At A Glance
Publisher
Microsoft
Web
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb512919.aspx
Status
Available, Supported
Introduced
23-Apr-2003
Latest
Windows Server 2003 R2
Design
GUI, Multitasking
Type
Server
Details
Summary
Windows Server 2003 is the successor to Windows 2000 Server. For a considerable time, this was also referred to as the .net server, but that name has now been dropped. Improvements include improved manageability, supports newest features of Exchange 2003 and Office 2003, and improved performance. Default installation is secure by disabling the IIS Web Server, which was enabled during installation in prior server releases.
News
14-Nov-2006 SP2 Release Candidate Available
6-Dec-2005 Release 2 (R2) available
29-Mar-2005 SP1 released
5-Jul-2004 Microsoft confirms plans for HPC edition of Windows Server 2003 (High-Performance-Computing), due in the second-half of 2005. (eWeek)
24-Apr-2003 Windows Server 2003 was released and is now available.
6-Dec-2005 Release 2 (R2) available
29-Mar-2005 SP1 released
5-Jul-2004 Microsoft confirms plans for HPC edition of Windows Server 2003 (High-Performance-Computing), due in the second-half of 2005. (eWeek)
24-Apr-2003 Windows Server 2003 was released and is now available.
Requirements
Product
Windows 2003 Server, Standard Edition
Processor
Pentium 133Mhz, 550+ MHz recommended, up to 4 CPUs
RAM
128 MB, 256 MB recommended
Drive space
1.5 GB
Drives
Runs from hard disk
Video
VGA or better
File systems
FAT, FAT32, NTFS
Compatibility
Windows 16-bit programs (Windows 3.x type programs)
Windows 32-bit programs
DOS programs in a “DOS box” while Windows is running (not all programs run)
Windows 32-bit programs
DOS programs in a “DOS box” while Windows is running (not all programs run)
Interface
Windows 2003 server provides a GUI interface. It does supports a text-based DOS window while Windows is running.
Installation
Can be installed in its own primary partition on the first drive. When installing to any other partition( (logical or primary) on any drive, a small portion must be installed in a bootable FAT or FAT32 primary partition on the first drive.
Variants
Standard Edition
Enterprise Edition
Datacenter Edition
Web Edition
Both 32 and 64-bit versions available
Home Server
Enterprise Edition
Datacenter Edition
Web Edition
Both 32 and 64-bit versions available
Home Server
Versions
Windows release timeline
2-Dec-2002 RC2
24-Apr-2003 First Release
29-Mar-2005 SP1
6-Dec-2005 R2
14-Nov-2006 SP2 Release Candidate
2-Dec-2002 RC2
24-Apr-2003 First Release
29-Mar-2005 SP1
6-Dec-2005 R2
14-Nov-2006 SP2 Release Candidate
Downloads
Download page
SP2 update Available
SP2 update Available
Links
Microsoft
Windows Server 2003 Home page
Developers
Sysinternals Advanced System Utilities
Microsoft Technet resources for IT
Windows Server 2003 Home page
Developers
Sysinternals Advanced System Utilities
Microsoft Technet resources for IT
Books
Books on Windows 2003 Server
Publisher
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052 USA
Phone 1-206-635-7000 (support)
Web www.microsoft.com
Support
Yes
Alternatives
Windows 2008 Server, FreeBSD, Linux, Solaris
Secrets
{Secrets}
Pricing
Windows Server 2003, Web-server-only Edition, $399
Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (without client licenses), $999
Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (with 10 client licenses), $1,199
Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (without client licenses), $2,999
Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (with 25 client licenses), $3,999
Client Access License 5-pack – $199
Client Access License 20-pack – $799
Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (without client licenses), $999
Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (with 10 client licenses), $1,199
Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (without client licenses), $2,999
Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (with 25 client licenses), $3,999
Client Access License 5-pack – $199
Client Access License 20-pack – $799
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