Using Windows Server 2003

Introduction to Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition RC2 (3718) PART 1

By: Jason Zandri

The idea behind this article is to give an overview of the Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition installation procedure as it is currently laid out under the current build, which is RC2 3718.main.021114-1947. This will eventually lead to the final (GOLD) release to market (RTM) copy of the operating system which is currently scheduled for worldwide launch in April of 2003.

The information contained within this article is based solely on my experience with the RC2 product, and the information given, such as minimum system requirements and installation procedures, are current at the time of writing, (February 4, 2003). As with all products in development, all of the following is subject to change.

Please assume that when I mention "Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition" within this article, I am speaking specifically of "Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition RC2 3718.main.021114-1947" unless otherwise mentioned.

One of the things you may notice is that the name I am using throughout the article is different than what will show up in many of the screen shots. This is because the name of Windows .NET Server 2003 has been changed recently to Windows Server 2003.

Windows Server 2003 Family Version Overview

• Windows Server 2003 Web Server Edition is designed specifically for low end and entry level Web hosting environments, providing a specific platform for deploying Web services and applications.
• Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition is designed with the day to day needs of the average business in mind and is the progressive replacement for the Windows NT4 Server / Windows 2000 Server line of server operating systems.
• Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition is designed specifically for the needs of larger customers, as their needs surpass the functional levels of Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition. Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition is the progressive replacement for the Windows NT4 Server Enterprise Edition / Windows 2000 Advanced Server line of server operating systems.
• Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition is designed specifically for high-end hardware deployments for use on business-critical and mission-critical applications where the highest levels of scalability and availability are required. Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition is the progressive replacement for the Windows 2000 Datacenter Server line of operating systems.

Hardware Requirements for Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition.

The minimum system requirements for Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition is as follows;

The minimum supported processor speed is 133 MHz.

The minimum recommended processor speed is 550 MHz

Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition supports a maximum of four CPUs per server.

The minimum amount of RAM supported is 128MB

The minimum amount of RAM recommended is 256MB

The maximum amount of RAM supported by Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition is 4GB.

The minimum amount of space required for installation is approximately 1.5GB. Additional space may be required under the following circumstances;

• When a FAT16 partition is in use, it requires 100 MB to 200 MB more free disk space than other supported file systems because of cluster sizes. NTFS is the recommended file system for any Server deployment.
• If you are installing Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition from a network share, you will need approximately 100 MB to 200 MB more space than if you ran the Setup from the CD-ROM because setup needs to use that space for TEMP files that are associated with the installation. Also, the drive will need to have a formatted partition before the installation process starts so those files can be initially copied. If the partition does not exist beforehand, the over the network installation will fail.
• The amount of disk space required for the swapfile will affect the size of the initial partition as it is directionally proportional to the amount of physical memory installed in the system. Larger amounts of RAM installed require a larger swapfile and thus, the minimum hard drive free space requirements would need to increase.

VGA or higher-resolution monitor is required and an SVGA 800x600 or higher is recommended.

Keyboard and mouse (or other pointing device) are also on the minimum requirements list.

The optional hardware list includes items such as CD-ROMs or DVD drives, which are only required if a local installation is to be performed or it is otherwise deemed necessary. The optional hardware list also includes a listing for network adapters and related cables from the Hardware Compatibility List. (Personally, I don't see how you can have a server product and list a network connectivity peripheral as an optional requirement, but that is what is printed.)

Read more from Jason Zandri here