Widnows Unmanaged VDS

[smallcrush]

Out of curiosity, why is Windows 2008 R2 64 bit "not recommended"?
For the record I'm hosting HLDS/CS 1.6 servers. I have tried recently a VDS on Windows 2008 R2 and am thinking about moving to unmanaged VDS due to postive comments I have received with windows.

But the unrecommended 64 bit version got me curious. Are there problems with it?

Thanks

[TacTicToe]

I think it is a backwards compatibility issue with servers/software.

[Vanderburg]

The non-recommended version is "Windows Server 2008 x64". We recommend the newer version, "Windows Server 2008 R2", which is also 64 bit.

[Edge100x]

Windows Server 2008 is based on the same code as Vista.
Windows Server 2008 R2 is based on the same code as Windows 7.

Knowing this, it may be more clear why we do not recommend the older one .

Windows 2008 R2 only comes in a 64-bit version, so we don't have to say 32 or 64 in the list.

[smallcrush]

Knowing this, it may be more clear why we do not recommend the older one .

That's a very polite way to say how vista sucks.

Oh well, I wasn't aware R2 was 64 bit only, good thing, because I was shooking my head not understanding.. "why the heck would they discourage 64 bit when theres only good that can come from it".

I'd have another question for you guys. I see you have kind of "autoinstallers" on Windows 2008. How far are your windows 2008 R2 default, out-of-the-box install is customized? I know that for managed installs they are lot looked into (but managed is linux only). But what about your unmanaged windows VDSes?
Is it plain Windows defaults, like as default as can be and the same I'd get from installing Windows 2008 at home for example, or are they customized and tweaked as well (the installs themselves)?

[$atanic $pirit]

I will let NFO staff team to comment on the windows tweaks, but NFO does offer managed installs on both Linux and Windows as well. You can check it out on order page.

[smallcrush]

Hm, any updates? NFO staff? Anyone? Edge?

@$atanic : I like the freedom given by an unmanaged install. I just wonder if out-of-the-box they are already customized or if its vanilla windows.

[kraze]

They are pretty much completely stock.

[smallcrush]

Well, I meant more about the settings.
Like, registry settings and a few. For example I was checking a page on NFO the other day for unmanaged install and edge was recommending having HPET enabled in BIOS.
However since HPET is not used by WIndows as default, someone have to run a command in order that the OS doesn't use TSC :

Code: Select all

bcdedit /set useplatformclock true

All for the sake of example. On your default vanilla unmanaged, would I have to run this command or is it already enabled. Stuff like that.

Thanks

[kraze]

HPET is not supported on Win2k3, but is enabled by default on Wink2k8.

[Edge100x]

However since HPET is not used by WIndows as default, someone have to run a command in order that the OS doesn't use TSC :

Windows 2008 R2 uses HPET by default when it is enabled. It would probably be better if it used TSC (or, if it does use it, to use it better), because TSC is lower-overhead and higher-resolution.

We only set a few things on Windows installs different than Microsoft provides them. Primarily, we change the power setting to "High performance" and install the Xen GPLPV drivers.