Choosing a Windows server for AD - Server 2003 vs. Server 2008

Question

Windows Server

Good afternoon, hackers!
Given:
250 computers in a workgroup:
80% - Windows XP;
20% - Windows 7.
2 Windows Server 2008 downgrade licenses
Servers will work on top of VmWare ESXi
Task:
Choose the best option for deploying AD, GPO, auto-update and other goodies.

Does Server 2008 have any specific advantages in AD over Server 2003 to justify the effort and time to learn it?

Unfortunately, newer doesn't always mean better.

Please help with advice. Of particular interest is the opinion about their stability and bug-free.

UPD. Fixed typos

Answer 1

Bonus Bonus 2008:

• Group Policy Preferences
• PowerShell
• Fine Grained Password Policies
• Read-Only Domain Controllers (of little interest to you, but still)
• Restartable Active Directory Domain Services (some maintenance operations can be done without leaving DSRM)
• Owner Rights
• Changes and additions to the audit

Anyway, here's a link to the official document .

Answer 2

and also

250 computers in a workgroup:

- tin))

Answer 3

Definitely 2008 because you need to look to the future, and in a couple of years you most likely will not have XP clients at all, and 7 will not be very good. lot

Answer 4

At least from the point of view of group policies, you must definitely use 2K8 server. The GP changes from the 2003 server are huge.
An elementary example: connecting disks in 2K3 only through a script, in 2K8 built-in functionality

Answer 5

Plus, according to this document: support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/default.aspx?LN=ru&C2=1163 , Windows 2003 Server has already ended mainstream support, and extended support will end soon enough. I have not yet encountered Server 2012, but I would look in his direction. Maybe even without a GUI

Answer 6

Windows server 2008 will be a better solution, to speed up learning and minimize development efforts, I recommend reading the step-by-step guides blogs.technet.com/b/abeshkov/archive/2008/06/26/3078346.aspx

Answer 7

Costs 2003 on a virtualka. Drives a domain of 60 computers similar to 80% XP, 20% 7
Works great, copes with its task. 2003 handles the rights to 7 as well as to XP.
Domain rights restrict access to 1C databases.