T
HE CHAPTERS IN THIS BOOK ARE LAID out roughly in the order you would perform a production Windows Server 2003 deployment. Let's start off with setting up a server. This chapter covers the following topics:
Feature comparison of the various Windows Server 2003 versions
Hardware recommendations for Windows Server 2003, Standard and Enterprise Editions
Comprehensive pre-deployment checklist
Overview of setup operations to highlight critical decision points
Detailed steps for a server installation
Analysis of boot sequence to use for troubleshooting
Tips for correcting common setup problems
Chapter 2, "Performing Upgrades and Automated Installations," finishes up the deployment topics. Chapter 3, "Adding Hardware," contains information about modifying a system after installation.
Before installing or upgrading production servers, you should read the chapters covering IP-based services in Windows Server 2003, especially name resolution and DNS. If you are deploying servers within a domain, or you plan on upgrading an existing domain, you should get familiar with the requirements of Active Directory (AD) and network access security.