B
beyeriii@aol.com
Guest
Hello Group,
I recently downloaded Windows Server 2008 Standard Trial and installed
it on a test machine, ie.
MB: Asus
CPU: 800Mhz PIII
RAM: 512MB
HD: 10GB ATA133
Video: NVidia GeForce 256
Ethernet: Intel Pro 10/100 (or maybe RealTek)
Audio: SoundBlaster Live!
The installation went very smoothly, but afterward I noticed I didn't
have Audio or Ethernet connectivity.
I looked in Device Manager and sure enough there are two "Other
Devices" labeled "Ethernet Controller" and "Multimedia Audio
Controller", and the icons for these devices have a black on yellow
exclamation mark. I also noticed my Display Adapter is set to a
"Standard VGA Graphics Adapter".
I tried to manually update the driver for these devices, but found
hardly any built-in drivers listed, and none that matched my
hardware. I then used another computer to search online regarding
this issue.
What I believe I have found is Windows Server 2008 has shipped with
very few device drivers, and if you need one it is probably best to
use a Vista driver for the device if there is not one specifically for
Windows Server 2008. This reminds me alot of how Windows NT was
shipped, i.e. very few "built in" device drivers. I find this rather
disappointing because XP detects and installs built-in Windows device
drivers for all of the devices (Audio, Video, Ethernet) in the test
computer.
Because the devices in the test computer are so common, I hoped
drivers might be found by allowing Windows Server 2008 to seach the
Internet for an updated driver. To do this I attached an USB to LAN
adapter to the test compter, and loaded the XP driver from a CD.
Adding the USB to LAN adapter worked OK (using the XP driver) and I am
able to connect to the Internet fine, but unfortunately Windows Server
2008 did not find any updated device drivers when asked to look on the
Internet for an updated driver.
I find this even more disappointing. I kinda hoped Microsoft was
following Linux's idea of Repositories, but for Microsoft device
drivers. I hoped my (very common) hardware would be detected OK and a
driver downloaded from Microsoft. But this does not appear to be the
case. Note: from this experience, I suspect Linux servers will gain
an even stronger foothold on the server market, because Sys Admins
will hate trying to find device drivers when installing Windows Server
2008.
To try to make it easier I have made a copy of a Windows Vista
Ultimate DVD with the hopes that it has built-in device drivers for my
hardware. So far I haven't had much luck with using it when prompted
for a driver. I fear I may have to visit each of the hardware vendors
websites to try to locate device drivers for my hardware. I wouldn't
mind doing this for one or two devices, but I expect I will need to do
it for all three devices. I also expect I will need to do this for
each server I install Windows Server 2008 on (unless it comes already
installed on a new server).
If anyone has insights in to this issue (lack of built-in device
drivers), please share them to make it easier for Sys Admins migrating
to Windows Server 2008.
Thanks,
Keller Beyer
I recently downloaded Windows Server 2008 Standard Trial and installed
it on a test machine, ie.
MB: Asus
CPU: 800Mhz PIII
RAM: 512MB
HD: 10GB ATA133
Video: NVidia GeForce 256
Ethernet: Intel Pro 10/100 (or maybe RealTek)
Audio: SoundBlaster Live!
The installation went very smoothly, but afterward I noticed I didn't
have Audio or Ethernet connectivity.
I looked in Device Manager and sure enough there are two "Other
Devices" labeled "Ethernet Controller" and "Multimedia Audio
Controller", and the icons for these devices have a black on yellow
exclamation mark. I also noticed my Display Adapter is set to a
"Standard VGA Graphics Adapter".
I tried to manually update the driver for these devices, but found
hardly any built-in drivers listed, and none that matched my
hardware. I then used another computer to search online regarding
this issue.
What I believe I have found is Windows Server 2008 has shipped with
very few device drivers, and if you need one it is probably best to
use a Vista driver for the device if there is not one specifically for
Windows Server 2008. This reminds me alot of how Windows NT was
shipped, i.e. very few "built in" device drivers. I find this rather
disappointing because XP detects and installs built-in Windows device
drivers for all of the devices (Audio, Video, Ethernet) in the test
computer.
Because the devices in the test computer are so common, I hoped
drivers might be found by allowing Windows Server 2008 to seach the
Internet for an updated driver. To do this I attached an USB to LAN
adapter to the test compter, and loaded the XP driver from a CD.
Adding the USB to LAN adapter worked OK (using the XP driver) and I am
able to connect to the Internet fine, but unfortunately Windows Server
2008 did not find any updated device drivers when asked to look on the
Internet for an updated driver.
I find this even more disappointing. I kinda hoped Microsoft was
following Linux's idea of Repositories, but for Microsoft device
drivers. I hoped my (very common) hardware would be detected OK and a
driver downloaded from Microsoft. But this does not appear to be the
case. Note: from this experience, I suspect Linux servers will gain
an even stronger foothold on the server market, because Sys Admins
will hate trying to find device drivers when installing Windows Server
2008.
To try to make it easier I have made a copy of a Windows Vista
Ultimate DVD with the hopes that it has built-in device drivers for my
hardware. So far I haven't had much luck with using it when prompted
for a driver. I fear I may have to visit each of the hardware vendors
websites to try to locate device drivers for my hardware. I wouldn't
mind doing this for one or two devices, but I expect I will need to do
it for all three devices. I also expect I will need to do this for
each server I install Windows Server 2008 on (unless it comes already
installed on a new server).
If anyone has insights in to this issue (lack of built-in device
drivers), please share them to make it easier for Sys Admins migrating
to Windows Server 2008.
Thanks,
Keller Beyer
