* When should you upgrade?
Did you go to a Windows Server 2003 launch event? Steve Ballmer even put on a suit and tie to show you how seriously Redmond takes the business market. No “monkey boy dance” this time, like he did for the launch of Windows XP – but that was a glitz and glamour launch. This one looked like annual report day in the boardroom.
Without the glitz and with all the downplayed expectations of the high-priced analysts, I’m afraid that the take up of Win 2K3 will proceed even more slowly than it did for the move to Windows 2000. Heck, there are still a hefty number of sites still running Windows NT 4 as their server operating system. There are very few valid reasons to run NT 4 any longer. There are many reasons – most having to do with security – to upgrade as quickly as possible.
NT 4 has security vulnerabilities that have not – and will not – be fixed.
The rule of thumb on upgrading that I’ve normally used is that if an application you rely on doesn’t run on the newer platform then you should delay upgrading. The application is the important thing; the operating system simply supports it. But security issues change that equation. If you still run apps that require NT 4 then you need to move as quickly as possible to replace those applications with ones that run on a more secure platform.
Of course, many of you just recently moved from NT 4 to Win 2000. The “need for speed” in upgrading to Win 2K3 is less pressing for you. Win 2K3 will give you better security, better management, new productivity tools and a more robust environment. Whether or not that’s worth the pain to both administrators and users of going through another upgrade cycle so soon is a very subjective decision.
People who have embraced Active Directory and designed an efficient well-structured Tree should be among the first to move – it’ll be easier for you. Those who have resisted using Active Directory as much as possible need to get to work right away planning for the migration. Active Directory is more deeply embedded in Win 2K3 – you can’t get by without it.
Sooner or later you’ll need to move to Win 2K3 so you best be ready. Last issue, I mentioned the book “Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Delta Guide,” as a good way to find out about what’s new in the NOS. The book’s author, Don Jones, will be presenting a Webcast next month to explore the most significant and often overlooked new and changed features in Win 2K3. You’ll need to preregister for this event (June 11, 2003 – 10:00am to 11:30am Pacific Time) by visiting https://www.microsoft.com/usa/webcasts/upcoming/1930.asp and clicking on the “sign up” button. Don’t put off starting to plan your migration until then, however – you should be working on that right now.
