Deploying Windows 2000 Professional
Assess your network infrastructure by identifying existing network protocols, speed of network links (network bandwidth), and whether or not there is a Windows 2000 Server network infrastructure in place when you install Windows 2000 Professional.
Table 3.2 lists key planning issues related to assessing your network infrastructure and describes how these issues affect your plan.
Table 3.2 Key Planning Issues for Assessing the Network Infrastructure
Issue |
Effect on your plan |
|---|---|
Network protocols |
Network protocols determine how you customize network protocol and associated adapter parameters in several networking sections in the answer file, such as the [NetAdapter], [NetProtocols], and [NetServices] sections. |
Network bandwith |
The amount of network bandwidth available affects your choice of installation tool and method. For example, in locations that do not have a highbandwidth connection to a network server, using a CD-ROM or other local method of installing Windows 2000 Professional (executing Winnt.exe or Winnt32.exe at the command prompt on each computer) is probably the best option. For users with high-bandwidth network connections, but whose computers do not have a remote boot–compliant network card or remote-boot CD ROM, a network-based image duplication or manual installation method will be the next best option. |
Windows 2000 Server network infrastructure |
Having an existing Windows 2000 Server infrastructure in place affects the range of tools you can use to automate and customize installations. For example, if you have a Windows 2000 Server computer configured as a RIS server, you can use Remote OS Installation to image and automatically distributed customized images of a Windows 2000 Professional installation to users. |