The future of Windows Server 2003

Microsoft has a lot riding on Windows Server 2003.  The company says that product and its ancillary software packages as the key to future profitability and functionality.

The software giant touted the performance and security gains made with Windows Server 2003 and hammered on its ability to anchor server consolidation projects.  The new operating system and 13 application servers its Windows Server System are the keys for forthcoming products and services including an advanced file system, collaboration environments, identity management infrastructure, digital rights management and a platform-wide self-healing management system. That will be followed by advanced conferencing services based on Microsoft’s $200 million acquisition of Placeware; support for System Definition Model, an XML-based glue to hold together Microsoft’s emerging management platform; and Virtual Server technology.

According to our Special Focus author (jfontana@nww.com) in the coming months, the new products and features that rely on Windows Server 2003 will include:

* Real-Time Communications Server: offers instant messaging, conferencing sever originally slated to be part of the operating system but is now a separate offering. Expected to be ready by midsummer.

* Rights Management Services: Controls forwarding, copying, printing, expiration of corporate files, documents. To be ready in the Fall 2003.

* Windows SharePoint Services: Provides the ability to create team workspaces baked into the operating system. Couples with Office 2003 and is the first step toward a new file system. Slated to be ready this summer.

* Automated Deployment Services: Will allow automatic installation of the operating system on PCs that have no operating system, a so-called bare metal install. Will be ready midsummer.

* System Center: First pass at combination of System Management Server and Microsoft Operations Manager.

For more on our look at Windows Server see: https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0512ms2003.html