Deploying Server and Workstation Functions Together

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Even more than in the past, the deployment of Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server together will provide exceptional benefits from the zero administration for Windows (ZAW) technologies. These technologies intelligently stores user data, applications, system files, and administrative settings from Windows 2000 Professional-based desktops onto servers running Windows 2000 Server.

For example, IntelliMirror is a distributed and highly configurable replication service that allows clients and servers to mirror and share local or distributed file system data. IntelliMirror's Remote Boot Service provides a mechanism for any authorized client computer to download all or part of an installation from a remote server—including a fully configured version of the operating system, applications, and site-specific data.

With ZAW, an application assigned to a user simply appears on the user's Start menu and is installed the first time a user clicks on it. If the application isn't immediately required, the administrator can publish it so that it appears as an option in Add/Remove Programs for the user to install when needed. When an application upgrade becomes available, the upgrade is automatically applied the next time the user launches the application.

User documents and personal settings can be stored, or mirrored, on a server managed by an administrator. This provides

• Improved access Users can log on to any PC on the network; all of their documents and personal settings will appear on any computer they use.
• Increased availability The information mirrored on the server is also resident on the local machine, so it is available even when users aren't connected to the network. When a user reconnects, the information on the server is synchronized with the new local information. Because laptop users' data is synchronized with the server whenever a laptop is connected to the network, network administrators can back up mobile users' data even when the laptops are not connected.
• Better protection All files reside on the server, which can be backed up as part of normal, centralized backup and restore procedures.

While the usual suspects—machines running Windows 95/98, Macintosh, and UNIX—can be connected as clients for Windows 2000 Server, the full range of improvements is available only to the combination of Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional installed together. However, a great deal can be gained with gradual, partial upgrades. Benefits can be realized simply by upgrading a single server to Windows 2000 Server.

CAUTION

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The primary domain controller (PDC) must be upgraded to Windows 2000 first. If you add a Windows 2000 controller or upgrade any controller other than the PDC on an existing Windows NT domain, you will create a new Windows 2000 domain that looks like the existing domain, but is not the same domain.

Although you can use Windows 2000 in a Windows NT 4 environment more or less indefinitely, you won't receive many of the real advantages implicit in Windows 2000 until you make the commitment to a Windows 2000 environment.