Windows Server 2003

Introduction

Microsoft's next server platform is known as Windows Server 2003. It will be offered in both 32-bit and 64-bit editions, designed for x86 compatible and Itanium 2-class processors, respectively. (An AMD Opteron-compatible release will follow later, says the company). Windows Server 2003, formerly known as Windows .NET Server, has much in common with Windows XP, but includes a number of additional functions designed for server-oriented tasks. A few of these include file services for local and remote users and servers for streaming media, static and dynamic web pages, FTP, DNS, DHCP and a veritable alphabet soup of others.

In this article, we'll look at its features and provide links to further information. All features of the RTM release are finalized, so we don't expect the features listed below to change until the inevitable update patches start to arrive.

Current status: Gold (build 3790)

Windows.NET 64-bit LE (a limited test version for developers) was released in Aug. 2001

Beta 3 of "Windows.NET Server" was released in Nov. 2001

Original scheduled RTM (release to manufacturing) date: March 19, 2003 (missed); actual RTM date: Mar. 28 Release date: April 24, 2003

*Three versions are available: NT Server, NT Advanced Server and NT Terminal Server

** Several versions are available, including Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server, Enterprise Server and Datacenter Server

***  32- and 64-bit versions, in editions similar to those noted above, are expected, as well as Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise and Datacenter Editions, as detailed here.

Serverwatch notes a number of improvements in the Terminal Services available in Windows Server 2003. Among them:

automatic redirection of client local and network mapped drives (previously, this functionality required creating manual mappings)

• automatic redirection of audio
• automatic redirection of client time zones, which ensures that time within the session reflects location of the client device, not the server
• automatic redirection of client printers, both local and network, including default printer selection (Windows 2000 supported only local printer redirection)
• automatic redirection of parallel and serial ports
• automatic reconnection of broken sessions (especially useful with wireless connections)
• support for 24-bit color mode
• support for standard Windows shortcuts in the full screen mode
• support for dynamic bandwidth allocation (part of QoS technology)
• support for high (128-bit, bi-directional) and low (40-bit, uni-directional -- from client to server only) encryption levels
• support for smart card authentication
• direct console session

Windows Server 2003 represents the largest software development project in Microsoft's history, says the company. It totals about 50 million lines of code -- the work of more than 5,000 developers and 2,500 testers over a three year period. Despite this massive effort, a number of features won't be delivered with the initial release of Windows Server 2003. Instead, says Microsoft, they will be delivered as downloadable updates. Features expected to be available within six months after the release of WS03 include Greenwich, Microsoft's new business-class instant messaging technology (AKA Windows Messenger 5); a Group Policy Management Console; the Windows Team Services collaboration tool; Windows Rights Management Services (RMS); a Windows Systems Resource Manager (WSRM), and others.

Who should Upgrade

Microsoft servers, like the company's clients, are widely deployed in corporate environments where an all-Windows policy is dictated by IT staff or (shudder) management. This market is a huge one. Even before the official launch of Windows Server 2003, Netcraft reported that the number of servers on the Internet running the OS already exceed the number of those running OpenVMS, AS/400, Netware and even Solaris 9, with approximately 30,000 hostnames running the new OS -- and countless others running behind firewalls or in inaccessible test environments.Microsoft estimates that 35% of its server customers are still using NT 4. Although some might view its March 2003 assertion that the security in Windows NT 4 is so broken it can’t be fixed as a cynical ploy to jump-start interest among these users, it is undeniable that Windows Server 2003, like the Windows 2000 Server before it (which, incidentally, is on the semi-discontinued list itself), offers a number of features not present in NT. Whether those features will cause us the same sort of troubles we experienced while attempting to upgrade an NT-based server to Win2K a couple of years ago remains to be seen, after we've tested the final code. Until then, read more about Windows Server 2003 on Slashdot and at Paul Thurrot's site, listed below.

Those with hardware specifically listed in the Windows Server 2003 Compatibility Catalog are likely to have a smooth installation or upgrade procedure. As Microsoft has done in the past, it has issued a "Designed for Windows Server 2003" logo (shown at right) and certification program designed to ensure reliable software and hardware operation.

A good way to determine whether Windows Server 2003 is for you is to order the Windows Server 2003 Evaluation Kit. The following items are included in this 180-day trial version:

• Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, RTM CD
• Windows Server 2003 Resource CD
• A unique Product Key (required for installation)
• Links to additional Web-based documentation

View: Windows Server 2003 Evaluation Kit Product Information

View: Register to Order the Windows Server 2003 Evaluation Kit

View: Windows Server 2003 Evaluation Kit: Frequently Asked Questions

News source: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Home

Who shouldn't deploy WS2K3

Only a few days before the product's official launch, Computer Reseller News reported that Exchange 2000 Won't Run On Windows Server 2003. According to testers, neither Exchange 2000 nor Internet Information Services 5.0 will run on Windows Server 2003. (This isn't strictly true, in the case of Exchange 2000, as this guide reveals.) SQL Server 2000 will run on Windows Server 2003 only with Service Pack 3 deployed. Microsoft says Exchange 2003 will run on Windows Server 2003. The company is preparing (and, some say, deliberately leaked a beta release of) a Server version of Virtual PC, which it bought from Connectix earlier in 2003, to address these and other legacy application and server issues.

The Inquirer details the extent of these compatibility issues, noting that Server 2003 is only compatible with about 60-70% of NT4 titles. It says that although SQL Server 2000 will run (patched, as noted above), there's some evidence that it is highly unstable in this configuration. SQL Server database 6.5 or 7.0 don't run at all. Exchange 2000 or 5.5 and earlier are similarly out of the question. Other programs that are non-functional include BizTalk Server 2002, Sharepoint Portal Server 2001, Content Manager 2000, and Mobile Information Server 2002.

It's also worth mentioning that Microsoft has already begun blocking access to Windows Update for users of some illegally distributed Volume License Keys. As was the case with Windows XP, this makes it a virtual certainty that, when the inevitable service packs start to arrive, unauthorized users using widely distributed VLKs will be locked out. ::

For Further Reading:

• See the Windows Server 2003 report at Paul Thurrot's Windows Supersite
• Microsoft.com: a feature comparison of the various versions of Windows Server 2003
• Yahoo News: Microsoft promises end to 'DLL hell' [Mar. 7, 2003]
• ZDNet has more details on ending "DLL Hell" with the Global Assembly Cache. [Mar. 7, 2003]
• WinBeta.Org: Windows 2003 Server New Feature Guide & Review
• News.com: Windows Server plan goes modular [Mar. 26, 2003]
• CNET News.com: Windows Server 2003 goes gold: Microsoft is expected to announce on Friday that Windows Server 2003 has completed testing and has been certified final, or gold, code.  [Mar. 27, 2003]
• Neowin.net: Windows Server 2003 leaked VLK blocked from updates [Apr. 23, 2003]
• Windows Server 2003 Demos - Flash required. [Apr. 24, 2003]

See www.w2knews.com for further information:

DISCOVER...EXPLORE...FOCUS

• http://www.w2knews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=030414TB-W2K3_Evaluation
• http://www.w2knews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=030414TB-W2K3_Downloads
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/support
• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies

FIND SOLUTIONS

• http://www.microsoft.com/technet
• http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter
• http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security

DEPLOY & MAINTAIN

• http://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits

TROUBLESHOOT

• http://support.microsoft.com

READ & RESEARCH

• http://www.microsoft.com/mspress

LEARN

• http://www.microsoft.com/traincert

APPLY BEST PRACTICES

• http://www.microsoft.com/practices

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