IT Priorities - Operating Systems - Windows Server 2003
ZDNet | at | by Mike
As with desktop OS upgrades, server OS upgrades tend to lag Microsoft announcements by a year or two; again, at least one service pack helps lend a feeling of security. When Microsoft launched Windows Server 2003 in April of the year indicated in the name, it characterised the new operating system as a major event. After all, there were more than half a dozen flavours of the new operating system, including Microsoft's first 64-bit Windows, which will be able to scale to 64-way servers.
Microsoft hopes that 2003 will be the version that will persuade companies still using Windows NT4 to finally upgrade. Support for Windows NT 4 was due to be cancelled early in 2003, but pressure from customers forced Microsoft to put the date back to January 2005. According to ZDNet UK readers, Windows 2003 does indeed appear to be the watershed that will finally see Windows NT upgraded.
But you're probably not ready to give up Windows NT4 altogether just yet. In the accompanying Toolkit you'll find out how to evaluate and prepare for a migration to Windows Server 2003, but also how to make sure it will coexist with your exiting NT4 servers.