1 Introducing
Microsoft Windows Server 2003This chapter does not cover specific exam objectives. After introducing the Microsoft
Windows Server 2003 family of products, this chapter covers some installation and con-figuration considerations with a focus on what you need to know for the 70-290 certificationexam.Why This Chapter MattersThe purpose of this book is to empower you to manage and maintain a
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment, and to prepare you effectively for the 70-290 certification examination. Although it is assumed that you have experience with Microsoft Windows technologies, the Windows Server 2003 family and Microsoft Active
Directory directory service itself may be new to you. The goal of this chapter, therefore, is to introduce you to the multiple versions and editions of Windows Server 2003, so that you can identify the key distinctions among them and deter-mine the mix of versions that will most effectively meet the needs of your organization.You will then be guided through the process of installing and configuring a Windows Server 2003 computer that functions as a domain controllerin an Active Directory domain.Lessons in this Chapter:■ Lesson 1: The Windows Server 2003 Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4■ Lesson 2: Installation and Configuration of Windows Server 2003 and Active Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8Before You BeginThis chapter will guide you through the steps required to configure a computer runningWindows Server 2003. You will be able to use that computer for the hands-on exercises throughout this training kit. The computer should have at least one disk drive that can be erased and used to install Windows Server 2003.1-31-4 Chapter 1 Introducing Microsoft Windows Server 2003Lesson 1: The Windows Server 2003 FamilyWindows Server 2003 is, of course, more secure, more reliable, more available, and easier to administer than any previous version of Windows. Let’s take a close look at the platform and how it compares to Microsoft Windows 2000. This lesson provides a brief overview of the Windows Server 2003 family, focusing on the differences among the product editions: Web Edition, Standard Edition, Enterprise Edition, and Datacenter Edition.After this lesson, you will be able to ■ Identify the key differences among the Windows Server 2003 versions Estimated lesson time: 5 minutesWindows Server 2003 EditionsWindows Server 2003 is an incremental update to the platform and technologies introducedin Windows 2000. If you are coming to Windows Server 2003 with experience from Windows 2000 servers, you will find the transition a relatively easy one. If your experience is with Windows NT 4, welcome to the new world!But don’t let the incremental nature of the updates mislead you; behind the upgrades are significant and long-awaited improvements to the security and reliability of the operating system and to the administrative toolset. In many books, this would be the place where you would get a laundry list of new features. Actually, the Windows Server 2003 list is extensive and there are features that make upgrading to Windows Server 2003 an obvious choice for almost any administrator. However, the particular features that appeal to you may be different from those that appeal to another IT professional.You may be drawn to the significant features and improvements added to Active Directory,the new tools to support popular but complex GPOs, the enhancements to enterprisesecurity, the improvements to Terminal Services, or a number of other enhanced capabilities of the new operating system. If you are considering a move to Windows Server 2003, take a good look through the Microsoft Web site for the platform, at
http: //www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003 and judge for yourself which improvements are, in your environment, truly significant.Although the list of new features is extensive, the evaluation of the operating system becomes more interesting because Windows Server 2003 is available in multiple flavors including the 32-bit, 64-bit, and embedded versions.