If you think of Windows .NET Server ("Whistler Server") as what would have been Windows NT Server 5.1, then you've got the right idea. Here's the first--and most comprehensive--FAQ dedicated to the next version of Windows Server anywhere! Be sure to read my Windows XP FAQ as well, for information about the desktop versions of Whistler.

This FAQ was recently updated for the November 2001 Beta 3 release!

Q: What is Windows .NET Server ("Whistler" Server)?
A: Essentially, Windows .NET Server consists of the server editions of the next version of Windows 2000. This includes Standard Server, Enterprise Server, DataCenter Server, as well as a new Web Server edition.

Previous to Windows .NET Server/Windows XP, Microsoft had planned to develop its future consumer and business versions of Windows separately. A consumer product dubbed "Neptune" was already in the works, while a business-only follow-up to Windows 2000 called "Odyssey" was in the planning stages. On Friday, January 21, 2000, I broke the news that Microsoft had consolidated these two products into "Whistler." Then, on Monday, January 24, 2000, I wrote an in-depth follow-up to the story that was quoted in every major computer news agency on the planet, including MSNBC, ZDNet (PC Week, Smart Reseller), CNET, InfoWorld, Internet Week, Windows NT Magazine, and the UK-based Register . I even appeared on CNET Radio in San Francisco that week. Due to all the media coverage, Microsoft was forced to make a public acknowledgement that Whistler was, indeed, the code-name for the next version of Windows.

Who says you can't dance with an elephant?  :)

Sources close to Microsoft expressed their amazement that I had even found out about the plans to drop Neptune and Odyssey as the internal communications about replacing these projects with "Whistler" are marked as "Extreme Microsoft Internal," normally reserved for the company's most sensitive information.

Q: What editions will Windows .NET Server include?
A: Initially, Windows .NET Server will include Web Server, Standard Server, Enterprise Server, and Datacenter versions editions; Enterprise Server and Datacenter Server will ship in 64-bit versions as well.

Q: So what's new in Windows .NET Server?
A: Windows .NET Server is designed as an evolutionary step beyond Windows 2000 Server, thus it is not a major new product revision. Windows .NET Server has been updated to include support for the .NET Framework and XML Web Services; this additional functionality led Microsoft to change the name of the product (which was originally to be simply titled Windows 2002 Server).

Windows .NET Server includes features to make Active Directory (AD) deployments faster and more flexible, such as a Domain Controller (DC) Upgrade Wizard that lets administrators restore DC information from removable media such as CD-ROM and DVD-RAM. AD now supports cross forest trust and authentication and authorization. There are new remote, headless and unattended management features for in-band and out of band administration, 160 new Group Policy settings, 28 new command line tools, a new Software Restriction Policies feature, and several Terminal Services enhancements. Windows .NET Server has also been tweaked for better performance and reliability: Microsoft says that the product performs up to 50 percent faster on the same hardware as equivalent Windows 2000 Server products.

Windows .NET Server includes Internet Information Server (IIS) 6, the latest version of Microsoft's Web server product. IIS 6 has been rewritten for better security, performance and reliability and now ships in lockdown mode by default.

There are many other new features. Please see my overview of the Windows .NET Server Beta 3 release for more information.

Q: What's the difference between the 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows .NET Server?
A: The 64-bit versions of Windows .NET Server run only on Intel Itanium hardware, while the other versions run on 32-bit Intel Pentium-based servers. For more information on 64-bit Windows, see my showcase Introducing Windows 64-bit Editions.

Q: Will I be able to upgrade Windows 2000 Server to Windows .NET Standard Server?
A: Yes. You will be able to upgrade each edition to the corresponding new version (i.e. you can upgrade Windows 2000 Advanced Server to Windows .NET Enterprise Server). You cannot "downgrade" releases, however; for example, you cannot upgrade Windows 2000 Server to Windows .NET Web Server.

Q: This release sounds interesting. Where can I find out more about Windows .NET Server?
A: Please see my overview of the Windows .NET Server Beta 3 release for more information.

Q: When will Windows .NET Server be released?
A: Windows .NET Server is on a different release schedule from the desktop versions (Windows XP). The final release is currently expected by the middle of 2002. There's no reason to rush this release, which is essentially a minor upgrade to Windows 2000.