Why use Windows 2000 technology

Windows 2000 Server, compared to Windows NT 4.0 Server, includes improved network, application, and Web services. It provides increased reliability and scalability, lowers your cost of computing with powerful, flexible management services, and provides the best foundation for running business applications.

Below you can find the features that make Windows 2000 technology unparalleled:

• Active Directory

  Windows 2000 domain infrastructure relies on Active Directory, a multi-master hierarchical directory service that is scalable, and makes easier the control of administrative privileges and other security settings.

  Active Directory provides a wide range of features and capabilities such as:

  • Simplified user and network-resource management
  • Group Policy
  • Flexible, secure authentication and authorization
  • Directory consolidation
  • Directory-enabled applications and infrastructure
  • Scalability without complexity
  • Use of Internet standards
  • A powerful development environment

• IntelliMirror

  To reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO), IntelliMirror provides control on client systems running Windows 2000 Professional by defining policies based on the respective users' business roles, group memberships, and locations. Using these policies, Windows 2000 Professional desktops are automatically reconfigured to meet a specific user's requirements each time that user logs onto the network, no matter where they log on.

  At the core of IntelliMirror are three features:

  • User data management
  • Software installation and maintenance
  • User settings management

• WMI Technology

  Using WMI, you can monitor, track, and control system events related to software applications, hardware components, and networks. With WMI, system administrators and management application developers can use a single interface for local and remote access to Win32, System Monitor, WMI for Windows Driver Model (WDM), registry, event logs, Desktop Management Interface (DMI), Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and any other data WMI generates.

• Remote Management

  Windows 2000 includes a number of enhancements for remote system management, including:

  • Managing remotely through integrated Terminal Services
  • Organizing and delegating tasks through Microsoft Management Console
  • Managing remotely with Administration Tools
  • Scripting with Windows Script Host
  • Remote Installation Services

• Enhanced File, Print, and Web Services

  Windows 2000 Server delivers new support for disk quotas, dynamic volume management, Internet printing, and award-winning Web services with Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0. Enhancements to file, print services, and volume management make Windows 2000 an ideal file server, and they make it easier to locate and access information on Windows 2000 Server.

• Enhanced Networking Services
  • Virtual Private Networking
  • Routing and Remote Access service
  • Internet Authentication Service
  • Enhanced Communications Support for Applications

• Flexible Security

  Windows 2000 introduces support for Kerberos V5, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), and Smart Card logon support, providing flexible, enterprise-strength security for your entire organization.

• Interoperability with Existing Systems

  Windows 2000 Server delivers powerful UNIX, Novell NetWare, Windows NT Server 4.0, and Macintosh interoperability, allowing you to integrate Windows 2000 Server into an existing environment.