Ask the Windows 2000 Dev Team: What's New in Windows 2000 RC2

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What's New in RC2

Q: What's new in Windows 2000 Release Candidate 2?

A: Microsoft has worked closely with Beta users to fix bugs and to deliver solutions to address customer feedback. This release delivers further fit-and-finish work that makes Windows 2000 easier to set up and configure; improves wizards and error messages to make them clearer; makes using Windows 2000 administration tools a more consistent experience; and improves hardware and software compatibility.

Broader Hardware and Software Support

  • Enhanced hardware support — for example, Plug and Play of multi-function peripherals (printing, scanning, etc.). More printers are now supported, including the Hewlett-Packard OfficeJet series.

  • Improved application compatibility.

Simplified Administration

Easier Setup & Configuration:

  • Simplified connection to the Internet — both for large businesses using RRAS (Routing & Remote Access Services) that want more control over administration, and for home users or small businesses using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to connect their private network directly to the Internet. The new RRAS Setup Wizard is now more scenario-based; common configurations are clearly described and easier to understand, such as how to enable remote computers to dial into a network. Options are easier to configure, such as RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service) for centralized policy management, DNS Proxy/DHCP allocation for NAT (Network Address Translation), PPTP/L2TP filters for VPN (Virtual Private Networks) and adding IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol).

  • Simplified DNS configuration by making it easier to create DNS PTR (pointer) records and by adding age and scavenging information to file-based zones. A PTR record is used for mapping a reverse DNS domain name, based on the IP address of a computer that points to the forward DNS domain name of that computer. DNS Aging/Scavenging enables the administrator of a DNS server to track whether a record is periodically refreshed (which indicates its validity) and periodically scavenge/delete stale records.

Simplified Dialog Boxes & Message Text:

  • Simplified error messages for greater clarity.

  • Added warning text to options that have a potential adverse impact on system or network performance.

  • Added message pages that educate the user about a feature or explain how to perform the step required to set up a service. These instructions are visible while the administrator performs the recommended actions.

  • Added meaningful descriptions to each service so that users know what is running on their computers.

  • Displayed InfoTips when the description is truncated or because the column is too narrow to display the full text.

  • Modified dialog boxes to ensure that text can be easily translated into other languages without distorting the appearance of text.

  • Moved most frequently used commands to the top of context menus.

Improved Start Menu:

  • Cleaned up the Start Menu by removing unnecessary items, adding more meaningful icons, and adding InfoTips to each program.

  • Added Local Security Settings and Services snap-ins to the Start Menu, making it easier to find and configure domain-wide security policies.

Enhanced Event Viewer:

  • Enhanced the Event Viewer by adding hyperlink support to the description field. For instance, applications can now log events with URLs pointing to technical support sites. All event data is placed on one property page, making it easier to open an old log file and copying an entire event to the Clipboard so that the event can be easily pasted into an e-mail message.

Key administration tools that have been enhanced include:

  • Active Directory Users and Computers & Active Directory Domains and Trusts.

  • Security Policies, Computer Management and Performance Monitor.

  • DHCP, DNS & WINS and Routing and Remote Access.

Windows Media Services

RC2 includes Windows Media Services, which delivers high-quality streaming multimedia to users on the Internet and intranets. It consists of server and tools components for delivering audio, video, illustrated audio and other multimedia types over networks.

Broader Security Options

Added 30 new international Certification Authorities (CAs) covering approximately 20 countries. Certificate Services provides customizable services for issuing and managing certificates used in software security systems employing public key technologies. You can use Certificate Services in Window 2000 to create a certification authority (CA) which will receive certificate requests, verify the information in the request and the identity of the requester, issue certificates, revoke certificates, and publish certificate revocation lists.