
I think this version is most suited for home use.
P.S.
It’s a bit strange they mention that they went from 6 to 2 versions of Windows Server and then 2 more appear, pushing the total back up to 4.
There were more like 14 different SKUs for Sersver 2008 (If you include Home Server 2011, which was built on 2008 R2). This includes Server + HPC packs, also, since the HPC packs used to cost extra.
2012 has 5 SKUs, including the upcoming Windows Storage Server.
http://www.aidanfinn.com/?p=13042
Hardly, Windows Server Essentials is the closest to HS but that’ll be ten times the price of HS, presently £32.
Can’t imagine many rolling their own Home Server for that sort of cost. Course, there’s always NAT boxen and I’m told Windows 8 can stand in, though don’t know if it runs headless.