Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Computers An Introduction to Windows 2000 Professional An Introduction to Windows 2000 Professional Windows 2000 Professional is up to 30 percent faster and, according to National Software Testing Labs (NSTL) tests, 13 times more reliable than Windows 98. The operating system is the most reliable version of Windows ever produced. Memory conflicts and missing or altered system files caused many of the system crashes prior to Windows 2000. To put an end to these problems, Microsoft changed Windows 2000 memory management to reduce the chance that software applications will interfere with one another. In addition, Windows 2000 includes a built-in safeguard called Windows File Protection. This feature helps prevent critical operating system files from being deleted or altered by users or applications. Industry studies show that as much as 80 percent of system failures can be traced to human errors or flawed processes. If a system file should be changed or deleted, Windows File Protection can detect the change, retrieve a correct version of the file from a cache, and restore it to the system file folder. The end user never knows the repairs have been made because Windows 2000 just keeps running ( (1)Windows). The following is a list of improvements in Windows 2000. It should be noted that this covers the entire Windows 2000 family (Server, Advanced Server, and Professional). • Improved Internal Architecture: Windows 2000 includes new features designed to protect your system, such as preventing new software installations from replacing essential system files or stopping applications from writing into the kernel of the OS. This greatly reduces many sources of operating system corruption and failure. • Fast Recovery from System Failure: If your system does fail, Windows 2000 includes an integrated set of features that speed recovery. • Improved Code with Developer Tools: Microsoft provided third-party developers with tools and programs to improve the quality of their drivers, system level programs, and application software. These enhancements make it easier for independent software vendors to write dependable code for Windows 2000. • Reduced Reboot Scenarios: Microsoft has greatly reduced the number of operations requiring a system reboot in almost every category of OS functionality: file system maintenance, hardware installation and maintenance, networking and communications, memory management, software installation, and performance tuning (Increasing). NSTL collected uptime data in the real-world environment of several customer sites and concluded that the average system uptime between failures of Windows 2000 Professional is 13 times more than that of Windows 98 and three times more than that of Windows NT Workstation 4.0. The following graph shows results of the test. Another test conducted by ZD labs showed that over a 90 day period Windows 2000 Professional did not fail, while Windows 98 and Windows NT did. IT managers have stated unequivocally that Windows 2000 Professional provides far superior performance and reliability compared to Windows 95. The reported performance disparity between Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows NT Workstation and Windows 2000 Professional has not been as extreme as with Windows 95, but significant improvements do exist. A 300 percent increase in hardware support, significant improvements in hardware utilization and the long-awaited combination of stability and user friendliness for laptop systems are just a few examples ((2) Windows). Windows 2000 Professional is quickly becoming the operating system of choice by mobile users. One big reason is that this latest version of Windows includes a number of notebook-friendly features, including communications tools for dial-up networking. Windows 2000 Professional contains everything most users need. Adding third-party communications software increases cost and reduces consistency of setup, because different employees may use different types of software or Internet Service Providers (ISP). Also, training is less expensive if all dial-up communications use the same features. Cost and consistency are the two of the biggest benefits within the Windows environment. Despite these benefits, setting up the operating system to dial into a corporate network, virtual private network, or even an Internet service provider isn't easy for everyone (Mobile) Because mobile computing is essential to so many businesses, Windows 2000 Professional includes features designed to make using notebook computers simpler and more efficient. In short, running Windows 2000 Professional on a notebook computer, can enhance your mobile computing experience in four major ways ((3) Windows): • Allows You to Work Anytime and Anywhere Did you ever run out of power mid-way through creating an important spreadsheet? Ever notice, you have plenty of power until you start sometime important? Well, Windows 2000 Professional manages your notebook's power so you can work longer. Windows 2000 Professional provides Smart Battery, which gives you a detailed picture of a battery's life and settings, so you can reduce power to some functions to extend your battery's life. With its advanced power-management capabilities, a notebook running Windows 2000 Professional can be put on "Hibernate" mode, which quickly shuts down the system without the need to first close all running applications. When you power the system back up, it will be in the same state as when it went into "Hibernate" mode. All applications and files will still be open and you can get right back to work Allows You to Work Anytime, Anywhere With Windows 2000 Professional, mobile users can easily move back and forth between working online and offline. Mobile computing features keep files up to date and let users work offline as if they were still connected. In short, Synchronization keeps all crucial information up to date. The Synchronization Manager feature provides a centralized, standardized way of synchronizing files for offline use. It eliminates the need to manually download network files onto a laptop before working offline. Also, mobile users no longer need to remember to delete the old version of files and manually download revised versions when they get back online or return to the office. It also allows users to update their files for use offline, then, when back online, automatically copies the offline changes back to the network. The new Synchronization Manager tool in Windows 2000 Professional lets users synchronize all network resources, including files, folders, e-mail, and databases, in a single location. Users can set the Synchronization Manager to automatically synchronize some or all of their resources. For example, users can set certain files and folders to be synchronized every time they log on or off the network. The Synchronization Manager quickly scans the system for any changes, and if it detects any, the resources are automatically updated. Because only resources that have changed are updated, the synchronization process is completed much more quickly. Users can also determine whether files are synchronized when the system is idle, or schedule synchronization for specific time increments, such as every evening. As a result, mobile users always have the most up-to-date information, such as pricing, inventory, or sales data, to communicate to partners and clients. Synchronization Manager users can also synchronize resources based on their connection types. For example, a user can save time by specifying that large database files only be synchronized when the computer is using a high-speed connection or connected to the corporate Local Area Network (LAN). In addition, by caching Web pages and their links, Internet Explorer 5.01 makes it seem like you are browsing the Internet offline. Getting connected to the Internet or a network is secure and hassle-free. Improved connection wizards and support for advanced security and networking protocols let business users dial up to the Internet or to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) from any location. When they connect to the Internet through a network, Windows 2000 Professional automatically locates the correct proxy server and configures Internet Explorer 5.01 to connect through it. Provides the Highest Level of Security When traveling, business users risk having their notebook stolen and sensitive information compromised. With the addition of Encrypted File System (EFS), Windows 2000 Professional offers a high level of security. Sensitive files and folders can be encrypted, if the laptop is stolen, your files and folders are protected, even if the thief reinstalls Windows 2000 Professional. Only users with a special decryption key can access the file. VPNs allow users to rely on the Internet as a secure pipeline to their corporate LAN. Users who are traveling can dial into any local ISP, and then set up a VPN session to connect to their LAN over the Internet. With VPNs, companies can significantly reduce long-distance dial-up charges, and mobile employees have an inexpensive method of remaining connected to LANs for extended periods. Configuring Windows 2000 Professional to connect to a VPN is significantly easier with the new Network Connections Wizard. Users enter the VPN server name, and Windows 2000 Professional automatically configures the device and adds the appropriate networking services. This completes all the settings required for a user to get connected in about one minute. “In addition to supporting today’s most common VPN protocol, Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), Windows 2000 Professional supports new, more secure ways of creating virtual connections. These include Layer-2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) and IP Security (IPSec), which allow users to connect to corporate networks with confidence ((3) Windows).” The hardware support in Windows 2000 Professional can help you save time in two ways, first, the installation process is faster, and second, many of the devices offer speed improvements over prior products. Windows 2000 Professional supports all the latest hardware standards, including Universal Serial Bus (USB), Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocols for wireless communication, IEEE 1394 for devices that require ever faster data transfer, removable storage devices such as digital video disc (DVD), and Device Bay, which is an industry-standard specification for easily adding and upgrading PC peripherals without having to open the computer case. Advanced Plug-and-Play technology helps eliminate time spent manually configuring and rebooting each time you added a device or docked your notebook ((3) Windows). Microsoft’s goal with Windows 2000 Professional was to supply customers with new features to that make it easier to administer and control the desktop. They have made upgrades to certain features and added more for the benefit of the user. One major improvement with Windows 2000 Professional, Microsoft reports that it has successfully reduced the number of scenarios where rebooting is necessary. Another big improvement is in the area of system messages. Windows 2000 Professional displays the message error description in plain English with help links, unlike the NT’s cryptic, unforgiving error codes. The system provides personalized menus, improved help and navigational utilities, and understandable Web integration (Enterprise). In comparison to other Microsoft operating systems, Windows 2000 Professional has improved on their performance. With 64 megabytes of memory, Windows 2000 Professional performs, on average, 25 % faster than Windows 98, and it doesn’t lag under a heavy load ((4) Windows). Users can run more programs and perform more tasks concurrently because of its 32-bit architecture. To upgrade the performance even more, Microsoft added extra memory and an additional processor, which allows the operating system to support up to four gigabytes of RAM and two-way symmetric mulit-processing. Windows 2000 Professional offers a more intuitive and intelligent user interface. They have simplified the Start menu and reduced the amount of desktop clutter. Microsoft’s Wizard technology has been enhanced to provide simpler configuration processes. A new feature for the interface was personalized menus. The new ‘smart’ menu adapts the Start menu to the way you work. For example, it only displays the applications that you use more often than others. Unlike Windows NT, Windows 2000 Professional includes Plug-and-Play, technology that was found in Windows 98, for detecting hardware on both local systems and laptops. The operating system also supports some of the state-of-the-art technologies used by corporate users, including native support for DVD; Universal Serial Bus (USB) mouse, printer, and scanner products; and digital cameras, recorders, and other IEEE 1394-compatible devices (Enterprise). Windows 2000 Professional made it easier for desktop management in a couple of different ways. One way was to create numerous wizards and troubleshooters to help the users to perform their tasks better, instead of relying on the desktop managers for help. The Hardware wizard helps the users to configure, add, remove, troubleshoot, and/or upgrade peripherals. Another way Windows 2000 professional helps with desktop managers is by using IntelliMirror management technologies. With IntelliMirror, it allows managers to apply policies to the user data, desktop settings, and software. It also allows them to easily manage and back up the user’s data. IntelliMirror is associated with Active Directory and the policies are directly associated with the users themselves instead of a certain computer. Overall, IntelliMirror allows the users to have the same environment on different computers. ((4) Windows). The downfall for IntelliMirror, however, is that it works only with Windows 2000 Professional-based systems. This leaves out the enormous installed base of Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 95/98 clients. Windows 2000 Professional has also included a set of management feature that helps them set up, maintain and troubleshoot desktops across the network. The Microsoft Management Console (MMC) gives the desktop manager a common user interface presentation tool where they can integrate all the necessary Windows-based and Web-based administration components needed to fulfill a specific task. Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) provides joined access and event services, allowing the desktop manager to control and monitor Windows-based environments, SNMP devices, and all host environments that support the Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) standards. The Recovery Console allows desktop managers to repair a system by copying a file from a floppy disk or CD-ROM to a hard drive, or to reconfigure a service that is preventing a computer from starting properly. ((4) Windows). The Windows 2000 Professional security allows the users and administrators to select the appropriate level of protection for their information and applications, whether they are exchanging or storing information on individual computers, a LAN, and intranet, or the Internet. Encrypting File System (EFS) is a part of Windows NTFS and protects data on a computer’s hard drive. It encrypts each file with a randomly generated key. Professional supports Keberos, which is a security system that authenticates clients and servers. Keberos saves time by allowing single sign-on in virtually any network environment. This gets rid of the need to request and re-granting access permission every time a user logs onto a different resource on the network. “The Windows® 2000 Professional operating system naturally integrates using the Internet with the rest of our daily tasks. From working with files and Web pages to sharing information with fellow employees or business partners, the flow of work between the desktop, the network, and the Internet is more seamless: you don’t have to remember several ways of doing things. Small businesses can benefit from the ability to connect several people to the Internet through one computer. Large businesses can take advantage of improved communications management made possible using Windows 2000 Professional on their client computers; and all sizes of companies can use the standards-based technology in Windows 2000 to create custom applications that strengthen the connections between employees, customers, and partners. It wasn’t long ago that the operating system only had to help you find files on your local computer or across the corporate network. Business computing has expanded to include the resources available on the Internet, and this has radically expanded the scope of information that one can use each day. The trick is going back later and finding the Web pages, files, graphics, and the myriad other bits and pieces of information you need to do the job. With Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5.01 built in, Windows 2000 Professional offers the easy way to connect and work on the Internet, whether at the office, at home, or even offline. Internet Explorer 5.01 is designed to save time on the two most common tasks—searching and keeping track of information. It helps you find and organize information on your hard drive, intranet, or Internet. With the Search bar, you can search faster and get exactly where you want to go. You can choose whether to search Web pages, people's addresses, or businesses and which search engine to use. With the integrated History bar, you can quickly find your way back to information you browsed in the past—whether it was on a Web site, intranet site, or in a file folder. All information is listed in the history in the same way, so you don’t have to hop around between file systems and favorites lists, or run new searches to find material you’ve already located. For businesses that want to provide access to a few employees with minimal hardware expense, Windows 2000 allows up to 10 computers to simultaneously share a single connection—either dial-up or broadband—to the Internet. This capability, provided by the Internet Connection Sharing feature, is ideal for small businesses. It’s only natural to want to be able to use your corporate network and the Internet just as easily when you’re away from the office as you can when you’re at your desk. Regardless of where you are, Windows 2000 can help you connect quickly, easily, and securely. You can connect directly to your company network with a dial-up connection or ISDN line whether you’re in the field or using your home computer. Connecting to your network through the Internet is another option using virtual private networking (VPN). This creates a secure communications link between your computer and another, even though you’re using the Internet rather than a private phone line or network cable. The Internet and network convergence can significantly change the way a business provides customer service. Customers can interact with your business using phone, e-mail, fax, chat, Instant Messaging, and Voice-over IP. You can use this mix of communication technologies to provide real-time customer service on the Web to improve your all your sales efforts, and particularly e-commerce activities. The telephony technologies are a prime example of the features in Windows 2000 Professional that developers can use to create custom applications for your business. Using Windows 2000 Professional as a client gives application developers several advantages. With support for Dynamic HTML (DHTML) and DHTML behaviors in Internet Explorer 5, developers can build rich applications with attributes that can be easily replicated and tested on multiple sites, faster than ever before. With the browser support for Extensible Markup Language (XML), developers can invent new ways to create, exchange, and display information. When Windows 2000 Professional is combined with the integrated Web and communication services built into Windows 2000 Server, developers can create highly scalable, end-to-end e-commerce and line-of-business solutions for companies of all sizes. The Windows 2000 Professional operating system makes using the Internet a natural part of daily computing. From finding files and Web pages, to connecting to your company network from the road, the technologies in Windows 2000 make it simple to get the most value from the Internet with minimal effort. In addition, the operating system provides a good foundation for emerging communications technologies and gives developers a way of integrating those technologies in applications that can improve the way you run your business and service your customers ((5) Windows).” Bibliography: Works Cited 1. Enterprise Business, enterprise.cnet.com, Accessed 21 September 2001. 2. Increasing System Reliability and Availability with Windows 2000, http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/business/relavail Asp, Accessed 9 September 2001. 3. Mobile Computing and Windows 2000 Professional, www.mightywords.com, Accessed 15 September 2001. 4. (2) Windows 2000 Professional and Server Score an ‘A’ for Performance and Reliability, http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/evoluation/ news/external/gigaa.asp, Accessed 9 September 2001. 5. (3) Windows 2000 Professional: Built for Mobile Users, http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/evaluation/business/overview/mobile/default.asp, Accessed 16 September 2001. 6. (1) Windows 2000 Professional: Most Reliable Windows Ever, http:// www.microsoft .com/windows2000/professional/evaluation/business overview/reliable/muchmore, Accessed 9 September 2001. 7. (4) Windows 2000 Professional: Easy to Use and Maintain, http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/evaluation/business/overview/manage/default.asp, Accessed 21 September 2001. 8. (5) Windows 2000 Professional: Internet Ready, http://www.microsoft.com/ windows2000/professional/evaluation/business/overview/internet/default.asp, Accessed 22 September 2001. Word Count: 3309
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