I have found many tutorials about using Windows Server 2003 as a development machine, and very little information about Windows Server 2008 for the same purpose.
For
SQL Server 2005 - installation order
(thank you Anthony)
SQL Server 2005 - links
.NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 - installation order
.NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 - links
http://www.codersbarn.com/post/2008/08/09/SQL-Server-2005-on-Windows-Server-2008.aspx
I use W2K8 on VMWare Workstation for SharePoint development and it has been hassle-free from day one. Install all the IIS7 features (includes the IIS6 compatibility stuff) and you should be good to go.
Anthony :-)
Visual Studio 2008 - links
MSI 4.5 - installation order
MSI 4.5 - links
IIS 7 - installation order
IIS 7 - links
IIS 7 with IIS 6 backwards compatibility - links