Will Windows Server 2003 Be The Ticket To Spurring Upgrades?

Microsoft hopes to re-energize its upgrade engine with the launch of Windows Server 2003. Microsoft's latest network operating system (NOS) promises the tools and support to succeed in encouraging Windows NT Server 4.0 users to upgrade where the enticements offered by Windows 2000 Server failed.

CRN Test Center engineers kicked the tires of Windows Server 2003 to see what the new NOS has to offer those relying on NT Server 4.0, and even those that made the move to Windows 2000 Server.

First off, Microsoft has gone to great lengths to clean up the software's management interfaces. Administrators will find it somewhat easier to navigate the intricacies of Active Directory (AD) and perform several other tasks.

Those familiar with Windows 2000 Server will appreciate its improved management tools. Windows 2000 Server provided a user interface called Configure Your Server as a launching point for many management tasks, whereas Windows Server 2003 presents administrators with a more aptly named Manage Your Server interface, which focuses on common management tasks as defined by server roles.

Roles are a newer concept when it comes to a Windows server. Administrators can now pick specific roles for a server to fulfill, such as File Server, Print Server, Application Server, Mail Server, Terminal Server and Remote Access/VPN Server, among others. Roles can be modified on the fly or combined. The biggest advantage to using roles is that administrators can bypass many of the complexities encountered during setup or modification of server duties,a definite boon to those new to Windows Server 2003. Those changes should help ease the minds of NT 4.0 administrators faced with learning a new NOS.

Another difficult area Windows Server 2003 addresses is the setup and management of DNS, which has always been a cumbersome process. Windows Server 2003's DNS setup screens greatly ease the implementation of that key component.

Other administration improvements are more evolutionary than revolutionary. For instance, administrators can now edit multiple user objects in Active Directory, which helps to enforce consistency while easing administration.

Improvements aimed at migrators include enhancements to the Active Directory migration tool. Upgraders now have the ability to import not only user names, but also passwords from the earlier NOSes, greatly reducing deployment support costs.

Another key feature is complete support for Microsoft's .Net framework, which eases application server development and deployment.

Although most NT Server 4.0 administrators have invested significant time into turning their once-crash-prone systems into finely tuned reliable servers, Windows Server 2003 still can offer improved stability, enhanced reliability and key performance improvements beyond what's offered in Windows 2000 Server.