What is the difference between Windows 2000, Windows 2000 Pro and Windows 2000 Server?

[ddeder]

All of these operating system names are very confusing to me...

Are these all just different names for the same OS or are there really differences?

 

[stevewm]

4 versions of Win2k exist:


Win2k Pro:

Supports up to 2 processors. Allows up to 10 network connections.


Win2k Server:

4 processors, unlimited network connections, comes with Microsoft IIS, can act as domain controller, simply to many to list...

Win2k Advanced Server:

all of above, supports 8 processors, supports more than 4GB of system RAM (up to 64GB) when used with supporting hardware..


Win2k Datacenter:

all of above, plus a few features relivant to Datacenter use...

 

[SaturnX]

Just to add, Windows 2000 Professional also comes with Microsoft IIS.

--Mark

 

[Nothinman]

Just to add, Windows 2000 Professional also comes with Microsoft IIS.

Although a very stripped down version.

 

[ddeder]

Thanks for the replies. I see that Windows 2000 Server comes with 5 client licenses. What exactly is a client license? I am about to purchase some software that requires Windows 2000 Server. Currently I have three computers on a peer-to-peer network, two running Windows 98 SE and one running Windows XP Home. I intend to have another machine built on which I will install Windows 2000 Server. I assume I can leave the current operating systems on the rest of the computers and the Windows 2000 Server machine will act as a dedicated server (no longer a peer-to-peer network). Will I need to install additional software on the workstations in order to get them to communicate with Windows 2000 Server?

 

[owensdj]

ddeder, a client access license allows another computer to access resources on the server. If you have a 5 client access licenses, that means up to 5 computer can access the server at the same time.

You won't need to install any additional software to allow Windows 2000 Professional machine to access the Windows 2000 Server. It might help if we knew what software you're about to purchase that requires Windows 2000 Server.

 

[AluminumStudios]

See my post in this thread - http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=34&threadid=853004

 

[UsandThem]

Whut?

I can say this is a thread that was inactive for 20 years.