Introduction

Microsoft Windows Server R2 Enterprise Edition is the premier platform for business-critical applications. Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition builds on the standard features found in the Windows Server 2003 R2 family by adding features designed to increase the reliability scalability, security, and manageability of enterprise applications. This paper provides an introduction to the major technical features in Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition and discusses the application of those features to mission-critical applications, such as e-mail, databases, and business applications.

Businesses today increasingly rely on Information Technology (IT) to function effectively. Traditional workloads, such as inventory management and transaction processing, are being joined by an array of other applications, such as payroll and attendance reporting and customer relationship management (CRM) software. Additionally, companies have increasingly named e-mail among the top mission-critical applications in a number of recent studies.

Because your business places so much demand on its applications, you need an enterprise server platform that will provide reliable operation, offer scalable headroom, and, of course, be secure. Moreover, the server platform must also be manageable, interoperable with industry standards and legacy systems, and support your goals in reducing your total cost of ownership (TCO), by doing more with less.

Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition meets those needs with enhanced reliability through failover clustering and fault-tolerant configurations, scalability up to eight processors, and 1 TB (terabyte) of RAM. Building on the dependable security of the Windows Server™ family, Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition supports enterprise-level security scenarios, such as more scalable Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service protocol (RADIUS) services and virtual private network (VPN) quarantine. Finally, Enterprise Edition is a highly manageable platform, which contributes to reliable and secure operation.

As the business moves commerce and other operations to the Internet, the demand for these applications, both Web-based and back-end processing systems, grows to require 24/7 support. Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition is the recommended edition for supporting mission-critical enterprise applications, such as databases, e-mail, business applications, and branch office management. This paper will look at the benefits of using the Windows Server R2 family, the application of Enterprise Edition features to mission-critical applications, and drill down on the features found only in Enterprise Edition to explain their benefits.

Key Features
Microsoft designed and built the Windows Server 2003 family to help businesses meet the growing needs for reliable, scalable, and secure business applications. Building on the features and functionality of Windows 2000 and providing broader and more in-depth support for industry standards, the Windows Server 2003 family became the most dependable, connected, and productive family of servers ever built. This success has led to the introduction of Windows Server 2003 R2, which is built on the reliable and scalable foundation of Windows Server 2003 SP1 and adds support for several new and compelling scenarios. Windows Server 2003 R2 makes it easier and more cost-effective to manage remote locations and branch offices, manage identities and data storage throughout and beyond an organization, interoperate with UNIX systems, as well as take advantage of virtualization technology.

Additionally, Microsoft understands that system architects are called upon more and more often to do more with less. A modern computing infrastructure requires an ever increasing range of functionality. Windows Server 2003 is flexible, so it can continue to meet IT needs as they change over time, including the ability to add more capacity without taking the system offline. Therefore, Windows Server 2003 R2 also provides the best economics available to your organization.

The flagship product of the Windows Server family, Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition, has been designed specifically to meet the needs of many important workloads, from the regional branch office to the application server to the corporate data center that houses mission-critical applications. The following features of Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition** provide enhancements in the areas of reliability, scalability, security, and manageability.

Reliability
Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition is the most reliable operating system Microsoft has ever offered. Reaching 99.99 percent (four nines) uptime-that's less than an hour downtime per year-has become much easier with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition. With a reliable software system, you can ensure that your enterprise's servers are consistently available to your customers.

Package Contents

• Windows Server 2003 R2A Enterprise
• 25 Client Access Licenses (CALs)
• Preinstallation Guide
• Manual

Minimum System Requirements

• Multi-Processor Support
  Up to 8 processors
  
• CPU Speed
  Minimum 733 MHz
  
• RAM
  Minimum: 128 MB
  Maximum: 64 GB for x86-based computers, 1TB for x64-based computers
  Note: for computers with more than 4 GB of RAM, be sure to confirm hardware compatibility by clicking the appropriate link in Support resources.
  
• Disk Space for Setup
  1.5 GB for x86, 2.0 GB for x64
  4 GB (Additional free hard disk space is required if you are installing over a network.)
  
• Peripheral Hardware
  CD-ROM or DVD drive
  VGA or higher-resolution monitor
  Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
  

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