History of Windows Server - Essay Example

RUNNING HEAD: HISTORY OF WINDOWS SERVER History of Windows Server By Microsoft Corporation, one of the leading companies involved in software, services and internet technologies, introduced various server operating systems in various stages of the Personal Computer development. The Windows Server had many upgrades and releases through the years and is often used in reference to the body of server operating systems released by the Microsoft that primarily includes Windows 2003 Server and Windows 2008 Server and their respective versions and editions. However, Microsoft had already started releasing server operating systems as early as 1993 with its NT platforms. A better appreciation of the current server operating system is more possible if the earlier versions before 2003 are included in the appreciation of the Windows servers. The Windows server prototypes were the NT platforms which began with the release of Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1 in 1993 upgraded to Windows NT Server 3.5 in 1994, Windows Server 3.51 in 1995, Windows Server 4.0 in 1996, Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition in 1997, Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition in 1998, and winds up with the Windows 2000 Server Platform (multiple editions) in 2000 where the NT part of the title was completely given up. A discussion of the early Windows server O/S is vital because they form the basis of the more modern versions. In addition, a complete historical perspective will give emphasis to the leaps and bounds by which the 21st Windows servers have progressed. Microsoft introduced its first server operating system with Windows NT version 3.1. This version is a 32-bit system that incorporated Win32 concepts that are MS DOS, Windows, OS/2 and POSIX compatible. It also provided a US Government C-2 security level protection as well as “portability to different microprocessor architectures, symmetric multiprocessing support, built-in networking capabilities and support for multilingual applications” (Allan p. 15/2). The NY system is usable in Intel microprocessors, MIPS workstations and the DEC Alpha architecture, needs 12 to 16 megabytes of memory to work and requires a 486 processor or better and more powerful microprocessors (Allan p. 15/2). The following year, version 3.5 came out in September, which upgraded the earlier version by reducing the hardware requirements and advancing reliability (Allan p. 15/3). This version was characterized by enhanced speed and greater connectivity to Novell and UNIX, two of Microsoft’s stiff competitors (Long 2008). It was however, version 3.51 that was considered the truly stable version (Syngress Media p. 226), the improvements of which were conducted under the Code name Daytona (Allan 15/3). It was introduced in 1995 and was significant because it included a client access license tool and was released at the same time that the first Microsoft GUI (graphic user interface) operating system Windows 95 came out (Long 2008). In July 1996, Microsoft released Windows Server 4.0, a powerful operating system that worked on server applications such as BackOffice and was considered the first NT version that was truly 32-bit (Shinder & Shinder p. 12). This release had the look and feel of Windows of the previously first GUI O/S Windows 95 and had comparatively better speed in filing and printing. For the first time, the Microsoft server came with a web server application called Internet Information Server 2.0 (IIS) and an internet security feature called the PKI or public key infrastructure as well as smart card support and clustering (Long 2008). The Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition, known as the most scalable version compared to the earlier server versions, was released in 1997. It was purposely built to accommodate bigger companies that required more from servers. This was made possible by the built-in support for the Microsoft Cluster (MSCS) and Windows Load Balancing (WLB). In addition, this version can accommodate as many as eight processors and had bigger memory. It also featured the Microsoft Message Queue Server or MMQS, a store-and-forward service that allows delivery of messages from different applications running at once even to systems that are not online by using a queuing method (Shinder & Shinder p. 12; Long 2008). A year later, Microsoft introduced the last of its NT-denominated servers – the Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition. This version, however, is not considered an upgrade to the last version but an alternate version that used Citrix-based technology. This was made possible by an agreement, and later collaboration, between Microsoft and Citrix, for the license of portions of Citrix’s WinFrame technology allowing a Citrix server to support several windows applications running at once (Hardwood 825). One of most significant upgrades to the Windows server operating system happened in 2000 with the release of Windows 2000 Server Platform, which ended the use of the acronym NT in its title. It came in three versions: Server; Advanced, and; Datacenter Server. This upgrade had various additional features like active directory, improved manageability, enhanced networking, improved device support, storage management, and improved performance. The new directory service replaced the NT 4.0 domains and system management was improved through the use of more consistent user interface as well as new servers and services for remote administration (Tate 6). As can be gleaned, the release of the 2000 server upgrade was a turning point in the Microsoft server operating system history because for the first time, the Company integrated the Active Directory technology to its server system. While previous versions operated under the client-server system and domains as administrative units, the Active Directory introduced the concept of hierarchy that is made up sets of structures that are given identity for faster retrievals and allows various security level assignments. Windows 2003 Server came in four versions, all of which have 32-bit or 64-bit options: Windows Server 2003 Web Edition; Standard Edition; Enterprise Edition; Datacenter Server, and; Web Edition (Long 2008). After the successful Windows 2000 Server platform, Microsoft was faced with the task of coming up with an upgrade that can provide a compelling reason for users to switch. Microsoft was able to do this by taking the best features of Windows 2000 Server and improved on them through better reliability, more hardware support and diminished numbers of reboot required. The Standard Edition was built with small businesses in mind; the Web Edition is the cheapest of the 2003 version and was designed as web server and web server application server; the Enterprise Edition supported up to 8 CPUs and up to 32GB memory which made it ideal for larger applications and higher-end server hardware, and; Datacenter Edition (Desai pp. 10-11). The other advantages of using Windows Server 2003 winds down to the following: easier management because of improved management tools; Plug and Play capability; improved stability and uptime; easier upgrade from a single processor server to large-scale server (Ciccarelli and Faulkner 72). Although the 2000 release constituted a major leap from the NT platforms, and the 2003 merely expounded on the 2000’s strength, yet the Windows 2003 Server represented a very significant moment in Windows server O/S history because of 2003’s paradigmatic shift from a mere classic-client centered operation to an internet orientation through the introduction of the .NET framework, a technology that primarily involves the running of applications and services using the .NET framework. In addition, despite this paradigmatic shifting, the 2003 upgrade retained and was built on some of the oldest concepts of Windows servers like the NY technology, whose reference had been dropped since the 2000 release (Williams & Walla 2). The succeeding server upgrade was released in 2008 and was aptly called the Windows 2008 Server, which came in the following editions: Standard Edition; Enterprise Edition; Datacenter Edition; HPC Server; Web Server; Storage Server; Small Business Server, and; Essential Business Server. The Server is built from the same code as Vista and differs from other upgrades by the way it treats processors and memory, which are dealt with as plug-and-play devices. Thus, such devices are able to be removed without necessarily shutting down the server. Other new features and enhancements include: the IPv6 or Internet Protocol Version 6, which has a larger address space than earlier versions; the BitLocker drive encryption that allows more protection for data through encryption, and; a more secured default configuration of Windows Firewall. The Terminal Services also went through a major upgrade with the inclusion of the Remote Desktop Protocol 6.0 allowing the sharing of even a single application, as opposed to the entire desktop. Offered in both 32 and 64-bit versions, Windows 2008 Server introduced the self-healing NTFS file system format that makes possible detection of errors online and fixes them even while the entire system is online (Nelson et al 51-52). In 2009, another upgrade of the Windows 2008 Server was released. Called Windows 2008 Server R2, this platform is based on Windows NT 6.1 and is a 64-bit only operating system. Like the upgrades previous to it, the Windows 2008 Server R2 also comes in various editions such as Foundation, Enterprise, Standard, WebServer, DataCenter, HPC Server and R2 Titanium. Some of its enhancements are: improved .NET support; IIS.NET community portal; increased application security with the IIS 7.5 version; better file-transfer services; easier administration and support of web-based applications; easier support and troubleshooting and; easier addition and extension of functionality and features (Microsoft 2010). The Windows Small Business Server was officially introduced on November 12, 2008 and was based on Windows Server 2008 and came in standard and premium editions. It is bundled with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition (which entails the use only of a 64-bit system), Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and trial versions of security products such as Forefront Security for Exchange. As usual, the two editions catered to different markets: the Standard Edition for small businesses up to a capacity of 75 users, and; the Premium Edition is bundled with a license for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition (Nelson et al p. 51-52). On the other hand, the Windows Essential Business Server (WEBS), released in November of 2008, was a multi-component server that catered to big business needs that cannot be accommodated by the WSBS and was made up of the following installations: Windows Essential Business Server Management Server; Windows Essential Business Server Security Server, and; Windows Essential Business Server Messaging Server (Ruest & Ruest p. 6). However, according to the Microsoft website, the EBS had been shelved and its sale discontinued as of July 1, 2010 albeit it will still be supported for the duration of its normal life (Microsoft website 2010). The Windows Home Server is based on Windows 2003 Server and meant to operate in the comfort of homes where there are several PCs (up to ten) for sharing files. It was first introduced by Bill Gates in 2007 to the public during the Consumer Electronics Show but was officially released only later that year. A new version of the server however, is due to be released this year, which is going to be based on Windows Server 2008 R2. Some of its new features are: media streaming outside of the home; multi-PC back-up and restore upgrades; simpler set-up and usage (Windows Home Server Connect Program 2010). References: Allan, R. (2001). A History of the Personal Computer: The People and the Technology. Allan Publishing. Ciccarelli, P. & Faulkner, C. (2004). Networking Foundations. John Wiley and Sons. Desai, A. (2003). MCSE/MCSA Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment Study Guide: Exam 70-290. McGraw-Hill Professional. Hardwood, T. (2002). Inside Citrix MetaFrame XP: A System Administrators Guide to Citrix MetaFrame XP/1.8 and Windows Terminal Services, 2nd Edition, Addison-Wesley. Long, M (2008). ‘History of Windows Server’ Microsoft Windows 2008 Tutorials. VTC. http://www.vtc.com/products/MicrosoftWindowsServer2008/CourseOverview/75466. Microsoft. 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(2003).The Ultimate Windows Server 2003 System Administrators Guide. Addison-Wesley. Windows Essential Business Server 2008. Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/ebs/en/us/default.aspx. Windows Home Server Connect Program. http://connect.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer. Read More