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Windows Server 2003

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Windows Server 2003
Microsoft® Windows Server 2003 logo
File:Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition trial.png
Windows Server 2003 Desktop
DeveloperMicrosoft
OS familyWindows NT
Working stateCurrent
Source modelClosed source
Latest releaseService Pack 1 / March 30, 2005
Kernel typeHybrid kernel
LicenseMicrosoft EULA
Official websiteWindows Server 2003

The successor to Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 (codename Whistler Server, also known as Windows NT 5.2) is a step further in the evolution of Microsoft's server operating systems.

Windows Server 2003, released on April 25, 2003, takes Windows 2000 Server, and brings compatibility and other features from Windows XP. Unlike Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003 boots up with none of the server components turned on, to reduce the attack vectors for new install. Also Windows Server 2003 includes compatibility modes to allow older code to run with more stability. It also includes enhancements to various services such as the IIS web server. In particular it was made more compatible with Windows NT 4.0 domain-based networking. Incorporating and upgrading a Windows NT 4.0 domain to Windows 2000 was considered difficult and time consuming, and generally was considered an all or nothing upgrade particularly when dealing with Active Directory. Windows Server 2003 brought in enhanced Active Directory compatibility, and better deployment support, to ease the transition from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional.

Initially, the product was to be called "Windows .NET Server 2003," to promote the integrated enterprise framework .NET. In this improved Microsoft server, performance of ASP.NET (the successor of Active Server Pages) has improved and integration is tighter.

However, due to fears of confusing the market about what ".NET" represents and responding to criticism, Microsoft removed .NET from the name. This allowed the name .NET to exclusively apply to the .NET framework, as previously it had appeared that .NET was just a tag for a generation of Microsoft products.

Microsoft launched the new product on April 24, 2003.

Notable features

  • Most versions of Windows Server include Terminal Services support (using the Remote Desktop Protocol), enabling multiple simultaneous remote graphical logins. This paves the way for thin client computing on the windows platform, where all applications run remotely on the server. This feature was available in Windows 2000 and older NT versions but is improved in Windows 2003.
  • Internet Information Services (IIS) v6.0
  • Active Directory-like Terminal Services, significantly improved since Windows 2000
  • Increased default security over previous versions, due to the built-in firewall and most services being disabled by default.

Improvements

There are a number of improvements from Windows 2000 server, notably:

  • Improvements to Active Directory (such as the ability to delete classes from the schema)
  • Improvements to Group Policy handling and administration
  • Improved disk management including the ability to backup from shadows of files, allowing the backup of open files.
  • Improved scripting and command line tools, which are part of Microsoft's initiative to bring a complete command shell to the next version of Windows.

Service Pack 1

On March 30th 2005, Microsoft released Service Pack 1.1 for Windows Server 2003. Among the improvements are many of the same updates that were provided to Windows XP users with Service Pack 2. Features that are added with Service Pack 1 include:

  • Security Configuration Wizard: A tool that allows administrators to more easily research, and make changes to security policies.
  • Hot Patching: This feature is set to extend Windows Server 2003 ability to take DLL, Driver, and non-kernel patches without a reboot.
  • IIS 6.0 Metabase Auditing: Allowing the tracking of metabase edits.
  • Windows Firewall: Brings many of the improvements from Windows XP Service Pack 2 to Windows Server 2003, also with the Security Configuration Wizard, it allows administrators to more easily manage the incoming open ports, as it will automatically detect and select default roles.
  • Post-Setup Security Updates: A default mode that is turned on, when a Service Pack 1 server is first booted up after installation. It configures the firewall to block all incoming connections, and directs the user to install updates.
  • Data Execution Prevention (DEP): Support for the No Execute (NX) bit, helping prevent buffer overflow exploits, that are often the attack vector of Windows Server exploits.

A full list of updates is available in the Microsoft Knowledge base here.

Microsoft plans for another interim update of Windows Server 2003 sometime in the second half of 2005[1], along with a Beta of Windows Vista server, the next version of Server 2003, late this year also. [2]

Windows Server 2003 R2

A major update of Windows Server 2003, officially called R2, was released to manufacturing on December 6, 2005. It is distributed as a second CD, with the first CD being Windows Server SP1. It is a new release of the server operating system.

New features include:

  • Branch Office Server Management
  • Identity and Access Management
    • Extranet Single Sign-On and identity federation
    • Centralized administration of extranet application access
    • Automated disabling of extranet access based on Active Directory account information
    • User access logging
    • Cross-platform web Single Sign-On and password synchronization using Network Information Service (NIS)
  • Storage Management
    • File Server Resource Manager (storage utilization reporting)
    • Enhanced quota management
    • File screening limits files types allowed
    • Storage Manager for Storage Area Networks (SAN) (storage array configuration)
  • 64-bit and .NET technologies for web performance
  • Server Virtualization
    • A new licensing policy allows up to 4 virtual instances

Variants

This Microsoft server comes in several variants, each targeted towards a particular size and type of business: See Compare the Editions of Windows Server 2003 for a concise comparison.

Small Business Server

SBS includes Windows Server and additional technologies aimed at providing a small business with a complete technology solution. The technologies are integrated to enable small business with targeted solutions such as the Remote Web Workplace, and offer management benefits such as integrated setup, enhanced monitoring, a unified management console, and remote access.

The Standard Edition of SBS includes Windows SharePoint Services for collaboration, Microsoft Exchange server for e-mail, Fax Server, and the Active Directory for user management. The product also provides a basic firewall, DHCP server and NAT router using either two network cards or one network card in addition to a hardware router.

The Premium Edition of SBS includes the above plus Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004.

SBS has its own type of client access license (CAL), that is different and costs slightly more than CALs for the other editions of Windows Server 2003. However, the SBS CAL encompasses the user CALs for Windows server, Exchange server, SQL Server, and ISA Server, and hence is less expensive than buying all the other CALs individually.

SBS server has the following design considerations: [3]

  • Only one computer in a domain can be running Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server.
  • Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server must be the root of the Active Directory® forest.
  • Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server cannot trust any other domains.
  • Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server is limited to 75 users.
  • A Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server domain cannot have any child domains.
  • You can only operate Terminal Services in remote administration mode on the server running SBS 2003. (Change from SBS 2000 policy)
  • Each additional server must have a Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server CAL. You can use CALs for each user or for each device.

Web Edition

Windows Server 2003, Web Edition is mainly for building and hosting Web applications, Web pages, and XML Web Services. It is designed to be used primarily as an IIS 6.0 Web server and provides a platform for rapidly developing and deploying XML Web services and applications that use ASP.NET technology, a key part of the .NET Framework. This edition does not require Client Access Licenses and Terminal Server mode is not included on Web Edition. However, Remote Desktop for Administration is available on Windows Server 2003, Web Edition. Only 10 concurrent file-sharing connections are allowed at any moment. It is not possible to install Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange software on this version of Windows, although MSDE is fully supported. The most important limitation of Web edition is a maximum memory of 2 GB RAM. Additionally, Windows Server 2003, Web Edition cannot act as a domain controller. See Compare the Editions of Windows Server 2003

Standard Edition

Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition is aimed towards small to medium sized businesses. Flexible yet versatile, Standard Edition supports file and printer sharing, offers secure Internet connectivity, and allows centralized desktop application deployment. This edition of Windows will run on up to 4 processors with up to 4 GB RAM.

Enterprise Edition

Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition is aimed towards medium to large businesses. It is a full-function server operating system that supports up to eight processors and provides enterprise-class features such as eight-node clustering using Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) software and support for up to 32 GB of memory. Enterprise Edition also comes in a 64-bit edition for Intel.

Datacenter Edition

Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition is the flagship of the Windows Server line and designed for immense infrastructures demanding high security and reliability. Datacenter supports up to 64 processors. It also supports Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA).

Compute Cluster Edition

Windows Server 2003, Compute Cluster Edition is designed for working with the most difficult computing problems that would require high performance computing clusters. Compute Cluster edition deploys in clusters of multiple servers to form large supercomputers. Microsoft intends to release this edition in late 2005, This edition is also known to be only available for 64 bit systems, with x64 support confirmed.

Storage Server

Windows Storage Server 2003 is optimised to provide dedicated file and print sharing services. It is only available through OEMs when purchased pre-configured with network attached storage devices, which are available in a wide variety of sizes from a couple hundred gigabytes to a few terabytes. One significant difference, when compared with the other Windows Server 2003 editions that provide file and print services, is that Storage Server does not require client access licenses.

Pricing

Small Business Server: Average cost is $599, the product is purchased through a brick-and-mortar retailer, while an open new license must be purchased through a volume license reseller.

Web Edition: This operating system is priced at $397US. Client Access Licenses are not required.

Standard Edition: This operating system is priced at $999US, although licences may be purchased for less from a reseller. For more than 5 Active Directory remote-connected users (users of Exchange, for example) additional costs are incurred.

Enterprise Edition: This operating system is priced at $3,999US. For more than 25 Active Directory remote-connected users, additional costs are incurred.

Datacenter Edition: This operating system's price is unknown, since it must be obtained through an OEM.

Compute Cluster Edition: This operating system's price is unknown, since it is still to be released in late 2005.

Storage Server: This operating system's price is unknown, since it must be obtained through an OEM.

See also

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