 | Windows server 2003 web edition. - A platform
for rapidly developing and deploying web services and
applications based on IIS 6.0. No Active Directory awareness. (max. 2 processors, recomm. 256 MB ram, min. 128 MB ram,, max. 2
GB RAM, recomm. 550 Mhz, min. 133 Mhz. , 1.5 GB disk) Cannot be a domain
controller, maximum of 10 SMB connections. |
| Window server 2003 standard edition. Successor to
Windows 2000 server. (max. 4 processors, recomm. 256 MB ram, min. 128 MB ram,
max. 4 GB ram, recomm. 550 Mhz, min. 133 Mhz. , 1.5 GB disk) No clustering or
Itanium support. |
| Windows server 2003 enterprise edition. Successor to Windows
2000 advanced server. (max. 8 processors, recomm. 256 MB ram, min. 128 MB ram,
max. 32/512 GB ram, recomm. 733 Mhz, min. 133 Mhz. , 1.5 GB disk) Up to 8 node
clustering. |
| Windows server 2003 datacenter edition. Successor to Windows
2000 datacenter server. (max. 32/64 processors, recomm. 1 GB ram, min. 512
MB ram, max. 64/512 GB ram, recomm. 733 Mhz, min. 400 Mhz. , 1.5 GB disk) Up
to 8 node clustering, minimum of 8 processors. Only available via OEM. |
| Better performance. E.g fast file-, print- and webserving, better
hyperthreading support etc. |
| Increased stability. (memory mirroring, hot add memory, IIS health
detection) |
| Better configuration and management. (e.g. Windows Update, Auto Update,
Software Update Services, Windows System Resource Management by setting max. cpu/memory usage
per application (enterprise- and data center only), software compatibility
mode, side-by-side DLL usage) |
| Less reboots. (e.g. when applying hotfixes) |
| More tools and improved WMI interface. |
| Group policy management console
to manage group policies from one snap-in,
backup-, restore, import and export group policies, reporting and scripting.
160 new policies. Overview gives Resultant Set of Policies. (RSoP) |
| Reliability service to track problems.
|
| Advanced server recovery. (Volume shadow copy services and Automated
System Recovery) |
| Improved security. (Trustworthy computing initiative, less services
installed and/or activated by default like IIS, no blank password allowed for
networkconnectivity, role based installation, improved auditing) |
| Secure VPN gateway. |
| More security templates. |
| Software restriction policies.
|
| Improved domain controller upgrade wizard. Active Directory data can be
load from removable media. |
| Role based security management via Authorization manager. |
| Non-transitive one- or two-way trusts between forests. |
| Microsoft .NET passport integration. |
| Improved domain renaming functionality. |
| Forest restructuring. |
| Forest trusts. |
| Schema entries can be deleted. |
| Cached universal group membership by domain controllers. |
| No full GC replication when an replicated attribute is added or removed.
|
| AD Object Picker improvements to search and select AD objects. Also
drag-and-drop functionality. |
| Concurrent LDAP binds. |
| Improved intersite replication topology generation. (ISTG) |
| No compression required when synchronizing AD between sites. |
| DNS in application partition. |
| No group size limit of 5000. |
| AD replication to a maximum of 5000 servers. |
| Active Directory in Application mode. |
| inetOrgPerson class compatible. |
| Integration with Microsoft Passport service. |
| Saved queries. |
| Improved replication. (linked value replication for users instead of
replicating the whole group) |
| Application directory partitions. (replication scope for Active Directory
information, e.g. DNS information)
|
| Better migration tools from NT 4.0 environment e.g. ADMT 2.0 (password
migration, scripting).
|
| Virtual disk service. (VDS) |
| Volume shadow copy service. (VSS) |
| Shadow copy restore (previous version) technology. |
| Improved SAN support and Virtual disk services. |
| Improved chkdsk. |
| Defragmentation utility faster, supports scripting, MFT and any cluster
size. |
| Encrypted offline folders. |
| Offline files can be created from DFS share. |
| DFS SiteCosting. Multiple DFS roots on one Windows 2003 server. |
| Improved disk space, network bandwidth management and diagnostic tools for
FRS.
|
|
Windows rights management protection services |
| IIS 6.0. (Not installed by default, lock down installation, XML based
metabase) |
| Terminal server improvements. (RDP 5.2, improved client, improved session
management (session directory), farms, command-line sessions, file redirections, high-color
support, 1200*1600 resolution) |
| 802.1x wireless support. |
| Supports access to encrypted files by multiple users. |
| Application verifier tool. (restart not working apps) |
| Session initiation protocol. (messenger, real-time communication) |
| Headless server.
|
| Shutdown event tracker. |
| Improved Windows Media Services. (Corona) |
| Application center functionality (.NET framework 1.1, SOAP 1.2, COM 1.5,
MSQM 3.0) |
| 4 node clustering for enterprise server, 8 for datacenter server. |
| Cluster support over SAN. |
| UDDI. |
| Luna interface. (by default turn off) |
| Windows product activation. |
| RIS option to install .NET servers. (Was already available in W2K SP2) |
| Anti-virus API. |
|
Automated deployment services. |
| Performance. It shows that Windows XP performance is slower than
Windows 2000 but faster than Windows 95/98/ME. As Office XP is also slower
than Office 2000, fast hardware is recommended when using a Windows XP/Office
XP solution. For more info see whitepaper
Windows XP performance and
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/tc/xml/01/10/29/011029tcwinxp.xml. Some
other figures measured by Etesting Labs inc. on a single CPU 128 MB system :
General 36% faster than Windows 98SE
Startup 34% faster than Windows 98SE, 27% faster than Windows 2000
Startup from standby 19% faster than Windows ME, 21% faster than Windows 2000
Startup from hibernation 13% faster than Windows ME, 21% faster than Windows
2000
Applications run 25% faster than on Windows 98SE
Startup performance is improved by using the prefetcher, which loads data into
memory before it is needed by the processor.
IP
stack improvement should provide faster (inter)network traffic. Windows XP
Professional does support two processors.
Better hyperthreading support.
|
| Application support. Windows XP is based on Windows 2000
technology. (NT) This offers better stability but less compatibility with
older applications that did run on Windows 95/98/ME. Windows XP contains
compatibility mode that supports more older applications than Windows 2000
does, but applications that directly access the hardware will still not work.
The application compatibility toolkit (act20.exe) on the XP cd-rom offers
extra support. Version 2.6 of the applicatoin compatibility toolkit is
available for
download.
Windows XP still uses a 4-year old version of JAVA, an upload can be
downloaded. Internet Explorer 6, which is installed by default on Windows XP,
will support less Netscape plug-in’s than Internet Explorer 5.5 did. For more
info see
Windows XP application compatibility technologies and
Deploying Windows XP: Application compatibility. |
| Pricing
 | Windows 2000 Professional UK Fl. 1069.- |
| Windows 2000 Professional UK upgrade from NT4.0 workstation Fl. 425,- |
| Windows 2000 Professional UK upgrade from Windows 95/98 Fl. 725,-
|
| Windows XP Professional UK Fl. 899,- |
| Windows XP Professional UK upgrade Fl. 599,- |
|
| User interface. The Luna interface should increase the usability of
the user-interface but will first take some time of the users to get used to
it. (An option to use the old interface is available) In the start-menu the
recently used programs are available first. Within Explorer, a task window
appears when a file or folder is selected to provide the user all available
options for the file(s). Another main benefit is that all items of the same
application (e.g Internet Explorer windows) are grouped together in the
taskbar. |
| Remote desktop/remote assistance. Via the RDP protocol users or
administrators can remotely connect the a machine. (Windows XP Professional
only) For more info see
whitepaper
Administering remote assistance. The msrdpcli.exe file on the Windows XP
cd-rom offers pre-Windows XP clients to use remote desktop. |
| Windows Messenger. The Windows Messenger in XP does not only offer
chat options. Also collaborating options like audio-calls, video-conferencing,
whiteboard- and file sharing are possible as this already was with Microsoft
NetMeeting. Keep in mind that Windows XP’s Messenger integrates with Microsoft
Passport services. Using such an account is only possible when accepting the
Microsoft agreement. Via this agreement Microsoft has the ability to send all
kind of (third-party) information (spam!) to the mail account. It also can
change the agreement without notice. (paid service ?) See
Windows messenger: New waves of innovation. |
| Laptop issues. There are various new features for laptop users.
ClearType increases the readability of text on a laptop screen, network
profiles give the ability to select different network settings based on the
location. Windows XP also supports the concurrent usage of two monitors on a
laptop. See whitepaper
Mobile computing in Windows XP. |
| Security. Windows XP offers a personal firewall (ICF) to secure
internet connections. Main benefit compared to Windows 95/98/ME is that
Windows XP does support NTFS, Kerberos, VPN’s with IPSec etc. Like Windows
2000, it also supports encrypted file system (EFS). The benefit of the Windows XP
version is that it allows multiple users to open an encrypted file, this in
contradiction to Windows 2000. The latest (security) updates for the operating
system can be received automatically via Windows Update.
A security risk of Windows XP is the support of
raw sockets that can be used for denial-of-services attacks. See whitepaper
What's new in security for Windows XP Professional and Windows XP home edition. |
| Hardware support. Windows XP does support all new hardware but the
current machine should at least be a 233-MHZ machine with 64 MB of memory and
1.5 GB free disk space. New hardware like wireless networking (802.1x),
firewire, DVD-ram and ata 100 disks are automatically supported. See whitepaper
Windows XP: What's new in device and hardware support. |
| Fast user switching. Fast user switching gives the ability for
multiple people to work on one machine and switch to their environment without
having to close the applications. Not available when in a domain. |
| Extended support. Support on Windows 2000 will probably end in
2005, end of support for Windows XP not specified yet. |
| Other user related issues. Windows XP provides Internet Explorer
6.0, Windows Media player 8.0 and a movie editor. It also contains integrated
cd-burning support. |
| Other administrator related issues.
| Windows Product Activation required for most licenses. |
| Windows update can automatically install patches/updates without user
intervention. This update service will also be available for the intranet,
http://www.microsoft.com/TechNet/ittasks/support/corpwu.asp. |
| Upgrade from 95/98 advised as Microsoft support will stop. |
| No upgrade from Windows 3.x and Windows 95 possible. |
| User State Migration Tool can be used to retain user’s setting when
installing Windows XP. |
| Shares will be disabled after an upgrade. (security issue) |
| Do not use Windows XP home in business environment. It does, for
example, not support logons to a domain. |
| More RIS and Sysprep options available. |
| More policy options available (e.g. DNS settings) |
| Redundant set of policies overview helps implementing group policies.
|
| Windows XP supports 24 different languages on an client. (See
Multilingual features in Windows XP Professional) |
| Extended help function available connected to the Microsoft
knowledgebase. |
| New network diagnostics features. |
| Network location awareness available for wireless networks. |
|
| XP home cannot logon to domain. |
| XP home does not support group policies. |
| XP home does not support roaming profiles. |
| XP home does not support file-level access control. |
| XP home does not support EFS. |
| XP home does not support IntelliMirror functions. (e.g. Offline files, RIS) |
| XP home does not support SysPrep. |
| Security groups are not available in XP home. Everybody is administrator. |
| XP home cannot logon to a domain. |
| No hidden shares in XP home. |
| Default file system XP home is FAT32, XP Professional is NTFS. |
| XP Professional supports 2 processors. |
| XP home does not have the following networking features :
| XP home max. 5 networking connections, XP Prof. max. 10 connections. |
| IPSec |
| VPN support |
| SNMP |
| Simple TCP/IP services |
| SAP agent |
| Client software for NetWare |
| Network monitor |
| Multiple roaming feature |
|
| Remote desktop only available on XP Professional. (Remote assistance on
both versions) |
| Automated System Recovery (ASR) is only available on XP Professional.
Backup program is not install (by default) on Windows XP home. |
| Dynamic disk support is only available on XP Professional. |
| IIS 5.1 is available is only available on XP Professional. |
| XP home does not support multiple language in a single installation. |
| Fax option not supported on XP home by default. |
| Upgrade path to XP home from Windows 98 and ME. Upgrade path to XP
Professional from Windows 98, ME, NT4.0, W2K Prof. and XP home. |
| XP home does not have a 64-bit version. |
| XP Professional supports up to 9 monitors, XP home only one. |
| Pricing, XP Prof. approx. $299,- XP Home approx. $199,- (upgrades approx.
$199,- and $ 99,-) |