Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003, codenamed "Whistler Server", is the second version of the Windows Server operating system produced by Microsoft. It is part of the Windows NT family of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on March 28, 2003 and generally available on April 24, 2003. Windows Server 2003 is the successor to the Server editions of Windows 2000 and the predecessor to Windows Server 2008. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on December 6, 2005. Windows Server 2003 is based on Windows XP.
| Version of the Windows NT operating system | |
Screenshot of Windows Server 2003, showing the Server Manager application which is automatically opened when an administrator logs on | |
| Developer | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| OS family | Windows Server |
| Working state | No longer supported |
| Source model | |
| Released to manufacturing | March 28, 2003 |
| General availability | April 24, 2003 |
| Latest release | Service Pack 2 (5.2.3790.3959) / March 13, 2007 |
| Marketing target | Business |
| Update method | Windows Update |
| Platforms | IA-32, x86-64, Itanium |
| Kernel type | Hybrid (Windows NT kernel) |
| Default user interface | Windows shell (Graphical) |
| License | Trialware and volume licensing, with client access licenses |
| Preceded by | Windows 2000 Server (1999) |
| Succeeded by | Windows Server 2008 (2008) |
| Official website | Windows Server 2003 (archived at Wayback Machine) |
| Support status | |
| All editions except Windows Storage Server 2003 and Windows Small Business Server 2003 (including R2): Mainstream support ended on July 13, 2010 Extended support ended on July 14, 2015 Windows Storage Server 2003 (including R2): Mainstream support ended on October 11, 2011 Extended support ended on October 9, 2016 Windows Small Business Server 2003 (including R2): Mainstream support ended on April 12, 2011 Extended support ended on April 12, 2016 Installing Service Pack 1 is required for all users for receiving updates and support after April 10, 2007. Installing Service Pack 2 is required for all users for receiving updates and support after April 14, 2009. | |
Windows Server 2003's kernel has also been used in Windows XP 64-bit Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, and was the starting point for the development of Windows Vista.
Windows Server 2003 is the final version of Windows Server that supports processors without ACPI. Its successor, Windows Server 2008, requires a processor with ACPI in any supported architecture (x86, x64 and Itanium).
As of July 2016, 18% of organizations used servers that were running Windows Server 2003.