14 DAY TRIAL // Now that Microsoft has made Windows Server 2003 SP2 Release Candidate available for the general public, I thought I would let you in on Microsoft's top 10 reasons for installing the product. At the top of the Redmond Company's list are security updates/hotfixes for all Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional x64 Editions. The second reason is related to the Windows Deployment Services via new file-based Windows Imaging Format with support for Windows Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn".
In addition to increased manageability, Windows Server 2003 SP2 additionally delivers improved networking performance through the Scalable Networking Pack and improved manageability for Ipsec with Active Directory.
"Making common tasks easier, SP2 introduces customer-driven improvements to the Domain Controller Diagnostics tool (DCDIAG) and MS Configuration (MSCONFIG) tool. SP2 also has an updated Access Control List (ICACLS) program to allow for greater flexibility when backing up Access Control Lists," revealed Microsoft.
Routine system management tasks are centralized in the Microsoft Management Console 3.0. Also, by delivering a single patching solution for R2 and non-R2 editions of Windows Server 2003, Microsoft has optimized update management.
Coming in 9 additional localized languages, Windows Server 2003 SP2 "offers performance improvements for Windows Server 2003 running as a Virtual Server guest under high Advanced Processor Interrupt Controller (APIC) rates and provides the ability to manage the WPA2 protocol for wireless networks," added Microsoft.