Question 8: Do You Plan to Pair Windows 2003 with XP?
XP brings a lot to the table when you pair it with Windows 2003. First, you can perform Universal Group caching, which lets XP clients log on to the network without a GC available. XP also permits secure wireless connections through 802.1x and supports the use of Windows 2003 certificates to validate that connection. Finally, as I stated earlier, XP features the RDP 5.1 client, which—in conjunction with the RDP 5.2 server on a Windows 2003 server (or XP client for use with Remote Desktop)—greatly enhances the Terminal Services experience.
If you'll have
- XP fully rolled out in 1 year, add 4 points
- XP rolled out to half your users in 1 year, add 2 points
- XP rolled out to fewer than half your users in 1 year, subtract 2 points
Question 9: How Much Do You Leverage Group Policy?
I'm a Group Policy junkie. I can't live without Group Policy settings, and I'm betting many of you can't live without them either. With its new Group Policy features, Windows 2003 increases my enthusiasm. First, the OS offers many simple Group Policy improvements, such as the ability to roll back to original default Group Policy objects; about 200 new Group Policy settings for XP, including software-restriction and wireless-networking policies; Group Policy setting support for DNS and Terminal Services; and the ability to perform Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP) calculations.
However, the biggest improvement is Group Policy Management Console (GPMC), a free downloadable tool to help you with Group Policy management. GPMC is a great tool because it adds a Group Policy—centric view to your network. Additionally, the tool permits Group Policy object backup and restore, and offers a gaggle of other great features.
However, to use the GPMC tool, you must commit to licensing at least one Windows 2003 server. Although GPMC is a free download, the product's FAQ clearly states, "You may install an unlimited number of copies of GPMC in your environment, provided you have at least one valid license for Windows Server 2003." Note that as soon as you license and install just one Windows 2003 server, you might be in for a huge uptick in the purchase of Windows 2003 CALs, so be sure that you understand the legal and cost ramifications of your choices. (For more information about the the GPMC tool, see "Windows Server 2003's Group Policy Management Console," July 2003, http://www.winnetmag.com, InstantDoc ID 39190.)
If you
- use Group Policy heavily, add 5 points
- are just starting out with Group Policy, add 2 points
- have no plans for using Group Policy, subtract 4 points
If you're not using Group Policy, you're missing out on many of the benefits that AD has to offer. An understanding of how to use Group Policy will only become more important as Windows networks mature.
Question 10: How Much Do You Leverage SAN/NAS Technology?
Windows 2003 is designed to work with Storage Area Network (SAN) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices. With the right hardware, Windows 2003 should be able to boot off your SAN, and you should be able to use standard Windows tools to configure your LUNs. The "open" nature of Windows 2003's SAN and NAS support will likely replace the functionality of today's proprietary SAN and NAS solutions. The kismet between Windows 2003 and your SAN vendor might not be evident today, but be sure to stay tuned: The future is undeniably bright.
If you
- have SAN/NAS today, add 4 points
- will install SAN/NAS within 1 year, add 3 points
- have no plans for SAN/NAS within 1 year, add 0 points
Your current SAN or NAS implementation might not support the Windows 2003 features that I've mentioned. However, you should check with your hardware vendor to ensure that it's working on compatibility with these new features.
Tally Your Score
How did you do? Using the points that you've accumulated, you can now make a fairly informed decision about whether to take a close look at a Windows 2003 upgrade.
You should seriously consider migrating to Windows 2003 if you are
- a small organization that has tallied 20 points or more
- a midsized organization that has tallied 30 points or more
- a large organization that has tallied 40 points or more
If you're still an NT shop, you might want to consider rolling out new servers to Windows 2003. Over time, locating new hardware with NT driver support will become more and more difficult. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, some serious Microsoft-sanctioned deadlines are fast approaching, and you don't want to be caught off guard.
If you're a mostly Win2K shop, you could feasibly skip Windows 2003. Win2K support will be available for years to come; however, you'll be missing out on some great features. I hope this quiz has opened your eyes to whether you would find these new features beneficial.
End of Article
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