Chapter 1. Introducing Windows Server 2003


It all started with Windows NT, Microsoft's first serious entry into the network server market. Versions 3.1 and 3.5 of Windows NT didn't garner very much attention in a NetWare-dominated world because they were sluggish and refused to play well with others. Along came Win000dows NT 4.0, which used the new Windows 95 interface (revolutionary only to those who didn't recognize Apple's Macintosh OS user interface) to put a friendlier face on some simple yet fundamental architectural improvements. With Version 4.0, larger organizations saw that Microsoft was serious about entering the enterprise computing market, even if the product currently being offered still was limited in scalability and availability. For one, Microsoft made concessions to NetWare users, giving them an easy way to integrate with a new NT network. The company also included a revised security feature set, including finely grained permissions and domains, which signified Microsoft considered enterprise computing an important part of Windows.

After a record six and one-half service packs, NT 4.0 is considered by some to be the most stable operating system ever to come out of Redmond. However, despite that, most administrators with Unix experience required an OS more credible in an enterprise environmentone that could compare to the enormous Unix machines that penetrated that market long ago and had unquestionably occupied it ever since. It wasn't until February 2000, when Windows 2000 Server was released, that these calls were answered. Windows 2000 was a complete revision of NT 4.0 and was designed with stability and scalability as first priorities.

However, something still was lacking. Sun and IBM included application server software and developer-centric capabilities with their industrial-strength operating systems, Solaris and AIX. Windows 2000 lacked this functionality. As well, the infamous security problems associated with the bundled Windows 2000 web server, Internet Information Services (IIS), cast an ominous cloud over the thought that Windows could ever be a viable Internet-facing enterprise OS. Given that many saw Microsoft as "betting the company" on a web services initiative called .NET, it was critical that the company save face and do it right the next time. It wasn't too late, but customers were very concerned about the numerous security vulnerabilities and the lack of a convenient patch management system to apply corrections to those vulnerabilities. Things had to change.

From stage left, enter Windows Server 2003, otherwise known as Whistler Server, Windows XP Server, and Windows .NET Server. What distinguishes this new release other than a longer name and a three-year difference in release dates? That's a difficult question to answer. Microsoft is slowly but surely raising the standard it sets for itself in creating a server OS: it's transformed a departmental fileserver system into an enterprise-class, centrally managed OS and then into an application server platform designed to interoperate using open standards. Along with this transition, has come improved hardware support, redesigned directory services, management tools designed in a role-based paradigm, and a host of security enhancements.



    Learning Windows Server 2003
    Learning Windows Server 2003
    ISBN: 0596101236
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2003
    Pages: 149

    flylib.com © 2008-2017.
    If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net