Your Own Server Part 2: Windows Server 2003 Installation

Windows - Sometimes It's Hard To Grasp

Windows alternatives for enterprise server applications continue to gain share, lead largely by Linux software. However, the fact remains that many users will fall back on Windows for networking applications as a familiar - yet often times hated - companion.

In fact, many users have already networked two or more Windows computers together, without realizing they were setting up a network. This often happens somewhat unawares when access to the Internet has to be provided by a DSL router. Therefore, numerous users are already familiar with the simple tasks of setting up a shared directory, a shared printer or even a shared Internet connection.

However, the colorful Windows shell is not always as easy to penetrate as it might appear at the beginning. That is to say, as soon as you are no longer dealing with the use of functions, but rather with offering them in the network, stumbling blocks and dependencies arise that you simply must know about. The basic tool from the Microsoft world is the server version of Windows, which is currently Windows Server 2003 in one of three editions (Web, Standard and Enterprise).

We obtained a copy of the standard edition of Windows Server 2003 and prepared it for all the usual network jobs. In the process, we placed additional emphasis on implementing the Active Directory, since it is a basic requirement for many higher-level functions including the mail server Exchange 2003.