Windows .NET Server 2003

[LooeyUK]

Anyone running this? Whats it like?

Screenshots? etc...

I have got sent a 360day limit trial disc and am thinking of installing it as im fed up with XP.

[Tricky]

If you're running XP don't expect anything better from W2K3. W2K3 is a server product as the name suggests so it all depends what you're looking for. If your XP machine is acting as a webserver or something then w2k3 will be more reliable and robust otherwise stay clear. I've played around with the Enterprise version and adminstration is a piece of cake when it is all running fine ... when it goes off the beaten track when you've tweaked Active Directory a little too much it takes some sorting.

You ain't gonna run many games on it though and the question about why you're rebooting is annoying after a while!

My recommendation - Download VMware trail and install it as a virtual machine (hope you've got 512mb memory for both OS's) and have a play

[Dupre]

Win2003 has compatibility issues, with being a server OS, you cant run things like Norton AV, you need special corporate releases and even then wont be 2003 complient yet :( I have a copy of Longhorn, if you're looking to experiment with OS's and dont have the know-how or effort to try linux, try Windows Longhorn (Alphan 4015 lastest release)

[Stuart]

As Tricky says, unless you need one of the features offered by 2K3 server, you are better off with XP..

[Tricky]

Please note that any versions of longhorn available on the net are very dodgy! (Microsoft have only released these developers of drivers as yet) - AFAIK most installs have a 14 day activation period until the nag screen really starts nagging. I also believe that i will only support DirectX6 not anything else - this really is cutting edge ropey software but as its not due for release until 2005 then everything could change.

There is also a lot of talk about Longhorn "Calling home"?

[Dupre]

2006, and you're right, its a bit... underdeveloped in places, but the core looks better than XP

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Dupre
2006, and you're right, its a bit... underdeveloped in places, but the core looks better than XP

I think it looks better due to the themes (Microsoft are apparently going to sell these I'm informed) 1st release is June 2005 with production release Q3/Q4 same year, but M$ new tactics of only releasing good code!!! will probably push this to '06

[Lord Nikon]

Come on... MS really need to re evaluate the way they compile their OS kernels..

Windows NT4 was compiled and optimised for the 386 CPU, 2000 was a modification to the NT Kernel which was for 486 with Co Processor and above. XP is still capable of running on a 486. When will MS compile the kernel for specific CPUs? and I don't just mean a generic install (XP) and an Itanium Install (XP64)

XP was built on 2000 which was built on NT. It all dates back to 386 machines...

[Tricky]

That's fine but why alienate your markets - if people are still running older kit and they'll buy newer operating systems then so be it...

2000 was (i believe) a complete rewrite from scratch ditching most of the NT4 stuff (NTFS5 for example), XP was built on 2000 and 2003 (.NET) built on 50% code reuse. Longhorn is new kernel, but again with support for legacy CPU

[Stuart W]

I've been running 2003 for a while now.... it's more secure, but only because soooooo much stuff is dissabled by default!

I can't see any benefit in instaling it unles you have a server spare and fancy looking at M$'s latest offering. I use my .net server on my LAN as a basic file and print server, but I have been toying with streaming media and stuff.

Oh, as for the 386/486/penti versions.... not a chance!
There are still LOADS of companies running 486 and Pentium Pro servers, who do actualy upgrade to 200 Adv Server! It may take an age to start up, but how often do you restart a server???

FYI, I'm running 2003 .net server on a P200MMX with 128MB EDO RAM!

[MadGamer]

Will it be released as a server or as an OS like XP Home?

[Tricky]

.NET or 2003 will be Server only
You can get the .NET framework for installation on XP
Longhorn will be a home/client OS to replace XP

Hope this helps?

[keithwalton]

2003 has been released in 3 versions all servers, with a basic one, enterprise server and web server.

I use 2003 as my lan server on a dell inspiron 8100 (933 P3-M with 256mb of pc133 sodimm's).

Its a nice server os, and is reliable for a m$ thing but does use a fair amount of ram with typical load of 230meg + physical.
and thats with, nat, ftp, e-mail and irc client.

As for running new software on old servers load time isnt the only thing to worry about, its bloat of which 2003 has lots of it.

K

[MadGamer]

Just wanted to know cos everyone is talking about it so much. im not going to get it don't worry