Server 2008 service pack 2 Beta

Hello snyderkv,

Here are the hotfixes / patches that are in SP2 Beta for Server 2008 (as of December 2 2008): http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd335033.aspx

As far as when it will be released... Originally I think it was supposed to be Q1/Q2 2009. The following article puts it in May/June 2009 (Vista SP2 = Server 2008 SP2) http://www.pcworld.in/india/news/5833109/Operating_Systems/Windows_Vista_SP2_release_date_slips. But, since it is a beta, no one knows for sure...

Regards,

brent_caskey

Thanks Brent but I mentioned this "So there is some undocumented fixes that I can't find on the web."

I read the updates from Microsoft but they mentioned the same thing. Basically we need to go live meaning we can't image hundreds of servers with Beta service pack. Something undocumented in the service pack seems to have solved all our issues but we don't know what. I have installed every available hotfix and patch from windows update and autopatchers website with no luck (until installing SP2 Beta) We cannot wait until May/June time frame for the full release.

Anybody?

What issues were fixed when you installed SP2 Beta?

1) When RDP to the server, the RDP screen would sit there for a minute before entering the splash screen.
2) When joined to the domain AND having ActiveClient installed., the server would hang "after" logon for nearly 5 minutes. After this initial hickup the server ran fine. This issue doesent happen when there is no network connectivity.
3) Symantec AntiVirus client would hang for nearly 5 minutes (even after the initial ActiveClient hanging) when opening the console.
4) Server took forever to install apps, run executables exc.

Service Pack2 Beta fixed all these issues and now runs like a champ but we think the service pack was actually a new Operating System that saved our original settings before installation.

Things to note: Some of these issues only happend after installing a high security government issues security template. Like the hanging. Slowness and RDP times I believe were still issues.

So anyone else know what I can do to get things working without beta? I'm sure someone has those individual beta fixes available for download?
Thanks

what is the output on the server before/after when running the following:
netsh int tcp show global

was the security template applied to the system after SP2 was installed?

Did you install all of the individual updates from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd335033.aspx ? Most of those are not going to be applied from Windows Update (only the ones with * are available on Windows Update). You may have to go to the individual updates and request them from Microsoft from the link at the top of the KB. I would focus on the ones that fix the network subsystem first.

Brent,

No but I did do this command which is what you are thinking..."netsh interface tcp set global rss=disabled "

Yes I have tested this to prove my findings are accurate without a doubt.

Brent,

Thanks for the tip I may just do that however I want you to know that I downloaded and installed every update from your article that had the words "reliability, performance and compatibility" in the title. They happend to all be available from windows update with the exception of like two which had to be requested.

The rest I saw were all crap that was no way going to fix our issues. Like things we don't even have or use for instance, the center tv pack. I doubt that would fix anything. I searhced every single one but was disapointed to see most of those fixes not related to our issues.

I guess what I may do is request a couple that I did not request before and see if that fixes it but thats pure desperate for I have spent hours already shooting darts at this.

Thanks

Ill let you know what happens when I get the updates from M$

also, make sure that you run 'netsh int tcp set global chimney=disabled'

'netsh int tcp set global chimney=disabled'

Will do

2950 x64 with 2008 x64

Dell PE 2950 64bit non Itanium with 64bit OS STD/ENT

Installed the patches that required registration and none of them fixed our issues.

I emailed M$ to see what they say.

M$ asked if I disabled IPV6. The answer was yes along with both Netsh commands. My Netsh global output reads this

TCP Global Parameters
Receive-Side Sealing State                   :disabled
Chimney Offload State                           :disabled
Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level     :disabled
Add-On Congestion Control Provider     :ctcp
ECN Capability                                        :disabled
RPC 1323 Timestamp                              :disabled

Ok has nothing to do with that. Anyways we cannot fix the issues per sp2 beta so we are not deploying Vista Server lol but instead 2k3 R2