Installing Windows Server 2003
When you run the Windows Server 2003 Setup program, you must provide
Information about how to install and configure the operating system. Thorough
planning can make your installation of Windows Server 2003 more efficient
by helping you to avoid potential problems during installation. An understanding
of the configuration options will also help to ensure that you have properly
configured your system.
Here are some of the most important things you should take into consideration
when planning for your Windows Server 2003 installation:
• Check System Requirements
• Check Hardware and Software Compatibility
• Determine Disk Partitioning Options
• Choose the Appropriate File System: FAT, FAT32, NTFS
• Decide on a Workgroup or Domain Installation
• Complete a Pre-Installation Checklist
After you made sure you can go on, start the installation process.
Operating Systems from Which You Can Upgrade
If you upgrade, Setup automatically installs Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, into the same folder as the currently installed operating system. You can upgrade to Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, from the following versions of Windows:
• Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or later
• Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition, with Service Pack 5 or later
• Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition, with Service Pack 5 or later
• Windows 2000 Server
• Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
Note: If you have a version of Windows NT earlier than 4.0, you cannot upgrade directly to a product in the, Windows Server 2003 family. You must first upgrade, to Windows NT 4.0 and apply Service Pack 5 before upgrading to a product in the Windows, Server 2003 family.
System Requirements and Hardware Compatibility
Before upgrading or installing your server, make sure that you have chosen hardware that supports Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition.
System Requirements
To ensure adequate performance, make se that computers on which you install or upgrade to Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, meet the following requirements:
For an x86-based computer:
• One or more processors with a recommended minimum speed of 550 Mhz (minimum supported speed is 133 MHz). A maximum of eight processors per computer is supported. Processors from the Intel Pentium! Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processors are recommended.
• 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM recommended minimum (128 MB minimum H supported, 32 gigabytes (GB) maximum).
For computers with more than 4 GB of RAM, be sure to check the hardware compatibility information in the Windows Catalog at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/
For an Itanium architecture-based computer:
• One or more processors with a minimum speed of 733 MHz. A maximum of eight processors per computer is supported.
. 1 GB of RAM minimum, 64 GB maximum.
For computers with more than 4 GB of RAM, be sure to check the hardware
compatibility information in the Windows Catalog at:
http:/!www.microsoft.comfwindows/catalog/
• A hard disk partition or volume with enough free space to accommodate the setup process To ensure that you have flexibility in your later use of the operating system, it is recommended that you allow considerably more space than the minimum required for running Setup, which is approximately 1 .25 GB to 2 GB on an x86-based computer and 3 GB to 4 GB on an itanium architecture-based computer. The larger amount of space is required if you are running Setup across a network instead of from a CD-ROM, or if you are upgrading on a FAT or FAT32 partition (NTFS is the recommended file system).
In addition, a domain controller upgrade from Windows NT 4.0 could require much more space than other upgrades, because the existing user accounts database can expand by as much as a factor of ten during the upgrade, as Active Directory functionality is added.
Note: The setup process requires the free disk space described in the previous paragraphs. After Setup is finished, actual hard disk space used for the operating system will be more than the free space required for Setup, because of space needed for the paging file, for any optional components you install, and (on domain controllers) for user accounts and other Active Directory information. The usual size for the paging file is 1 .5 times the size of the RAM. For information about the paging file, optional components, user accounts, and information stored in Active Directory, see Help and
• VGA or higher-resolution monitor (Super VGA 800x600 or higher recommended), keyboard, and (optionally) a mouse or other pointing device.
As an alternative, for operation without a monitor or keyboard, you can choose a remote diagnostic and support processor that is designed for products in the Windows Server 2003 family. For details, see the hardware compatibility information in the Windows Catalog at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/
For CD-ROM installation:
• A CD-ROM or DVD drive.
For network installation:
• One or more network adapters and related cables that are designed for products in the Windows Server 2003 family. For details, see the hardware compatibility information in the Windows Catalog at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/
• A server from which to offer network access for the Setup files. For additional hardware-based functionality:
• Appropriate hardware for the functionality you require. For example, if you plan to support network clients, the servers and clients must have appropriate network adapters and cables. As another example, if you require a server cluster, the entire cluster solution must be listed as compatible with Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition. For details about your hardware, see the hardware compatibility information in the Windows Catalog at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/
Hardware Compatibility
One of the most important steps to take before upgrading or installing your server is to confirm that your hardware is compatible with products in the Windows Server 2003 family. You can do this by running a reinstallation compatibility check from the Setup CD or by checking the hardware compatibility information at the Windows Catalog Web site. Also, as part of confirming hardware compatibility, check to see that you have obtained updated hardware device drivers and an updated system BIOS (or for an Itanium architecture- based computer, the correct firmware).
Regardless of whether you run a reinstallation compatibility check, Setup checks hardware and software compatibility at the beginning of an installation or upgrade and displays a report if there are incompatibilities.
Running a reinstallation compatibility check from the Setup CD: You can run a hardware and software compatibility check from the Setup CD. The compatibility check does not require you to actually begin an installation - or upgrade. To run the check, insert the Setup CD in the CD-ROM drive and, when a display appears, follow the prompts for checking system compatibility. You will be offered the option to download the latest Setup files (through Dynamic Update) when you run the check. If you have Internet connectivity, it is recommended that you allow the download.
Another way to run the compatibility check is to insert the Setup CD in the CD ROM drive, open a command prompt, and type:
d:\i386\winnt32/checkupgradeonly where d represents the CD-ROM drive. Checking hardware and software compatibility information on the Microsoft Web site.
Another way to confirm that your hardware and software are designed for products in the Windows Server 2003 family is to check the hardware and software compatibility information in the Windows Catalog at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/
Note that one type of hardware no longer supported is the Micro Channel bus.
Beginning the installation process
You can install Windows Server 2003 in several methods - all are valid and good, it all depends upon your needs and your limitations.
For example, you can install directly from a CD by booting your computer with the CD, or you can also copy the 1386 folder from a CD and run the setup process by going into the 1386 folder and using the WINNT or WINNT32 command (depending upon your existing operating system).
If doesn’t matter how you run the setup process, but the moment it runs - all setup methods look alike
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