Editions of Windows Server 2003

Editions of Windows Server 2003

You also need to choose which version of Windows Server 2003 is right for you. Windows Server 2003 Web Server Edition is designed specifically for low-end and entry-level Web hosting environments, providing a specific platform for deploying Web services and applications.

Using Windows Server 2003 Web Server Edition

Although Windows Server 2003 Web Server Edition can be installed with some of the same functionalities of the other OS versions, it is also limited in the following ways:

  • The system can be set up as a virtual private network (VPN) server but with limited functionality. Connections are limited to one media type: Local area network (LAN), remote access (dial-up), direct cable connections, and Server Message Block (SMB) connections are limited to 10 simultaneous connections.

  • It cannot be installed as part of server clusters via the operating system.

  • It cannot be installed as a terminal server (a system that runs Remote Desktop for Administration).

  • It cannot be installed as a file or print server for Macintosh systems.

  • It does not have support for printer and fax sharing, nor does it support infrared devices.

  • It cannot be deployed as a Remote Installation Service (RIS) server, nor can Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server be installed on it for the system to perform as a firewall/proxy device.

  • It cannot be established as a domain controller, a certification authority (CA), an Exchange server, a Microsoft SQL server, or a streaming media server.

  • Remote Storage and Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) services are not available.


Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition is designed with the day-to-day needs of the average business in mind and is the progressive replacement for the Windows NT Server 4/Windows 2000 Server line of server operating systems.

Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition is designed specifically for the needs of larger organizations because their needs surpass the functional levels of Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition. Enterprise Edition is the progressive replacement for the Windows NT Server 4 Enterprise Edition/Windows 2000 Advanced Server line of server operating systems.

Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition is designed specifically for high-end hardware deployments that use business-critical and mission-critical applications requiring the highest levels of scalability and availability. Datacenter Edition is the progressive replacement for the Windows 2000 Datacenter Server line of operating systems.

The following list outlines the minimum system requirements and some additional information for Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition:

  • The minimum supported processor speed is 133MHz.

  • The minimum recommended processor speed is 550MHz

  • Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition supports a maximum of four CPUs per server.

  • The minimum supported amount of RAM is 128MB.

  • The minimum recommended amount of RAM is 256MB.

  • The maximum supported amount of RAM is 4GB.

  • The minimum amount of space required for installation is approximately 1.5GB. Additional space might be needed under the following circumstances:

    • When a FAT16 partition is in use, it requires 100MB to 200MB more free disk space than other supported file systems because of cluster sizes. NTFS is the recommended file system for any server deployment.

    • If you are installing Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition from a network share, you need approximately 100MB to 200MB more space than if you ran the setup from the CD-ROM because Setup needs to use that space for temporary files associated with the installation. Also, the drive must have a formatted partition before the installation process starts so that those files can be copied . If the partition does not exist beforehand, the over-the-network installation fails.

    • The amount of disk space required for the swapfile affects the initial partition's size because the swapfile is directly proportional to the amount of physical memory installed in the system. Larger amounts of RAM require a larger swapfile , so the minimum hard drive free space requirements must also increase.

  • A VGA or higher resolution monitor is required, and an SVGA 800x600 or higher is recommended.

  • A keyboard and mouse (or other pointing devices) are also minimum requirements.

The optional hardware list includes items such as CD-ROM or DVD drives , which are usually required only for local installations. The optional hardware list also includes a listing for network adapters and related cables from the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).

Table 2.1 outlines the different requirement levels of the Windows Server 2003 family, as listed on the Microsoft Web site. This site (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/features/compareeditions.mspx) has another table that compares major features for each version.

Table 2.1. Windows Server 2003 Requirements

Requirement

Standard Edition

Enterprise Edition

Datacenter Edition

Web Edition

Minimum CPU speed

133MHz

133MHz for x86-based computers 733MHz for Itanium-based computers

400MHz for x86-based computers 733MHz for Itanium-based computers

133MHz

Recommended CPU speed

550MHz

733MHz

733MHz

550MHz

Minimum RAM

128MB

128MB

512MB

128MB

Recommended minimum RAM

256MB

256MB

1GB

256MB

Maximum RAM

4GB

32GB for x86-based computers 64GB for Itanium-based computers

64GB for x86-based computers 512GB for Itanium-based computers

2GB

Multiprocessor support

Up to 4

Up to 8

Minimum 8 required Maximum 64

Up to 2

Disk space for setup

1.5GB

1.5GB for x86-based computers 2.0GB for Itanium-based computers

1.5GB for x86-based computers 2.0GB for Itanium-based computers

1.5GB

The 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003 ”Enterprise Edition and Datacenter Edition ”can be installed only on 64-bit Intel Itanium-based hardware platforms. They can't be installed on 32-bit hardware platforms.

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There is a known issue with some Intel Pentium Pro or Pentium II Processors in which Windows Server 2003 sees only one processor, regardless of how many are physically installed. You can find additional information on this issue at the end of the chapter in the "Need to Know More?" section.


If you elect to upgrade your current server operating system, you need to be aware that the Setup program automatically installs Windows Server 2003 into the same folder as the currently installed operating system, regardless of its naming convention.

You can perform direct upgrades to Windows Server 2003 from the following versions of Windows:

  • Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or later

  • Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition, with Service Pack 5 or later

  • Windows 2000 Server

Remote Storage is not included with Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition. If you are using Windows 2000 Server with Remote Storage, you can't upgrade the system to Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition. You have the option to upgrade to Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, which has Remote Storage included; remove Remote Storage through Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel from your currently installed version of Windows 2000 Server, and then upgrade to Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition; or install Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition as a new installation, which effectively sets it up as a dual-boot system.

You cannot upgrade from Windows 9x, Me, Windows NT Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, or Windows XP Home or Professional directly to any Windows Server 2003 version. (Clean installations from within those existing operating systems to other partitions or over the existing partition are allowed.)

Also, if you have Windows NT 4.0 Server Enterprise Edition running Service Pack 5 or later, you can upgrade directly to Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, but not to Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition. A clean installation to Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition is available. If you have a version of Windows NT earlier than 4.0, such as Windows NT Server 3.x, you cannot upgrade directly to any product in the Windows Server 2003 family. You can upgrade to Windows NT 4.0, apply Service Pack 5, and then perform a direct upgrade, but this method is not recommended.



MCSE 70-293 Exam Cram. Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
MCSE 70-293 Exam Cram: Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure (2nd Edition)
ISBN: 0789736195
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 123

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