Understanding Windows Server 2003
The Windows Server 2003 product family offers four editions:
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Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, designed for the most common server environments
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Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, designed for larger enterprise environments or businesses that require higher reliability and performance
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Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition, designed for businesses that use mission-critical applications and also need a higher level of scalability and reliability
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Windows Server 2003 Web Edition, designed to be optimized for hosting web servers
By offering different editions, Microsoft ensures that consumers and businesses can select the product family that best suits their needs and budget.
Windows Server 2003 System Requirements
The system requirements and support for the Windows Server 2003 platforms are specified in the following table:
| Windows Server 2003 | Web Edition | Standard Edition | Enterprise Edition | Datacenter Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum RAM | 128MB | 128MB | 128MB | 512MB |
| Recommended RAM | 256MB | 256MB | 256MB | 1GB |
| Maximum RAM | 2GB | 4GB | 32GB for x86-based computers, 64GB for Itanium-based computers | 64GB for x86-based computers, 128GB for Itanium-based computers |
| Minimum CPU Speed | 133MHz | 133MHz | 133MHz for x86-based computers, 733MHz for Itanium-based computers | 400MHz for x86-based computers, 733MHz for Itanium-based computers |
| Recommended CPU speed | 550MHz | 550MHz | 733MHz | 733MHz |
| Multiprocessor Support | 1-2 | 1-2 | Up to 8 | Minimum of 8, maximum of 32 |
| Disk storage for setup | 1.5GB | 1.5GB | 1.5GB for x86-based computers, 2GB for Itanium-based computers | 1.5GB for x86-based computers, 2GB for Itanium-based computers |
| Cluster nodes | No | No | Up to 8 | Up to 8 |
| Note | System requirements are subject to change, and you should check Microsoft's website for the most current specifications. |
Windows Server 2003 Family Features
The following table summarizes the features found in the different Windows Server 2003 families:
| Feature | Web Edition | Standard Edition | Enterprise Edition | Datacenter Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .NET Framework | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Active Directory | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Metadirectory Services (MMS) support | No | No | Yes | No |
| Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ASP .NET | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise UDDI services | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Network load balancing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server clusters | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Private Network (VPN) support | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Internet Authentication Services (IAS) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IPv6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Distributed File System (DFS) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Encrypting File System (EFS) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shadow Copy Restore | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Removable and Remote Storage | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fax services | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Services for Macintosh | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Print Services for Macintosh | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Terminal Services | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IntelliMirror | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remote OS Installation (RIS) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 64-bit support for Itanium-based computers | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Datacenter Program | No | No | No | Yes |
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