Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003
Windows 2000 was the follow-up to the popular Windows NT 4 network operating system, and it quickly established itself as a reliable and robust operating system. Windows 2000 built on the success of its predecessor and offered many improvements and advancements. In 2003, Microsoft released the latest version of its Windows server family of productsthe aptly named Windows Server 2003. Microsoft still currently supports Windows 2000, and many organizations still have Windows 2000 Server systems deployed.
Three different versions of Windows 2000 are available for server platforms: Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server. Windows 2000 is also available as a workstation operating system: Windows 2000 Professional. Windows 2000 Professional has the majority of features, capabilities, and strengths of Windows 2000 Server products but omits the server-type network services and capabilities.
Like Windows 2000, there are also a number of versions of Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, and Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition. Additionally, Windows Server 2003 Web Edition is designed as a platform for Web-based applications and services. Microsoft fully expects that you will mix and match editions of Windows Server 2003 on a network, so interoperability between the editions is seamless.