Introduction to Windows .NET Server

The information contained within this article is based solely on my experience with the BETA product, and the information given, such as minimum system requirements and installation procedures, are current at the time of writing (May 8th 2002). As with all products in development, all of the following is subject to change.

Please assume that when I mention "Windows .NET Standard Server" within this article, I am speaking specifically of "Windows .NET Standard Server BETA 3 - Build 3590.main.011110-1652" unless otherwise mentioned.

Windows .NET Server Family Versions

• Windows .NET Web Server is designed specifically for Web hosting environments, providing a specific platform for deploying Web services and applications.
  


• Windows .NET Standard Server is designed specifically for the everyday needs of the average business and is the progressive replacement for the Windows NT4 Server / Windows 2000 Server line.
  


• Windows .NET Enterprise Server is designed specifically for the general purpose needs of slightly larger customers, as their needs surpass the functional levels of Windows .NET Standard Server. Enterprise Server is the progressive replacement for the Windows NT4 Server Enterprise Edition / Windows 2000 Advanced Server line.
  


• Windows .NET Datacenter Server is designed specifically for high-end hardware deployments for use on business-critical and mission-critical applications where the highest levels of scalability and availability are required. Windows .NET Datacenter Server is the progressive replacement for the Windows 2000 Datacenter Server line of operating systems.
  

Hardware Requirements for Windows .NET Standard Server.

• The minimum system requirements for Windows .NET Standard Server is as follows:

• The minimum supported processor speed is 133 MHz

• The minimum recommended processor speed is 550 MHz

• Windows .NET Standard Server supports a maximum of two CPUs per server

• The minimum amount of RAM supported is 128MB

• The minimum amount of RAM recommended is 256MB

• The maximum amount of RAM supported by Windows .NET Standard Server is 4GB

The minimum amount of space required for installation is approximately 1.5 GB. Additional space may be required under the following circumstances:

When a FAT16 partition is in use, it requires 100 MB to 200 MB more free disk space than other supported file systems. NTFS is the recommended file system for any Server deployment, .NET or otherwise.

If you are installing Windows .NET Standard Server from a network share, you will need approximately 100 MB to 200 MB more space than if you ran the Setup from the CDROM.

The amount of disk space required for the swapfile will affect the size of the initial partition as it is directionally proportional to the amount of physical memory installed in the system, in that the more physical RAM installed the larger the swapfile will need to be.

VGA or higher-resolution monitor is required and an SVGA 800x600 or higher is recommended.

Keyboard and mouse (or other pointing device) are also on the minimum requirements list.

The optional hardware list includes items such as CD-ROMs or DVD drives, which are only required if a local installation is to be performed or it is otherwise deemed necessary. The optional hardware list also includes a listing for network adapters and related cables from the Hardware Compatibility List. (Personally, I don't see how you can have a server product and list a network connectivity peripheral as an optional requirement, but that is what is printed.)

Here is the table of all of the different requirement levels of the Windows .NET Server family as provided from Microsoft on their website. There is also an additional table on the site comparing the major features for each version.

You can view the current Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) at the Microsoft Web site, or you can FTP the text files for the desired Operating System. (I could not currently find any listing for the BETA versions of Windows .NET Standard Server for FTP download.)

A Windows .NET Server Family Beta 3 Technical Overview can also be found on the Microsoft website as well.