Description:   
This article introduce the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 new features and technologies.       

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Windows Server 2003 R2       

What is Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2?       
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 is an update to Microsoft Windows server 2003 operating system. This update is built on Windows Server 2003 SP1. Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 provides several new components that enable better administration, enhanced security, and higher manageability.       

System Requirements

Windows Server 2003 R2 new components:          

Server management components:

1. Administration Tool Packs:
Administration Tool Packs enable administrators to manage servers remotely. You can install these packs from Windows Server 2003 R2 Disc 2 in the \mgmttls directory
 
2. Hardware Management: 
Windows Remote Management (WinRM) is a new tool for Windows server 2003 R2 to manage server hardware remotely across firewall and monitor servers even servers are offline. Windows Remote Management (WinRM) is not installed by default on windows server 2003 R2. To install it, open Control Panel, then Add/Remove windows component.   Administrators can write scripts to monitor and control state of server hardware by communicating with Baseboards Management Controller (BMC). 

BMC is a separate micro-controller with its own network adapter that is connected to the processor board of a server and can monitor conditions even when the server is off or malfunctioning.

3. Microsoft Management Console 3.0 (MMC)

Active Directory Components:

1. Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM):
ADAM is a new mode of Active Directory directory services that is designed to meet the specific needs of organizations that use directory-enabled applications. Active Directory support directory-enabled applications, but some if these applications have a requirement that Active Directory does not meet. For example, some directory-enabled applications require schema changes that administrators may not want to make to Active Directory.  

ADAM is designed to support this kind of scenarios, since ADAM is run completely independently from Active Directory and has it's own schema, you can change it's schema without affect Active Directory.

2. Active Directory Federation Service:
ADFS is a new component in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 that provide single sign-on (SSO) technology to authenticate a  user to multiple Web applications over the life of a single online session.              

Disk and File Management Components:

1. Distributed File System (DFS):       
Distributed File System (DFS) technology in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 provide a fault-tolerant to access files and simplify replications over wide area network (WAN).  

Distributed File System consists of two technologies:

• DFS Namespaces: allow administrators to group shared folders on different servers and present them to user as a virtual tree of folder known as namespace.
• DFS Replication: is replication engine that supports replication scheduling and bandwidth handling. DFS Replication uses a new compression protocol called Remote Differential Compression (RDC), which can be used to efficiently update files over a limited-bandwidth network.

2. File Server Management:
File Server Management enable administrators to perform many file management tasks, creating and managing share, formatting and defragmenting volumes, managing Storage Area Network (SAN).     

Administrator can share file and folder with UNIX and Macintosh systems using File Server Management.

3. File Server Resource Manager:
Is a new MMC snap-in, this tool provide an easier way to manage and control data stored on the server. Administrators can use File Server Resource Manager to place quota on folder, monitor file's activity.   The difference between File Server Resource Manager quota and NTFS disk quota.   

4. Network File System (NFS): 
NFS is a new component in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, enable file sharing between mixed environments. definitely file sharing between Microsoft Windows and UNIX operating systems.

5. Storage Management for SANs:
Storage Manager for SANs is a new Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that helps you create and manage logical unit numbers (LUNs) on fibre channel and iSCSI disk drive subsystems in your storage area network (SAN).

6. Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0: 
The .NET Framework version 2.0 is the latest version of the .NET Framework. And also Installed on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 by default.

7. UNIX integration: 

• Identity Management for UNIX Server for NIS: Enable Windows and UNIX Operating Systems to integrate Network Information Service (NIS) by enabling Active Directory to interact with UNIX as a master NIS server Password Synchronization: users don't need to create separate passwords for their Windows and UNIX accounts.
• Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (SUA): Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (SUA), enable software developers to compiling and running UNIX-based Applications on Microsoft Windows platform.     

Conclusion
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 provides a lot of services and tools that provides a better administration with minimum administrative efforts.