5 Key Benefits of Windows Server 2003 (PDF Version Here)
1. Easy to Deploy, Manage, and Use
With its familiar Windows interface, Windows Server 2003 is easy to use. New streamlined wizards simplify the setup of specific server roles and routine server management tasks so that even servers without a dedicated administrator are easy to manage. In addition, administrators have several new and improved features designed to make it easier to deploy Active Directory. Large Active Directory replicas can be deployed from backup media, and upgrading from earlier server operating systems such as Microsoft Windows NT® is easier with the Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT), which copies passwords and is fully scriptable.
2. Secure Connected Infrastructure
Efficient and secure networked computing is more important than ever for a business to remain competitive. Windows Server 2003 lets organizations take advantage of existing IT investments, and extend those advantages to partners, customers, and suppliers by deploying key features like cross-forest trusts in the Microsoft Active Directory® service as well as Microsoft .NET Passport integration. Identity management in Active Directory spans the entire network, helping ensure security throughout the enterprise. It's easy to encrypt sensitive data, and software restriction policies can be used to prevent damage caused by viruses and other malicious code
3. Enterprise-Class Reliability, Availability, Scalability, and Performance
Reliability is enhanced through a range of new and improved features including memory mirroring, Hot Add Memory, and health detection in Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0. For higher availability, the Microsoft Cluster service now supports up to eight-node clusters and geographically separated nodes. Better scalability is provided with the ability to scale from a single-processor to 64-way Itanium 2 systems.
4. Lower TCO Through Consolidation and the Latest Technology
Windows Server 2003 provides many technical advances that help organizations lower total cost of ownership (TCO). The Windows Resource Manager, for example, lets administrators set resource usage (for processors and memory) on server applications and manage them though Group Policy settings. Network-attached storage helps consolidate file services.
5. NEW Group Policy Management Console simplifies Administration
The Microsoft Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is the new solution for Group Policy management that helps you manage your enterprise more cost-effectively. The GPMC is available as a separate component to Windows Server 2003.
GPMC is designed to simplify the management of Group Policy by providing a single place for managing core aspects of Group Policy. You can think of the GPMC as a one-stop resource for managing your Group Policy needs.
GPMC addresses the top Group Policy deployment requirements, including:
• A user interface (UI) that makes Group Policy much easier to use.
• Backup/restore of Group Policy objects (GPOs).
• Import/export and copy/paste of GPOs and WMI filters.
• Simplified management of Group Policy–related security.
• HTML reporting for GPO settings and Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP) data.
