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One of the many useful upgrades available for Windows NT Server 4.0 is the NT 4.0 Option Pack. Released in June of 1998, this package contains a set of application and Web services that represent the next generation of distributed network applications for Windows NT 4.0. In addition, the software distributed in the Option Pack takes advantage of some of the core technologies of the Windows NT 5.0 operating system. In fact, you could almost consider the Option Pack a mini-preview of some of the tools and features of NT 5.0.
The Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack includes: Internet Information Server 4.0, Microsoft Transaction Server 2.0, and the Microsoft Management Console, among other things. In this article, we'll show you how to download and install the Option Pack and then take a closer look at three of the new tools and services it contains.
What you'll need
Before installing the Option Pack, you'll need to make sure your system meets the minimum requirements and that you've installed the required patches. The system requirements established by Microsoft are as follows:
1. For Intel and compatible systems:
Pentium 66 MHz or higher; Pentium 90 MHz recommended
32MB of memory (RAM); 64MB recommended
200MB of available hard-disk space
2. For Risc-based systems:
System with Alpha processor 48MB of memory (RAM); 64MB recommended
200MB of available hard-disk space
3. CD-ROM drive
4. VGA, Super VGA, or video graphics adapter compatible with Windows NT Server 4.0
5. Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
You'll also need to install Windows NT Service Pack 3 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 before installing the Option Pack.
Where to get it
Ypu can download the package directly from Microsoft, but you must register with them before they will let you have the software. The Option pack is 27.0MB, so it may take a while for it to download. You can find the service pack by going to the NT Server Home page at
www.microsoft.com/ntserver.
From here, select Downloads from the menu bar, on the left of the page, to go to the Windows Downloads page. Leave the Select Products Or Features dropdown list on Windows NT Server and change the Select A...