Lesson 1

In order to provide better security when transferring data over a network, Windows provides enhancements to the cryptographic algorithms used to obfuscate data. Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft. Introduced on April 24, 2003 as the successor to Windows Server, it is considered by Microsoft to be the cornerstone of their Windows Server System line of business server products.
According to Microsoft, Windows Server 2003 is more scalable and delivers better performance than its predecessor, Windows 2000
If you are migrating or upgrading from a Windows 2000 environment, you need to know that the ipv6.exe command-line utility is no longer supported in Windows Server 2003. All IPv6 configuration in Windows Server 2003 takes place using the netsh utility.

If you choose to use virtualization software, you need only one physical computer to perform the exercises in this book. That physical host computer must meet the following minimum hardware requirements:

1. x64-based processor that includes both hardware-assisted virtualization (AMD-V or Intel VT) and hardware data execution protection. (On AMD systems, the data execution protection feature is called the No Execute or NX bit. On Intel systems, this feature is called the Execute Disable or XD bit.) These features must also be enabled in the BIOS. (Note: You can run Windows Virtual PC without Intel-VT or AMD-V.) If you want to use Hyper-V on Windows 8, you need a processor that supports Second Level Address Translation (SLAT).
2. 8 GB of RAM (more is recommended).
3. 80 GB of available hard disk space.
4. Internet connectivity.