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It's more stable, performs better and is easier to manage, but not all desktops are welcome at this party.
The long-awaited successor to Windows NT is finally seeing the light of day. We tested the final code Microsoft shipped to manufacturing late last month. Most of the bells and whistles work as advertised, but planning for, testing and deploying Windows 2000 is going to be a slow and daunting process.
We looked at Windows 2000 Server and Advanced Server editions. Enterprise installations won't reap the full benefits from server upgrades unless they also put Win 2000 on all their desktop machines. Most of the useful features of Windows 2000 Server IntelliMirror, group policy management and Kerberos security - are confined to networks that are homogeneously Win 2000.
Active Directory is central to security, resource access, IntelliMirror features, administrative control and the availability of network resources. You can correct mistakes and manipulate Active Directory information easily using Active Directory Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-ins, but you're better off getting it right the first time.
Each Win 2000 server can play one of three roles in the Active Directory infrastructure: stand-alone server, member server or domain controller.
Servers can run in a mixed NT and Win 2000 mode or in native Win 2000 mode, which precludes relationships with NT domains except through directory brokerage services. Running Win 2000 in "native" mode removes many of the widely publicized NT/LAN Manager security problems and will make access to resources quicker and easier for end users and administrators.
Because the directory service is based upon an extension to the Internet Domain Name System, DNS must be...