********************************************************************** Planning Your Microsoft Whistler Server Installation Release Notes, Part 2 of 3 Beta 2 ********************************************************************** (c) 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. These notes support a preliminary release of a software program that bears the project code name Whistler. ====================================================================== 8.0 Deciding Whether a Computer Will Contain More Than One Operating System ====================================================================== A computer can be set up so that you can choose between two or more operating systems each time you restart the computer. For example, you could set up a server to run Whistler Server most of the time but allow it to sometimes run Windows NT Server version 4.0 in order to support an older application. (However, to do this you would need to make specific file system choices and would probably need the latest released Service Pack, as described in "Multiple Operating Systems and File System Compatibility" and "Choosing a File System" later in this text file series.) During restart, you can select which of the two operating systems you want to run. (You can specify a default operating system that will run if no selection is made during the restart process.) Important: If you set up a computer so that the installed operating systems include Whistler and any other operating system, you must install Whistler in a separate partition on the computer. (A partition divides a disk into sections that function as separate units and that can be formatted for use by a file system. Different partitions often have different drive letters, for example, C and D.) Installing Whistler in a separate partition ensures that it will not overwrite crucial files used by the other operating system. The reason for setting up a computer so that you can choose between two or more operating systems at startup is that you can use applications that run only with a particular operating system. There are definite drawbacks to setting up a computer this way, however: each operating system uses valuable disk space, and compatibility issues, especially file system compatibility, can be complex. In addition, you cannot use dynamic disks (a storage type available in Whistler) with some operating systems. The only operating systems that can access a dynamic disk are Windows 2000 and Whistler. Note: If you are considering setting up a computer with more than one operating system to ensure that you will always have a way to start the computer (regardless of driver or disk problems), first take into account the variety of disaster-recovery features available in Whistler. One example of these features is safe mode, in which Whistler restarts with default settings and the minimum number of drivers (ensuring the ability to start even if a new driver is causing a problem). With this and a variety of other disaster-recovery features, it is not necessary to maintain more than one operating system as a safeguard against system problems. Avoiding multiple operating systems means you also avoid file system compatibility issues and other drawbacks. For more information about disaster recovery, see Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. Before deciding to set up a computer with more than one operating system, review the following restrictions. On computers that contain MS-DOS and Whistler: * Install each operating system in a different partition, and install the applications used with an operating system in the same partition with it. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install it in two partitions. * The primary partition must be formatted as FAT. * Whistler must be installed last. Otherwise important files needed for starting Whistler could be overwritten. * File system compatibility might be an issue. See "Multiple Operating Systems and File System Compatibility" later in this text file series. On computers that contain Windows 95 and Whistler: * Install each operating system on a different partition, and install the applications used with an operating system on the same partition with it. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install it on two partitions. * The primary partition must be formatted as FAT. (For Windows 95 OSR2, the primary partition must be formatted as FAT or FAT32.) * Compressed DriveSpace or DoubleSpace volumes won't be available while you are running Whistler. It is not necessary to uncompress DriveSpace or DoubleSpace volumes that you will access only with Windows 95. * Whistler must be installed last. Otherwise important files needed for starting Whistler could be overwritten. * File system compatibility might be an issue. See "Multiple Operating Systems and File System Compatibility" later in this text file series. On computers that contain Windows 98 and Whistler: * Install each operating system on a different partition, and install the applications used with an operating system on the same partition with it. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install it on two partitions. * The primary partition must be formatted as FAT or FAT32. * Compressed DriveSpace or DoubleSpace volumes won't be available while you are running Whistler. It is not necessary to uncompress DriveSpace or DoubleSpace volumes that you will access only with Windows 98. * File system compatibility might be an issue. See "Multiple Operating Systems and File System Compatibility" later in this text file series. On computers that contain Windows NT 4.0 and Whistler: * See "Multiple Operating Systems and File System Compatibility" and "Computers that Contain Windows NT 4.0 and Whistler Server" later in this text file series. On computers that contain Windows 2000 and Whistler or that contain multiple Whistler partitions: * Install each operating system on a different partition, and install the applications used with an operating system on the same partition with it. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install it on two partitions. * When installing Whistler on a partition, you can choose any product in the Whistler product family. For example, for a computer containing multiple Whistler partitions, you could install Whistler Server on one partition and Whistler Professional on another. * If the computer participates in a domain, use a different computer name for each installation. Because a unique security identifier (SID) is used for each installation of Whistler on a domain, the computer name for each installation must be unique, even for multiple installations on the same computer. * If you want to use Encrypting File System (EFS), you must take certain steps to ensure that encrypted files will be available from each of the installations. For more information, see "Multiple Operating Systems and Encrypting File System" later in this text file series. 8.1 Multiple Operating Systems and File System Compatibility ====================================================================== On computers that contain multiple operating systems, compatibility becomes more complex when you consider file system choices. The file systems to choose from are NTFS, FAT, and FAT32. For more information, see "Choosing a File System" later in this text file series. NTFS is normally the recommended file system because it supports important features, including Active Directory and domain-based security. With NTFS, however, you need to take file system compatibility into account when considering whether to set up a computer to contain more than one operating system, because the version of NTFS in Windows 2000 and Whistler has new features in addition to those in Windows NT. Files that use any new features will be completely usable or readable only when the computer is started with Windows 2000 or Whistler. For example, a file that uses the new encryption feature won't be readable when the computer is started with Windows NT Server 4.0, which was released before the encryption feature existed. For more information about features that affect file accessibility with Whistler, see "NTFS" later in this text file series. Note: If you want to set up a computer with both Windows NT and Whistler, and you want to have an NTFS partition, the only appropriate version of Windows NT is version 4.0 with the latest released Service Pack. Using the latest Service Pack maximizes compatibility between Windows NT 4.0 and the updated NTFS file system used with Whistler Server. (Specifically, this compatibility in file systems is provided by Service Pack 4 and later Service Packs.) Even the latest Service Pack, however, does not provide access to files using the new features in NTFS. Using NTFS as the only file system on a computer that contains both Whistler and Windows NT is not recommended. On these computers, a FAT partition containing the Windows NT 4.0 operating system ensures that when started with Windows NT 4.0, the computer will have access to needed files. If you set up a computer so that it starts with Windows NT 3.51 or earlier on a FAT partition, and Whistler Server is contained in an NTFS partition, when that computer starts with Windows NT 3.51, the NTFS partition will not be visible. 8.2 Computers that Contain Windows NT 4.0 and Whistler Server ====================================================================== Before you set up a computer that contains Windows NT 4.0 and Whistler Server, review the following precautions: * If your only concern is ensuring that you can always start the computer, setting up the computer so that you can start it with different operating systems at different times is not necessary. For more information, see "Deciding Whether a Computer Will Contain More Than One Operating System" earlier in this text file series. * Using NTFS as the only file system on a computer that contains both Whistler and Windows NT is not recommended. For more information, see "Multiple Operating Systems and File System Compatibility" earlier in this text file series. * Make sure that Windows NT 4.0 has been updated with the latest released Service Pack. For details, see "Multiple Operating Systems and File System Compatibility" earlier in this text file series. * Install each operating system on a different partition, and install the applications used with an operating system on the same partition with it. If an application is used with two different operating systems, install it on two partitions. When you perform a new installation of Whistler Server (as opposed to an upgrade), by default, the installation is placed on a partition on which no other operating system is located. You can specify a different partition during Setup. * Don't install Whistler on a compressed drive unless the drive was compressed with the NTFS file system compression feature. * If the computer participates in a domain, use a different computer name for each installation. For more information about computers that contain multiple operating systems, see the Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kits. 8.3 Multiple Operating Systems and Encrypting File System ====================================================================== If you set up a server so that it contains Windows 2000 and Whistler or contains multiple Whistler partitions, and you want to use Encrypting File System (EFS) on the computer, you must take certain steps. These steps make encrypted files readable between the different installations. * One approach is to ensure that all the installations are in the same domain and that the user of these installations has a roaming profile. * Another approach is to export the user's file encryption certificate and associated private key from one installation and import it into the other installations. For more information about EFS, roaming user profiles, and importing and exporting certificates, see Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. ====================================================================== 9.0 Choosing a File System ====================================================================== You can choose among three file systems for disk partitions on a computer running Whistler: NTFS, FAT, and FAT32. NTFS is the recommended system. FAT and FAT32 are similar to each other, except that FAT32 is designed for larger disks than FAT. (The file system that works most easily with large disks is NTFS.) This section provides information to help you compare the file systems. The section that follows provides additional information about NTFS. NTFS has always been a more powerful file system than FAT and FAT32. Windows 2000 and Whistler include a new version of NTFS, with support for a variety of features including Active Directory, which is needed for domains, user accounts, and other important security features. For more details about features in NTFS, see "NTFS" later in this text file series. Setup makes it easy to convert your partition to the new version of NTFS, even if it used FAT or FAT32 before. This kind of conversion keeps your files intact (unlike formatting a partition). If you don't need to keep your files intact and you have a FAT or FAT32 partition, you should format the partition with NTFS rather than converting from FAT or FAT32. Formatting a partition erases all data on the partition, but a partition that is formatted with NTFS rather than converted from FAT or FAT32 will have less fragmentation and better performance. However, it is still advantageous to use NTFS, regardless of whether the partition was formatted with NTFS or converted. A partition can also be converted after Setup by using Convert.exe. For more information about Convert.exe, after completing Setup, click Start, click Run, type cmd and then press ENTER. In the command window, type help convert, and then press ENTER. Note: You can use important features such as Active Directory and domain-based security only by choosing NTFS as your file system. There is one situation in which you might want to choose FAT or FAT32 as your file system. If it is necessary to have a computer that will sometimes run Whistler and sometimes run Windows NT or an earlier operating system, you will need to have a FAT or FAT32 partition as the primary (or startup) partition on the hard disk. This is because these earlier operating systems, with one exception, can't access a partition if it uses the latest version of NTFS. The one exception is Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or later, which has access to partitions with the latest version of NTFS, but with some limitations. Windows NT 4.0 cannot access files that have been stored using NTFS features that did not exist when Windows NT 4.0 was released. For more information, see "Deciding Whether a Computer Will Contain More Than One Operating System" and "Multiple Operating Systems and File System Compatibility" earlier in this text file series. For anything other than a situation with multiple operating systems, however, the recommended file system is NTFS. The following list describes the compatibility of each file system with various operating systems. * NTFS: A computer running Windows 2000 or Whistler can access files on an NTFS partition. A computer running Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or later might be able to access some files. Other operating systems allow no access. * FAT: Access is available through MS-DOS, all versions of Windows, Windows NT, Whistler, and OS/2. * FAT32: Access is available only through Windows 95 OSR2, Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Whistler. The following list compares disk and file sizes possible with each file system. * NTFS: Recommended minimum volume size is approximately 10 MB. Recommended practical maximum for volumes is 2 TB (terabytes). Much larger sizes are possible. Cannot be used on floppy disks. File size limited only by size of volume. * FAT: Volumes from floppy disk size up to 4 GB. Does not support domains. Maximum file size is 2 GB. * FAT32: Volumes from 512 MB to 2 TB. In Whistler, you can format a FAT32 volume only up to 32 GB. Does not support domains. Maximum file size is 4 GB. Note: If you choose to format a partition as FAT during Setup and the partition is larger than 2 GB, Setup will automatically format it as FAT32. 9.1 NTFS ====================================================================== Some of the features you can use when you choose NTFS are: * Active Directory, which you can use to view and control network resources easily. * Domains, which are part of Active Directory, and which you can use to fine-tune security options while keeping administration simple. Domain controllers require NTFS. * File encryption, which greatly enhances security. * Permissions that can be set on individual files rather than just folders. * Sparse files. These are very large files created by applications in such a way that only limited disk space is needed. That is, NTFS allocates disk space only to the portions of a file that are written to. * Remote Storage, which provides an extension to your disk space by making removable media such as tapes more accessible. * Recovery logging of disk activities, which helps you restore information quickly in the event of power failure or other system problems. * Disk quotas, which you can use to monitor and control the amount of disk space used by individual users. * Better scalability to large drives. The maximum drive size for NTFS is much greater than that for FAT, and as drive size increases, performance with NTFS doesn't degrade as it does with FAT. This is only a partial list of the features in NTFS in Whistler. Setup makes it easy to convert your partition to the new version of NTFS, even if it used FAT or FAT32 before. This kind of conversion keeps your files intact (unlike formatting a partition). Setup begins by checking the existing file system. If it is NTFS, conversion happens automatically. If it is FAT or FAT32, Setup gives you the choice of whether to convert to NTFS. If you don't need to keep your files intact and you have a FAT or FAT32 partition, you should format the partition with NTFS rather than converting from FAT or FAT32. Formatting a partition erases all data on the partition, but a partition that is formatted with NTFS rather than converted from FAT or FAT32 will have less fragmentation and better performance. However, it is still advantageous to use NTFS, regardless of whether the partition was formatted with NTFS or converted. A partition can also be converted after Setup by using Convert.exe. For more information about Convert.exe, after completing Setup, click Start, click Run, type cmd and then press ENTER. In the command window, type help convert, and then press ENTER. ====================================================================== 10.0 Planning Disk Partitions for New Installations ====================================================================== You will need to plan your disk partitions before running Setup only if you are performing a new installation, not an upgrade. Disk partitioning is a way of dividing your physical disk so that each section functions as a separate unit. When you create partitions on a disk, you divide the disk into one or more areas that can be formatted for use by a file system, such as FAT or NTFS. Different partitions often have different drive letters (for example, C and D). A primary partition, or system partition, is one on which you can install the files needed to load an operating system such as Whistler. Important: If you plan to delete or create partitions on a hard disk, be sure to back up the disk contents beforehand because these actions will destroy any existing data. As with any major change to disk contents, you should back up the entire contents of the hard disk before working with partitions, even if you plan to leave one or more of your partitions alone. Do not install Whistler on a compressed drive unless the partition was compressed with the NTFS file system compression feature. (Uncompress a DriveSpace or DoubleSpace drive before running Whistler Setup on it.) Before running Setup to perform a new installation, you will need to determine the size of the partition on which to install Whistler Server. There is no set formula for figuring a partition size. The basic principle is to allow plenty of room for the operating system, applications, and other files that you might group together on the installation partition. The files for setting up Whistler Server require at least 1 GB of free space on the disk, as described in "System Requirements" earlier in this text file series. You should allow considerably more disk space than the minimum amount. Allowing 2-4 GB on the partition is not unreasonable, and for larger installations, it is not unreasonable to allow 10 GB. This allows space for a variety of items, including optional components, user accounts, Active Directory information, logs, future service packs, the pagefile used by the operating system, and other items. When you perform a new installation of Whistler Server, you can select the partition on which to install. If you specify a partition on which another operating system exists, you will be prompted to confirm your choice. During Setup, create and size only the partition on which you want to install Whistler. After Whistler is installed, you can use Disk Management to manage new and existing disks and volumes. This includes creating new partitions from unpartitioned space; deleting, renaming, and reformatting existing partitions; adding and removing hard disks; and changing a basic disk to the dynamic disk storage type, or dynamic to basic. (Note that you cannot use dynamic disks on some computers that contain multiple operating systems. The only operating systems that can access a dynamic disk are Windows 2000 and Whistler.) Important: If you're setting up a computer so that it contains multiple operating systems, you must install Whistler on its own partition. This ensures that Whistler will not overwrite crucial files needed by the other operating system. For more information, see "Deciding Whether a Computer Will Contain More Than One Operating System" earlier in this text file series. 10.1 Disk Partition Requirements for Remote Installation Services ====================================================================== If you plan to use Remote Installation Services on this server (so that you can install operating systems onto other computers), you will need a separate partition for use by Remote Installation Services. Plan on using NTFS on this partition: NTFS is required for the Single Instance Store feature of Remote Installation Services. If you need to create a new partition for Remote Installation Services, plan on doing it after Setup and leave enough unpartitioned disk space so that you can create it (2 GB of space is recommended, but you might need less, depending on how the server will be used). Alternatively, you can plan to make the disk a dynamic disk, which allows more flexibility in the use of the disk space than a basic disk. (However, you cannot use dynamic disks on some computers that contain multiple operating systems. The only operating systems that can access a dynamic disk are Windows 2000 and Whistler.) For information about Remote Installation Services and about disk and partition choices, see Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. 10.2 Options When Partitioning a Disk ====================================================================== You can change the partitions on your disk during Setup only if you are performing a new installation, not an upgrade. You can modify the partitioning of the disk after Setup by using Disk Management. If you are performing a new installation, Setup examines the hard disk to determine its existing configuration, and then offers the following options: * If the hard disk is unpartitioned, you can create and size the Whistler partition. * If the hard disk is partitioned but has enough unpartitioned disk space, you can create the Whistler partition by using the unpartitioned space. * If the hard disk has an existing partition that is large enough, you can install Whistler on that partition, with or without reformatting the partition first. Reformatting a partition erases all data on the partition. If you don't reformat the partition but you do install Whistler where there was already an operating system, that operating system will be overwritten, and you will have to re-install any applications you want to use with Whistler. * If the hard disk has an existing partition, you can delete it to create more unpartitioned disk space for the Whistler partition. Deleting an existing partition also erases any data on that partition. ====================================================================== 11.0 Choosing Components to Install ====================================================================== The Whistler Server family of products includes a wide variety of core components, including a number of administrative tools, that Setup installs automatically. In addition, you can choose from a number of optional components that extend the functionality of your server. You can install these components during Setup, or you can add them later (through Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel). Alternatively, after Setup, you can use the Configure Your Server Wizard, which will choose and install components for you according to the type of server you specify. Choosing more of these components means providing more possibilities on the server. However, you should choose only the components you need because each component requires additional disk space. The following table (and the list that follows it) will help you choose the components you need in your installation. SERVER FUNCTION POSSIBLE COMPONENTS ------------------- --------------------------------------------- DHCP, DNS, and/or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), WINS server (in a DNS, and/or Windows Internet Name Service TCP/IP network) (WINS) - all part of Networking Services Centralized Management and Monitoring Tools administration of Remote Installation Services networks Note that remote administration (previously known as Terminal Services in Remote Administration mode) is built into Whistler and does not need to be installed as a component. Authentication and Internet Authentication Service (part of secure communication Networking Services) Certificate Services File server Indexing Service Remote Storage Other Network File and Print Services (support for Macintosh and UNIX operating systems) Fax or print server Fax Service Other Network File and Print Services (support for Macintosh and UNIX operating systems) Application server Terminal Server; Terminal Server Licensing Message Queuing Services COM Internet Services Proxy (part of Networking Services) QoS Admission Control Service (part of Networking Services) Internet (Web) server Internet Information Services Dial-up access support Connection Manager Administration Kit and Connection Point Services (part of Management and Monitoring Tools). Note that Routing and Remote Access service is included as a core element of Whistler and does not need to be installed as a component. Multimedia Windows Media Services communications QoS Admission Control Service (part of Networking Services) Support for a Other Network File and Print Services (support variety of client for Macintosh and UNIX operating systems). operating systems See also "Centralized administration of networks" earlier in this table. The following list describes the components in the preceding table and all other components that you can install. Accessories and Utilities Includes desktop accessories such as WordPad, Paint, Calculator, and CD Player, as well as the Accessibility Wizard. To select individual items, in the Windows Components Wizard, select Accessories and Utilities, click Details, and then select the subcomponents you want from the list. Certificate Services Provides security and authentication support, including secure e-mail, Web-based authentication, and smart card authentication. For information about authentication of dial-up users, see "Networking Services" later in this list. Fax Service Provides support for the sending and receiving of faxes. Indexing Service Provides indexing functions for documents stored on disk. By using Indexing Service, you can search for specific document text or properties. Internet Information Services (IIS) Provides support for Web-site creation, configuration, and management, along with Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Management and Monitoring Tools Provides tools for communications administration, monitoring, and management, including applications that support development of customized client dialers for remote users and implementation of phone books that can be automatically updated from a central server. In addition, Management and Monitoring Tools includes Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) SNMP Provider. Message Queuing Services Provides a communication infrastructure and a development tool for creating distributed messaging applications. Such applications can communicate across heterogeneous networks and with computers that might be offline. Message Queuing Services provide guaranteed message delivery, efficient routing, security, transactional support, and priority-based messaging. Networking Services Provides important support for networking, including the items in the following list. For information about network monitoring, see "Management and Monitoring Tools" earlier in this list. For background information about IP addresses and name resolution, see "Networking: TCP/IP, IP Addresses, and Name Resolution" later in this text file series. * COM Internet Services Proxy. Supports distributed applications that use HTTP to communicate through Internet Information Services. * DNS. Provides name resolution for clients running Windows 2000 or Whistler. With name resolution, users can gain access to servers by name instead of having to use IP addresses that are difficult to recognize and remember. * Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Gives a server the capability of assigning IP addresses dynamically to network devices. These devices typically include server and workstation computers but can also include other devices such as printers and scanners. With DHCP, you do not need to set and maintain static IP addresses on any of these devices, except for intranet servers providing DHCP, DNS, or WINS service. * Internet Authentication Service (IAS). Performs authentication, authorization, and accounting of dial-up and virtual private network (VPN) users. IAS supports the widely used protocol called Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS). * QoS Admission Control Service. Controls how applications are allotted network bandwidth. You can give important applications more bandwidth, less important applications less bandwidth. * Simple TCP/IP Services. Supports Character Generator, Daytime Discard, Echo, and Quote of the Day. * Universal Plug and Play. Installs Universal Plug and Play devices so that you can use them immediately, without additional configuration steps. * Universal Plug and Play Device Host. Provides support to host Universal Plug and Play devices. * Windows Internet Name Service (WINS). Provides name resolution for clients running Windows NT and earlier versions of Microsoft operating systems. With name resolution, users can access servers by name, instead of having to use IP addresses that are difficult to recognize and remember. Other Network File and Print Services Provides file and print services for the Macintosh operating system, as well as print services for UNIX. Remote Installation Services Provides services that you can use to set up new client computers remotely, without the need to visit each client. The target clients must either support remote startup with the Pre-Boot eXecution Environment (PXE) ROM, or else must be started with a remote-start floppy disk. On the server, you will need a separate partition for Remote Installation Services. For more information, see "Disk Partition Requirements for Remote Installation Services" earlier in this text file series. Remote Storage Provides an extension to your disk space by making removable media such as tapes more accessible. Infrequently used data can automatically be transferred to tape and retrieved when needed. Root Certificates Auto Update Supports automatic update of the certificate root store. Terminal Server Terminal Server provides the ability to run client applications on the server, while "thin client" software acts as a terminal emulator on the client. Each user sees an individual session, displayed as a Whistler desktop, and each session is managed by the server, independent of any other client session. If you install Terminal Server, you must also install Terminal Server Licensing on at least one computer (not necessarily a computer on which you install Terminal Server). However, temporary licenses can be issued for clients that allow you to use Terminal Server for up to 90 days. Terminal Server Licensing Provides a licensing service that allows you to download, issue, and track licenses for Terminal Server clients. If you install Terminal Server, you must also install Terminal Server Licensing on at least one computer (not necessarily a computer on which you install Terminal Server). However, temporary licenses can be issued for clients that allow you to use Terminal Server for up to 90 days. To register a license server quickly, install it on a computer that has Internet access. During Terminal Server Licensing Setup, you can select from two types of license server: domain license server (the default) or enterprise license server. A domain license server can only support Terminal servers that are in the same domain as the license server. You must choose a domain license server if the license server is in a workgroup or a Windows NT 4.0 domain. Regardless of the type of domain, you can choose a domain license server if you want to maintain a separate license server for each domain. In Whistler domains, you must install the domain license server on a domain controller. In workgroups or Windows NT 4.0 domains, you can install the domain license server on any server. You can also choose to install a license server as an enterprise license server. An enterprise license server can support Terminal servers in Whistler domains or mixed domains (that is, with some domain controllers running Whistler and some domain controllers running Windows NT 4.0). You must choose an enterprise license server if the license server will support Terminal servers in multiple Whistler domains. Windows Media Services (for x86-based computers only) Provides multimedia support, allowing you to deliver content using Advanced Streaming Format over an intranet or the Internet. ====================================================================== 12.0 Networking: TCP/IP, IP Addresses, and Name Resolution ====================================================================== TCP/IP is the network protocol that provides Internet access. It is the protocol used by most servers, although you can use additional or different network adapters and their associated protocols on your servers. (For information about using other network adapters, read the adapter documentation, and see "Taking an Optional Device Inventory" earlier in this text file series.) Setup and the Configure Your Server Wizard are designed to make it easy to configure TCP/IP and the services that support it. To use TCP/IP, make sure that each server is provided with an IP address, either a dynamic or automatic address provided through software, or a static address that you obtain and set. Because these addresses are numbers and therefore hard to remember, you will also have to provide users with names that are easier to use. Mapping this type of name to an IP address is called name resolution and can be accomplished by various methods, primarily by using DNS and Windows Internet Name Service (WINS). The following sections provide more information. 12.1 IP Addresses ====================================================================== As described in the preceding section, using TCP/IP requires that an IP address be provided for each computer, either automatically by Whistler, dynamically through the DHCP service (which you configure), or statically (using an IP address that you have obtained). You can allow Whistler to provide IP addresses automatically during Setup, and then, after Setup, change your configuration to use DHCP, Static addressing, or both. For more information about DHCP and IP addressing, see Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. The following list describes the methods you can use to provide an IP address: * For a limited number of servers (five or fewer) on a small private network, you can use the Whistler Server feature called Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) to automatically assign IP addresses for you. In Setup, automatic addressing is available from the Networking Settings dialog box when you select the Typical settings option. * If your network has more than one subnet, choose one server on which to install and configure the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) component. The DHCP server will provide IP addresses dynamically to other computers. It must itself be assigned a static IP address (so other computers can locate it). In this situation, in order to support clients, you might also need one or more servers with the DNS component, the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) component, or both. DNS and WINS are described in the following section, "Name Resolution for TCP/IP." One server or several servers can provide DHCP, DNS, and/or WINS. Any server providing these services should be assigned a static IP address (so other computers can locate it). For detailed information about assigning a static IP address, see "Specifying Networking Settings" later in this text file series. * If a particular server will be directly providing access to users on the Internet, you must assign that server a static IP address. You can obtain an address and an associated domain name from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or from the Internet Network Information Center (InterNIC). For more information about InterNIC, see: http://internic.net/ If a computer has more than one network adapter, it will need a separate IP address for each adapter. For detailed information about assigning a static IP address, see "Specifying Networking Settings" later in this text file series. After a server is provided with an IP addressing option, the next components to consider are those that provide for name resolution, which is the process of mapping a computer name (something that users can recognize and remember) to the appropriate IP address. The following sections describe options for name resolution. 12.2 Name Resolution for TCP/IP ====================================================================== Name resolution is a process that provides users with easy-to-remember server names, instead of requiring them to use the numerical IP addresses by which servers identify themselves on the TCP/IP network. The name-resolution services are DNS and Windows Internet Name Service (WINS). 12.2.1 DNS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DNS is a hierarchical naming system used for locating computers on the Internet and private TCP/IP networks. One or more DNS servers are needed in most installations. DNS is required for Internet e-mail, Web browsing, and Active Directory. DNS is also required in domains with clients running Windows 2000 or Whistler. DNS is installed automatically when you create a domain controller (or promote a server to become a domain controller), unless the Whistler software detects that a DNS server already exists for that domain. (Alternatively, you can explicitly select DNS as a component to install during or after Setup.) If you are installing DNS on a server, you will need to specify a static IP address on that server. In addition, you will need to configure the DNS clients so that they recognize that IP address. For information about assigning a static IP address, see "Specifying Networking Settings" later in this text file series. For information about configuring DNS, see Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. 12.2.2 Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) If you provide support for clients running Windows NT or any earlier Microsoft operating system, you will need to install Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) on one or more servers in the domain. WINS is an optional software component and appears under Networking Services in the list of installable Windows components. (For more information about different ways you can install components during or after Setup, see "Choosing Components to Install" earlier in this text file series.) If you are installing WINS on a server, you will need to specify a static IP address on that server. In addition, you will need to configure the WINS clients so that they recognize that IP address. For information about assigning a static IP address, see "Specifying Networking Settings" later in this text file series. For information about configuring WINS, see Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. ====================================================================== 13.0 Deciding Between Workgroups and Domains ====================================================================== A domain is a grouping of accounts and network resources under a single domain name and security boundary. A workgroup is a more basic grouping, intended only to help users find objects such as printers and shared folders within that group. Domains are the recommended choice for all networks except very small ones with few users. In a workgroup, users might have to remember multiple passwords, one for each network resource. (In addition, different users can use different passwords for each resource.) In a domain, passwords and permissions are simpler to keep track of because a domain has a single, centralized database of user accounts, permissions, and other network details. The information in this database is replicated automatically among domain controllers. You determine which servers are domain controllers and which are simply members of the domain. You can determine these roles not only during Setup but afterward. Domains, and the Active Directory directory system of which they are a part, provide many options for making resources easily available to users while maintaining good monitoring and security. For more information about Active Directory, see Whistler Help and Support. To open Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. 13.1 Planning for Domain Controllers and Member Servers ====================================================================== With Whistler, servers in a domain can have one of two roles: domain controllers, which contain matching copies of the user accounts and other Active Directory data in a given domain, and member servers, which belong to a domain but do not contain a copy of the Active Directory data. (A server that belongs to a workgroup, not a domain, is called a stand-alone server.) With Whistler, it is possible to change the role of a server back and forth from domain controller to member server (or stand-alone server), even after Setup is complete. However, you should plan your domain before running Setup, and change server roles only when necessary. It is a good idea to give careful thought to the names of your domain controllers before running Setup. You cannot change the name of a server while it is a domain controller. Instead, you must change the domain controller to a member or stand-alone server, change the name, and finally make the server a domain controller once again. If you have multiple domain controllers, it provides better support for users than having only one. Multiple domain controllers provide automatic backup for user accounts and other Active Directory data, and they work together to support domain controller functions (such as carrying out logon validations). For more information about domain controllers, see the topics under Active Directory in Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. 13.1.1 Special Aspects of Whistler Domain Controllers ---------------------------------------------------------------------- As you manage your Whistler domains, you might want to learn more about operations master roles. This section describes operations master roles briefly. For more information about operations master roles, see Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. Operations master roles are special roles assigned to one or more domain controllers in an Active Directory domain. The domain controllers assigned to these roles perform operations that are single-master (not permitted to occur at different places in a network at the same time). For example, the creation of security identifiers for new resources (such as new computers) must be overseen by a single domain controller to ensure that the identifiers are unique. The first domain controller installed in a domain is automatically assigned all the operations master roles. You can change the assignment of operations master roles after Setup, but in most cases this will not be necessary. You will need to be particularly aware of operations masters roles if problems develop on an operations master or if you plan to take one out of service. For more information about operations master roles, which are part of Active Directory, see Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Help and Support Services, after completing Setup, click Start, and then click Help and Support. 13.2 Additional Information About Domains ====================================================================== For information about upgrading a Windows NT domain, see "Upgrading an Existing Windows NT 4.0 Domain" earlier in this text file series. For detailed information about domains, operations master roles, and other domain-related topics, see Active Directory in Whistler Help and Support Services. To open Whistler Help and Support Services, after you install (or upgrade to) Whistler on your first server, click Start, and then click Help and Support. For information about setting up multiple domains with structured relationships, see the "Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit, Deployment Planning Guide." (continued in Server3.txt)