Professionals: Install Windows 2003 on a 20 GB partition
Amateurs: Stick with a small 2GB system partition
Installing Windows Server
Make sure you have a big enough partition
This best practice fulfils all the requirements of a good Litmus test; the experiment can be easily
measured and the answer is will be conclusive. A small installation
partition indicates trouble ahead and an amateur at work. So go for the
full 20 GB for partition holding the system files.
The problem of a small boot partition is compounded because, whilst other NTFS partitions can be extended the
partition containing Windows (WINNT) cannot easily be increased. Therefore, plan for 20 GB
for the Windows (WINNT) partition. If you choose a miserly 2GB you will soon find it
inadequate.
If you get stuck do not despair; investigate Mount Points as a method of
increasing the partition. (Try Windows 2000 Help)
Guy
Recommends: The Free Config Generator
SolarWinds' Config Generator is a free tool, which puts you in charge of
controlling changes to network routers and other SNMP devices.
Boost your network performance by activating network device features
you've already paid for.
Guy says that for newbies the biggest benefit of this free tool is that
it will provide the impetus for you to learn more about configuring the SNMP
service with its 'Traps' and 'Communities'. Try Config Generator now - it's
free!
If your computer already runs Vista or Windows 7, or even XP, and you want to multiboot, there is only one factor
to worry about, a second drive. There are other techniques such as
'Windows 8 to go' or creating VHDs but I cover those on other pages.
A second physical disk is not essential, one disk
with two partitions will do the job.
Ideally you would have a cleanly formatted 100 GB D:\ drive. While an
acceptable dual boot configuration would be a D:\ drive already containing some data, but
with 25 GB of free space. See
more about Windows 8 dual booting.
More Installation Advice
Before you build a server observer best practice. Think like a general thinks.
Plan as if installation was a military campaign; a list, as in a shopping list, is not good enough
to install a Windows 2003 server.
Step 0 (zero) before you order ANY equipment for Windows 2000 or Server 2003 check
Microsoft's HCL (hardware
compatibility list). One of the reasons for studying history is to learn from others mistakes. Those of us who remember the early
days of NT 4.0, learnt that only kit that has a rosette from the HCL, worked properly.
Those who do not heed the lessons of history are destined to repeat the
mistakes.
I also use HCL as a litmus tests when dealing with suppliers in general and salesmen
in particular. Basically if they do not know what HCL is they are amateurs.
See more server litmus tests.
If you are doubtful of your kit's ability to run Windows 2000, try winnt \checkupgradeonly or get a program called Chkupgrd.exe from Microsoft's
site.
If you are in the UK I assume you change the default Keyboard from US to
UK. Also beware the -8:00 Pacific
time. Windows 2003 domain controllers (DCs) run very slowly if their times are more
than 5 minutes out of synch.
I was called out to a case where one DC was on Pacific
time and the other on GMT. Now Windows can handle that if the clocks are
exactly 8hr different, in this case the clocks read the same masking an 8hr
difference. The result was Active Directory would not synchronise.
The solution was to adjust the Pacific Time to GMT and alter the clock 8hrs.
If you are convinced of the benefits of DHCP, and remember how long it took
to gain acceptance, then I hope that you will give RIS a chance.
Imaging software like Ghost are very good for installing workstations.
However RIS has a compelling extra feature - intellimirror. In a nutshell,
if users delete or moves an operating system file, Windows 2000's built- in intellisense
automatically repairs the machine. RIS, and intellimirror and intellisense
work together to detect
the missing file and copy it automatically from RIS image. The result less
down time and reduced support costs.
Guy's Challenge - Download
this free device backup utility
(CatTools)
Kiwi CatTools is a free program for backing up configuration settings on
hardware devices. Here is Guy's challenge. If you
download CatTools, then it will not only take care of backups, but
also it will show you something new about the hardware on you
network. I could give you a money back guarantee - but CatTools is
already free! Thus, I just make a techie to techie challenge, you
will learn more about your network if you:
Guy's Litmus test is a concept that you can apply
anywhere. Each test gives you an instant answer to the simple
question:- 'Are you dealing with a professional, or are they an amateur? Is this the real deal, or is it a turkey?' The Litmus Test concept is rather like Best Practice, but it reduces a 27
page report to one sentence.
Guy Recommends:
SolarWinds' NPM - Network Performance Monitor
SolarWinds' performance monitor is designed for detecting network outages,
making it easy to see what's working, and what needs your attention.
This utility guides you through creating network maps; it also helps
identifying whether the
root cause is faulty equipment, or resource overload. Give NPM a try.
If you get stuck do not despair; investigate Mount Points as a method of
increasing the partition. (Try Windows 2000 Help)
