Windows Server 2003 Technology Primer - Getting Started with Windows Server 2003 (Page 20 of 20 ) This introductory chapter was intended to highlight the new features, functions, migration tools, and management utilities in Windows Server 2003 that will help administrators take advantage of the capabilities of the new operating system. If Windows Server 2003 is seen as just a simple upgrade to Windows NT4 or Windows 2000, an organization will not benefit from the operating system enhancements. However, when fully leveraged with the capabilities of the Windows Server 2003 operating system, an organization can improve services to its employees through the use of new tools and technologies built into the operating system. Best Practices To ultimately improve Windows security, tune and optimize Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 for a secured networking environment. Take advantage of the key standards built into Windows Server 2003, including, but not limited to, IPv6, XML Web services, and IETF Security Standards. Consider using the domain rename utility to rename a domain rather than build the domain from scratch. Migrate user accounts, computer accounts, access control lists (ACLs), and trusts from NT4 or Windows 2000 to a Windows Server 2003 domain using the Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT) version 2.0. Use Terminal Services in Windows Server 2003 to provide users access to local hard drives as well as to redirect the audio from a centralized Terminal server to a remote system. Use Software Update Service (SUS) to automatically scan and download updates and patches to a centralized server for testing prior to distributing to all servers and client machines. The Group Policy Management Console Feature Pack is a must for all administrators to install and use for their administration of Group Policies in a Windows 2003 environment. An administrator should get familiar with all of the Feature Packs and Windows 2003 tools available for download. These tools in many cases update the tools that were included with the original version of Windows 2003, or are completely new tools that provide needed functionality to the tasks of upgrading, updating, administering, and managing a Windows 2003 environment. The Windows 2003 Resource Kit now provides free tools to Windows 2003 administrators that can drastically improve mundane administrative tasks by simplifying management tasks into scripts, command-line queries, or quick lookup views. Combine group policy with SUS to automatically distribute and manage regularly updating servers with Service Packs, patches, and security updates.
 This chapter is from Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Unleashed, by Rand Morimoto, et al. (Sams Publishing, 2004, ISBN: 0672326671). Check it out at your favorite bookstore today.
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