Part 1 - Installing Windows Server 2003 - Member Server
The purpose of this page is to help you with the practicalities of a physical
installation of Windows Server 2003. In fact this phase is easy, if you
have ever installed a Microsoft product before then the procedure will be
familiar.
Installing Microsoft software
-
Guy's degree of difficulty
Hardest Install= 10
9 Exchange 2003
7 SQL 2000
6 NT 4.0
4 Windows 2000
3 Windows Server 2003
2 Windows Server 2008
2 XP
1 Vista
Easiest Install = 0
Quick, slow, quick quick slow, that is how the install seemed. The
menus were very like XP with excellent PnP and comprehensive driver support.
All the questions that the wizard asked were straightforward and easy to
answer.
I particularly liked the timer screen telling me how long to go. My
criticism is there could be a second clock to tell me how long until the next
user intervention. What happened to me was I left with 34 minutes
remaining only to return half an hour later with a screen asking me to choose a
time zone, and still 29 minutes to go.
As I am nearly always online, the product activation was easy, slick and
asked for no personal information.
For many years my
cry has been: 'You never have a big enough C:\ drive', this time I
went for 10GB. (After 3 days I had used 6.5GB)
Here is the range of Windows 2003 products that are available.
Standard Server - Classic file and
print server could be your Domain Controller
Enterprise Server - Application
server support for clustering
Datacenter Server - More of
everything! Processors, memory and clustering
Web Server - For ISP's only available
through specialist retailers
64 Bit version - one day we will all
be choosing this instead of the 32 Bit version
(XP Professional - Desktop
replacement for Window 2000, Window 98, NT 4.0 Workstation)
When you upgrade, you must upgrade like for like; Enterprise W2K to Enterprise
W2K3 works. You cannot mix and match, unfortunately this is not a chance
to upgrade Standard to Enterprise server.
Note: The Datacenter version is only available from selected manufacturers; it
comes as a package the processors, RAM, whole machine with Windows Server 2003
operating system. You cannot buy Datacenter on CD. Rumour has it
that less than 100 Datacenters have been sold world wide.
More Information. As an MCT trainer, I can thoroughly endorse TrainSignal because they
deliver practical hands on training. In particular, I like the way that TrainSignal cover all learning methods, instructor lead, video and of course text material. You can either take one module,
for example File Server or go for a combination of modules.
See more about Windows 2003 training here
Post installation
considerations
Check the system logs in the event viewer. Then plan the role for your
member server.
A long time ago I started with Windows v 2.0 and each Microsoft product since
has its own personality, what struck me first with Windows Server 2003 was that
it wanted me to tune it for a particular role: File and Print, Application
or Domain Controller. This was the first time that I have seen this up front
tuning and I liked it.
Is
Your Server Running Slowly? Check with SolarWinds ipMonitor
The extra features you get in your eBook
include: new pages with more examples, detailed checklists, and
recommendations for each stage. Go for Guy's migration eBook
- and get a printable version with copy enabled and
no expiry date.
For many years my
cry has been: 'You never have a big enough C:\ drive', this time I
went for 10GB. (After 3 days I had used 6.5GB)
The extra features you get in your eBook
include: new pages with more examples, detailed checklists, and
recommendations for each stage. Go for Guy's migration eBook
- and get a printable version with copy enabled and
no expiry date. 
