Questions about Windows Server 2003 installation

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON WINDOWS NETWORKING TIPS
08/17/05
Today's focus: Questions about Windows Server 2003 installation

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Answering reader questions about installing Windows Server
  2003
* Links related to Windows Networking Tips
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: Questions about Windows Server 2003 installation

By Dave Kearns

A while ago, I got a note from a reader with some questions
about installing Windows Server 2003. It's a dilemma that many
have and will face in the future, so it's worth exploring here.
As always, feel free to disagree with my suggestions - but do be
ready to back up your disagreement with facts, personal
experiences or at least humorous anecdotes.

My correspondent wrote:

"We have a new IBM server in both of our offices, but haven't
started using them yet, and we want to set them up the best way
before putting them online. Both servers have [Win 2000] server
installed, but on one, that is all. The other also has all the
software programs we use. Neither has any files on it yet. We
found out recently, as a small non-profit that we can get
[Windows Server 2003] cheaply, so we decided to do that, and are
waiting for it to arrive."

So the scenario is two servers, one with only the operating
system installed and one with the operating system and the
organization's applications. The questions I was asked were:
1) Should we uninstall the programs from the computer that has
them before installing 2003?
2) Should we install SP1 or wait till they fix the bugs it's
going to cause?
3) Can we install 2003 over 2000? Or should we start over from
scratch?

I'll start with question No. 3. With the server that only has
the operating system installed, I'd wipe it clean and install
Windows Server 2003 as a new, fresh install. This eliminates any
problems that might arise from older drivers or services that
are inexplicably not updated. But I'd also recommend - provided
you have some time - to do the install as an upgrade on the
server that already has the applications installed. Then I'd
install those applications on the server on which we installed
Windows Server 2003 as a new system. By comparing the two in the
lab, it should be quickly apparent if there are problems with
the old apps on the new system. If you don't have the time for
this, then I'd wipe both servers and do fresh installs on each.

That pretty well answers question No. 1 as well: either keep the
applications and upgrade the operating system or wipe the whole
server and start from scratch.

Question No. 2 is a bit moot at this point as SP1 has been out
long enough for us to know that you should install it, and do so
before adding any software to the system. But, in general, the
question could be rephrased as "How soon after its release
should a service pack be installed?" The definitive answer is
"it depends."

Any service pack should be subjected to testing in the real
world before it's installed. If you have the facilities, you
should do this yourself on a test system that's not connected to
your organization's network. If you can't test yourself, then
you should hold back until others have tested it and released
their findings. If you know that there is something in the
service pack that you absolutely have to have, then find some
way to test it quickly on your own even if that means taking
down part of the production network for a few hours (probably
not during the normal work day, though) to act as a quick and
dirty test bed. Be sure that anyone who might be affected is
given plenty of notice, though.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Cisco to juice 6500 switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5301>

2. Google goes berserk
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5302>

3. Test: CipherTrust tops encryption field
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5303>

4. IT staff shortage looming
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5304>

5. Cisco to double Catalyst 6500 switch capacity in coming
months, report says
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5040>

Today's most-forwarded story:

Cisco to juice 6500 switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt5305>
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Dave Kearns

Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's
written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print
"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be
found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>.

Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows
Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management.
Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these

respective addresses: <mailto:windows@vquill.com>,
<mailto:netware@vquill.com>, <mailto:identity@vquill.com>.

Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books,
manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing,
technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill
provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at
<mailto:info@vquill.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Nokia
Empower Your Mobile Enterprise

Nokia believes that business mobility will fundamentally change
the way work gets done-and for the better. To allow the entire
organization to get the most from this paradigm shift in
productivity, Nokia Enterprise Solutions focuses on delivering
increased efficiency through enhanced mobility. Learn more by
downloading this white paper today!
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110498
_______________________________________________________________
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