Windows 8 in a corporate domain

Forums › Microsoft Windows › Windows 8 in a corporate domain - early adopters

pryannz

29 posts

Geek

#114971 8-Mar-2013 20:35

Just wanting to get some feedback from domain admins out there who are currently testing Windows 8 or have been crazy enough to introduce Windows 8 into their production domain environments?

We are currently testing Win 8 on our (2003 domain functional level) domain running on HP Elitepad 900 tablets.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1630
Inactive user

#777076 8-Mar-2013 20:38

I'm running some free 1 day training with hands in labs around NZ at the moment

http://blogs.technet.com/b/nmercer/archive/2013/01/23/new-nz-it-camps-windows-8-for-it-professionals.aspx

DjShadow

4222 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1322

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#777124 8-Mar-2013 21:27

We're getting Windows 7 deployed at work at present (upgrade from XP) but I think as soon as that project is finished Windows 8 will be coming our way

billgates

4705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 671

Trusted

#777128 8-Mar-2013 21:37

Using Windows 8 in the networks and service desk support team. will be ordering hp envy x2 tablets with Windows 8 but all other HP desktops and laptops will be downgraded to Windows 7.

Do whatever you want to do man.

toyonut

1508 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 211

#777139 8-Mar-2013 22:00

Currently in process of upgrading all laptops and desktops to 8 for all staff and testing the dev image for the developers. From a domain point of view it is little different to windows 7. Staff also get used to it pretty quickly. We are having a few small issues around lync with office 2013 and other than that we need to update our group policy templates because there are some group policy options that would be useful to implement, but everything seems to be playing nice so far.

We have also rolled onto Server 2012 and are in the much longer process of testing that to make sure it is production ready and behaves well for new production servers. I just finished a hyper-v cluster using server 2012 and It was an amazingly easy process to get it all up and running.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

billgates

4705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 671

Trusted

#777151 8-Mar-2013 22:22

We upgraded all our remote site servers from IBM to HP and went with Hyper-V core 2012 instead of ESXi. It's free and performing just as well for us.

Saying that there is a major bug in Hyper-V on Windows 8. The host NIC disconnected itself or would switch to limited network after creating a virtual switch using that same physical NIC. Turns out that under network options properties, all the boxes uncheck themselves and you have to manually check them all to re-enable the host NIC.

Do whatever you want to do man.

paulspain

417 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 25

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#777167 8-Mar-2013 23:02

After a period of testing in the lead up to the launch, we transitioned all in-house Windows PCs on our main network to Windows 8. It has been very successful. Also all host servers were upgraded to Windows Server 2012 which works extremely well.

Paul Spain
Founder: Gorilla Technology, NZ Tech Podcast

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

Zeon

3926 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 759

Trusted

#777169 8-Mar-2013 23:05

I have deployed a few on a server 2008 r2 level domain. Its fine except redirect folders and group policy software installation policies do not work.

Speedtest 2019-10-14

paulspain

417 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 25

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#777170 8-Mar-2013 23:07

If you're thinking about tablets for Windows go for business class machines - i.e. HP ElitePad 900 rather than Envy X2 since they have relevant accessory options such as a full dock - and also Windows 8 Pro.

Paul Spain
Founder: Gorilla Technology, NZ Tech Podcast

pryannz

29 posts

Geek

#777835 11-Mar-2013 09:47

Thanks all. The Elitepad 900 is a nice tablet and works well, the peripherals make it work nicely in the corp space. One issue we had was with domain users logging into the device and attempting to launch a Windows 8 (metro) apps and the app would attempt to load and close out almost immediately. However other users apps would function as normal, was random and as far as I could tell not a permissions issue. Had to reset the tablet to get around this.

Also interest to hear about how Applocker and Packed Apps GPOs are working out for users.

pryannz

29 posts

Geek

#777836 11-Mar-2013 09:50

@Nathan bugger! That free training would have been spot on... do you have any future sessions in AKL planned?