asked
Advantages of upgrading SQL 2008 machine to Windows Server 2008?
Currently running SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition on Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition. What are the pros and cons of upgrading to Windows Server 2008?
Microsoft gives a marketing list of reasons here - [
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/why-upgrade.aspx][1] The unlisted reason I really like, because most shops seem to overlook it, is that Disk Partition Alignment is finally fixed by default - [
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd758814(v=sql.100).aspx][2] You won't get this benefit if you simply re-attach your unaligned W2K3 disks, you need to go with freshly formatted disks. It also won't help if you have already manually aligned your W2K3 disk partitions. [1]:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/why-upgrade.aspx [2]:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd758814(v=sql.100).aspx
+1 for the partition alignment mention. Saves a lot of hassle but not sure how that works on an in-place upgrade. If you fix the issue on 2003 after commissioning the server then you have to (re)format the drive. An in-place upgrade wont format the disk so I wonder if it would fix the alignment issue.. .. ..
Apparently if you are using replication you can see some improvement running it on Server 2008, see [here][1]. You will never see any cons for running the current operating system with Microsoft :). [1]:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd263442.aspx
For me I have seen much better usage of memory with Windows Server 2008 over Server 2003. Depending on your hardware specs you might be able to get around having to have Ent Ed of Windows. The disk partition alignment @KenJ mentioned is huge for SQL Server. I was very excited to hear that was taken care of in Server 2008. Running on an Operating System that is current is a plus by itself.
Could I suggest that if you take the step, go for 2008 R2. There aren't many differences, but stuff like Powershell have been improved upon and the clustering too, if that were to come up in the future. The network improvements that @meltondba talks about *really* do work!
