If yours
is like many businesses today, you’re busy adapting to
the challenges and opportunities brought by the
Internet. The Microsoft Windows® 2000 Server operating
system can make the transition easier. Now you can use
the Internet to improve all your business
operations—from how your employees work together to
how you extend your network to customers and partners.
Building on the solid Internet technologies delivered
in Windows NT® Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Server
provides a well-integrated package containing the
application development environment, security, and
scalability you need to get more out of existing
applications. Plus you can build new and versatile
solutions using the most complete set of Internet
technologies available.
With Windows 2000 Server,
you can:
- Use the Web to
securely connect employees, customers, and
suppliers—anywhere in the world.
- Build internal
line-of-business applications that help your
business run more efficiently.
- Share select
information without compromising confidential data.
- Expand your network
environment as your application needs evolve.
- Back to Windows 2000 Servers -
|
Integrated Web and
Application Services |
Active Server Pages (ASP), first introduced as a
component of Windows NT Server 4.0, revolutionized
the way Web content was served. This technology
allowed organizations to create dynamic and highly
personalized Web sites. The implementation of
Active Server Pages in Windows 2000 Server is
faster, more reliable, more scalable, and ready to
run on high-end multi-processor hardware.
Windows 2000 also introduces new technologies that
let you build richer Web applications and
solutions, such as the next generation of the
Microsoft Component Object Model, COM+. Developers
using COM+ find it much easer to create and use
software components, and benefit from a runtime
environment and services that are easily used from
any programming language or tool.
Another technology revolutionizing the Internet is
the Extensible Markup Language (XML). XML enables
easy integration of data from multiple sources,
reduced network traffic, granular updates, and
more meaningful searches. The Windows 2000 XML
Parser is implemented as a COM component,
providing a complete XML foundation for Windows
DNA-based applications.
In addition, Windows 2000 includes integrated
support for streaming media, which allows
organizations to develop and distribute real-time
presentations and rich multimedia content to both
internal and external audiences. Imagine being
able to send full screen video to your users’
desktops on demand, while providing CD-quality
audio, digital rights management, and great
integration with other application software. |
|
Internet Scalability
and Flexibility |
| When
Windows NT was introduced, it provided something
that was revolutionary in high-volume commercial
operating systems: symmetric multi-processing (SMP)
support. SMP meant that Windows NT could take
equal advantage of multiple microprocessors on the
same PC. Although microprocessors continue to get
faster and faster, real scalability is achieved by
adding more processors or by adding more PCs to a
cluster—a process known as "scaling out."
Windows 2000 provides
the technologies required to let your Internet
applications grow without limitations. For
example, it allows the most demanding high-end
applications to use more computer memory. In
addition, Windows 2000 Server supports four
simultaneous processors, while Windows 2000
Advanced Server supports eight. Further, core
parts of the operating system have been tuned to
ensure that you get more than ever out of each
processor. For example, Active Server Pages scales
two to three times better on multiple processors
than Windows NT 4.0 does.
Should your
Internet site grow particularly large, services
such as Network Load Balancing (NLB), which is
part of Advanced Server, enable you to grow your
Internet site by simply adding PCs. NLB then
directs traffic on the site to spread it across
the multiple machines without requiring you to
learn whole new development techniques or
reengineer all of your applications. |
|
Security |
| As
businesses extend their networks beyond original
boundaries, for example by adding extranets and
Internet sites, they need to increase system
security. In addition, employees typically store
confidential information on laptops and other
mobile computing devices, which may be lost or
stolen. To help companies enhance their security
to address new ways of using information, Windows
2000 provides end-to-end security. This means that
organizations can integrate systems both inside
and outside the corporate network boundaries,
while providing complete access control and data
protection. Security features include advanced
techniques for identifying who is accessing the
system, including the use of digital "keys" to
access selected data, and a single ID that permits
users to access not only their own computer, but
also other shared resources (such as printers or
files) on the corporate network, the Internet, or
even a business partner’s network.
Windows 2000 Server
provides comprehensive, standards-based security
services, including flexible authentication, data
encryption, flexible and secure network access,
protection of virtual private networks (VPNs)
using core Internet standards such as IP Security
(IPSec), secure transaction processing, and
security extensions for the development platform
such as the CryptoAPI. |
|
Conclusion |
| In
summary, Windows 2000 Server provides the
integrated Web and application development
services, scalability, flexibility, and security
services to allow organizations to extend their
business to the Internet. With Windows 2000
Server, businesses can securely connect with their
customers, partners, and employees—wherever
Internet access is available. Businesses can use
the Internet infrastructure to offer expanded and
innovative applications, rich content, and secure
access to information, products, and services. |
- Back to Windows 2000 Servers - |
