Lesson 3: Windows 2000 Server

Windows 2000 Server builds on the strengths of Windows NT Server 4.0 by providing a faster, more reliable platform that is easier to manage and lowers your total cost of ownership (TCO) by integrating easily with existing systems.

Windows 2000 Server supports new systems that dramatically increase system performance, and provides the following benefits: enhanced SMP support, simplified management, enhanced file management and security, improved networking and communications, and improved printing support.

Previous versions of Windows NT required an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Hardware Access Layer (HAL) if more than two processors were to be used on a computer. If you installed an OEM HAL to increase the supported number of processors in a computer, and then upgrade to Windows 2000, Windows 2000 provides the same level of support. Therefore, upgrading from Windows NT 4.0 Server to Windows 2000 Server or from Windows NT 4.0 Enterprise Edition to Windows 2000 Advanced Server or Windows 2000 Datacenter Server exceeds SMP support in fresh installs. See Table 1.2.

Table 1.2 The Windows 2000 Platform

Operating System	Clean Installation	Upgrade
Windows 2000 Professional	2 processors	2 Processors
Windows 2000 Server 2 processors	4 Processors
Windows 2000 Advanced Server	4 Processors	8 Processors
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server	16 Processors	32 Processors

If you need to reinstall Windows 2000 on a computer and the number of processors in the computer exceeds the number supported by a clean installation of Windows 2000, you must install the OEM version of Windows NT 4.x first, and then upgrade to Windows 2000.

Windows 2000 Server helps administrators manage their networks more easily from a central location, dramatically decreasing the TCO. It offers several features and enhancements that provide the foundation for simplifying management of your entire network.

Figure 1.2 lists the four main ways that Windows 2000 Server simplifies management of your network.

Figure 1.2 Four ways Windows 2000 Server simplifies management

Directory services based on Active Directory technology are included in Windows 2000 Server. They extend the features of previous Windows-based directory services and are designed to work well in any size installation, from a single server with hundreds of objects to thousands of servers with millions of objects.

Active Directory directory services provide a single, consistent, open set of interfaces for performing common administrative tasks, such as adding new users or managing printers. Active Directory directory services also make it easier for users to locate and access resources anywhere on the network.

Windows 2000 Server contains all of the same configuration management capabilities as Windows 2000 Professional. Additional configuration management capabilities in Windows 2000 Server include the following:

• Microsoft Management Console (MMC). Provides a common console for monitoring network functions and accessing administrative tools. The MMC is customizable, allowing administrators to create consoles that include only the administrative tools that they need.
• Group Policy. Gives administrators more control over which users have access to specific workstations, data, and applications, allowing administrators to define and control the state of computers and users in an organization.
• Windows Scripting Host. Allows administrators and users to save time by automating many actions, such as connecting to or disconnecting from a network server, creating multiple user accounts, or creating a large number of groups. Scripts can be run directly on the desktop or from the command prompt.

Windows 2000 Server contains several tools that help you easily and more cost effectively install, configure, and administer your Windows 2000 network. Network and system management features in Windows 2000 Server include the following:

• Remote Installation Services (RIS). Allows administrators to install Windows 2000 Professional on client computers throughout a network from a central location. RIS can dramatically decrease the cost of deploying new operating systems by reducing the amount of time an administrator spends moving from one client location to another.
• Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). Improves administrative control by allowing administrators to correlate data and events from multiple sources and vendors on a local or enterprise basis.
• Dynamic Updates in DNS or DNS UPDATE. Reduces network administration costs by reducing the need for manual editing and replication of the Domain Name System (DNS) database each time that a change occurs in a DNS client's configuration.

• Remote Storage. Monitors the amount of available space on a local hard disk. When the free space on the primary hard disk drops below the necessary level, Remote Storage automatically removes local data that has been copied to remote storage, providing the required free disk space.

Windows 2000 Server is the first platform to provide an integrated set of services for building and deploying scalable, reliable applications. Application services in Windows 2000 Server include the following:

• Indexing Service. Automatically builds an index of your Web server that can be easily searched from any Web browser.
• Terminal Services. Allows clients to access Windows-based applications running entirely on the server and supports multiple client sessions on the server. The server manages all computing resources for each client that is connected to the server and provides all users who are logged on with their own environment. Users can log on to multiple-terminal servers or a single-terminal server multiple times.

Windows 2000 Server file management features improve resource availability and make it easier to manage your network storage requirements. Security features in Windows 2000 Server provide the highest levels of data protection and simplify administrative tasks.

Windows 2000 Server provides significant enhancements to file management capabilities, enabling you to implement a more secure and manageable network. Enhancements to file management in Windows 2000 Server include the following:

• Distributed file system (Dfs). Simplifies the process of creating a single directory tree that includes multiple file servers and file shares in a group, division, or enterprise. This structure makes it easier for users to find and manage data on a network.
• Disk quotas. Provides more precise control of network-based storage. You can use disk quotas to monitor and limit disk space use, increasing bandwidth efficiency.

Windows 2000 Server contains all of the same security features as Windows 2000 Professional, plus the following features:

• Active Directory directory services security. Allows administrators to create group accounts to more efficiently manage system security by allowing access to objects in Active Directory directory services based on group membership.
• Security Templates. Organizes all existing security attributes into one place, making it easier to administer security on a local computer.
• Security Configuration and Analysis. Allows you to import one or more saved configurations to a security database. Importing configurations builds a computer-specific security database that stores a composite configuration.

Windows 2000 Server includes technologies that provide greater bandwidth control, secure network access from offsite locations, and support a new generation of communications solutions. Networking and communications features in Windows 2000 Server include the following:

• MultiProtocol Routing. Enables routing over multiple protocols, such as IP, Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX), and AppleTalk on a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). It also provides support for Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) and Routing Information Protocol version 2 (RIP 2).
• Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) support. Allows a network to simultaneously transport a wide variety of network traffic, including voice, data, images, and video.
• Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS). Provides authentication and accounting services for distributed dial-up networking. Windows 2000 can act as a RADIUS client, a RADIUS server, or both.

Windows 2000 Server makes printing easier and more flexible than ever before. Active Directory directory services integration with Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server make all shared printers in your domain available as objects in Active Directory directory services.

Publishing printers in Active Directory directory services allows users to quickly locate the most convenient printing resources through an improved user interface. Locating printers in a timely manner can dramatically improve productivity, particularly for users who travel or change offices frequently.

Windows 2000 Server contains all of the same printing support features as Windows 2000 Professional and also provides support for more than 2,500 different printers. This makes it easier for organizations to use the printing services in Windows 2000 Server with existing printers, new printers, and shared printer pools.

Windows 2000 Server builds on the strengths of Windows NT Server 4.0 but provides a faster, more reliable platform that is easier to manage and lowers your total cost of ownership. Active Directory directory services provide a single, consistent, open set of interfaces for performing common administrative tasks, and make it easier to locate and access resources anywhere on the network. The Active Directory directory services are designed to work well in any size installation, from a single server with hundreds of objects to thousands of servers with millions of objects.

Windows 2000 Server contains all of the same configuration management capabilities as Windows 2000 Professional and includes additional configuration management capabilities such as the MMC, which provides a common console for monitoring network functions and accessing administrative tools, and Group Policy, which allows administrators to control which users have access to specific workstations, data, and applications.

Windows 2000 Server has a number of features that help you easily and more cost effectively install, configure, and administer your Windows 2000 network. These features include RIS, which allows administrators to install Windows 2000 Professional on client computers throughout a network from a central location; DNS dynamic updates, which lower network administration costs by reducing the need for manual editing and replication of the DNS database; and Remote Storage, which monitors the available space on a local hard disk, and when the free space on the primary hard disk drops below the necessary level, automatically removes local data that has been copied to remote storage.

Windows 2000 Server is the first platform to provide an integrated set of services for building and deploying scalable, reliable applications. Application services in Windows 2000 Server include the Windows Script Host, which allows administrators and users to save time by automating many actions, such as connecting or disconnecting from a network server; Indexing Service, which automatically builds an index of your Web server that can be easily searched from any Web browser; and Terminal Services, which allows clients to access Windows-based applications running entirely on the server and supports multiple client sessions on the server.

Windows 2000 Server contains all of the file management capabilities and security features of Windows 2000 Professional. In addition, Windows 2000 Server enhancements to file management capabilities include Dfs, which makes it easier to create a single directory tree that includes multiple file servers and file shares and to find and manage data on a network, and disk quotas, which allows you to monitor and limit disk space use. Additional security features include Active Directory directory services security, which allows administrators to create group accounts and allow access to objects in Active Directory directory services based on group membership, and Security Templates, which organize all existing security attributes into one place.

Windows 2000 Server includes technologies that provide greater bandwidth control, secure network access from off-site locations, and support a new generation of communications solutions. Networking and communications features in Windows 2000 Server include MultiProtocol Routing, support for OSPF, RIP 2, and ATM.

Windows 2000 Server contains all of the same printing support features as Windows 2000 Professional and provides support for more than 2,500 different printers. Active Directory directory services integration with Windows 2000 Server makes all shared printers in your domain available as objects in Active Directory directory services. Publishing printers in Active Directory directory services allows users to quickly locate the most convenient printing resources through an improved user interface. Locating printers in a timely manner can dramatically improve productivity, particularly for users who travel or change offices frequently.