Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Microsoft Windows Server

2003 Release 2 (R2) is a collection of updates and

security enhancements designed to increase the

security, reliability, and productivity of enterprise IT resources.

SP2 is supported on multiple versions of Windows Server

2003, including Microsoft Windows® Storage Server 2003

and Windows Small Business Server 2003. The system

requirements for Windows Server 2003 R2 with SP2 are the

same as those for Windows Server 2003 R2.

Key features of SP2 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Key features of SP2 include Windows Deployment Services

(WDS), changes to Windows Product Activation (WPA), and

the Microsoft Scalable Networking Pack (SNP).

Windows Deployment Services WDS is an enhanced version of Microsoft Remote Installation

Services (RIS) designed to deploy images on bare-metal serv-

ers using the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE). Installing

SP2 upgrades an existing RIS server to a WDS server, retain-

ing the existing configuration while providing additional

features such as the following:

• Native support for the Windows Imaging (WIM) file format

• A Microsoft Management Console snap-in providing

extensive management capabilities for WDS features

• Support for installing the Microsoft Windows Vista™

OS and Windows Server 2008 (code-named “Longhorn”),

the next version of Windows Server planned by

Microsoft

• The WDS Legacy snap-in to support images for legacy

operating systems (defined as all current operating

systems other than Windows Vista and Windows

Server 2008, such as Windows XP and Windows

Server 2003)1

Windows Product ActivationSP2 integrated images are WPA enabled, meaning that enter-

ing the product identification key during the installation is

optional. The OS runs without this key until the grace period

expires, after which a key is required. Dell PowerEdge servers

that have had the OS preinstalled include OS media utilizing

Microsoft System Lock Preinstall, which does not require

activation or a product identification key.

Scalable Networking PackSP2 includes the SNP, which helps accommodate network

traffic growth without overloading processor resources by

supporting networking technologies designed to elimi-

nate OS bottlenecks from packet processing. This feature

requires a network adapter with TCP/IP Offload Engine

(TOE) enabled, which is a standard feature of ninth-gen-

eration Dell PowerEdge servers.

Related Categories:

Dell PowerEdge servers

Microsoft WindowsServer 2003

Visit www.dell.com/powersolutions

for the complete category index.

Service Pack 2 (SP2) for the Microsoft® Windows Server® 2003 Release 2 OS is designed to enhance the security, reliability, and productivity of enterprise IT resources. This article discusses key features of SP2 and describes best practices for deploying it on Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers.

By Bhushan Gavankar

Perumal raja

lukman mannurkar

1 For more information about WDs, visit technet2.microsoft.com/Windowsvista/en/library/9e197135-6711-4c20-bfad-fc80fc2151301033.mspx.

MicroSoft WiNDoWS

DELL POWER SOLUTIONS | august 20071 reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, august 2007. Copyright © 2007 Dell Inc. all rights reserved.

UpdatingMicrosoftWindowsServer2003on Dell PowerEdge Servers

Methods of deploying SP2 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 The first step in any deployment process is to

evaluate the existing IT environment. Before

deploying SP2 (or any service pack upgrade),

administrators typically should document infra-

structure and network components and install

updates to BIOSs, firmware, and drivers. After

doing so, they can apply the update using the

stand-alone SP2 package or the integrated

image for Windows Server 2003 R2 with SP2.

Systems using Dell OpenManage™ software

may require some additional steps; for more

information, see the “Dell OpenManage and

SP2 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2”

section in this article.

Deploying the stand-alone package on existing systemsAdministrators can download the stand-alone

SP2 package from the Microsoft Web site, then

deploy it on top of an existing system running

Windows Server 2003 with SP1 or Windows

Server 2003 R2.2 Administrators can perform

this deployment in several ways:

• Upgrading from local media using the stand-

alone SP2 package

• Upgrading from a network share containing

the installation files

• Automating the deployment process by

using an enterprise software deployment

tool such as Microsoft Systems Management

Server or Windows Installer (Update.msi)

and Group Policy

Of these choices, upgrading from local

media is typically the simplest method,

although upgrading from a network share is

also relatively simple and eliminates the need

for media. However, these two methods may

be too time-consuming for organizations

upgrading a large number of servers. Therefore,

for many midsize and large organizations,

automating the deployment process may be

the most appropriate choice. After deploy-

ment, administrators can verify successful

installation by selecting Start > Control Panel >

System, then looking in the General tab of the

System Properties window.

Deploying the integrated image on new systemsAs with the stand-alone package, administra-

tors can deploy the integrated image for

Windows Server 2003 R2 with SP2 on new sys-

tems in several ways:

• Ordering a server with the OS preinstalled

• Performing a clean installation using OS

media

• Performing a clean installation over a net-

work using a Dell Remote Access Controller

(DRAC)

• Using Microsoft RIS or WDS

OrderingaserverwiththeOSpreinstalled.

Administrators can order Dell PowerEdge

servers with Windows Server 2003 R2 with SP2

preinstalled. This option helps ensure that the

servers integrate the latest Dell BIOS, firmware,

and driver versions as well as the latest version

of the Dell OpenManage suite.

PerformingacleaninstallationusingOS

media. This type of installation can vary

depending on the source of the media. Dell

PowerEdge servers ordered with Windows

Server 2003 R2 with SP2 preinstalled include

the OS media. Because this media utilizes

Microsoft System Lock Preinstall, administra-

tors do not need to enter the product

identification key or activate the OS during

installation, which may be required when

using retail media. Administrators should

keep in mind that SP2 includes changes to the

WPA process.

When performing clean installations on

PowerEdge servers, administrators should use

Dell OpenManage Server Assistant 8.10 (bun-

dled with Dell OpenManage 5.2), which con-

tains the latest nonnative drivers required by

these servers.

Performingacleaninstallationoveranet-

workusingaDRAC. Administrators can use the

virtual CD drive option included in DRACs to

install Windows Server 2003 R2 with SP2. This

option requires the DRAC 4 or later.

UsingMicrosoftRISorWDS. RIS and WDS

are designed to permit network-initiated setup,

enabling administrators to deploy both client

and server operating systems on bare-metal

servers that support PXE. WDS, a feature added

in SP2, supports installation of legacy client

and server operating systems as well as

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 (see

the “Windows Deployment Services” section in

this article).

Dell OpenManage and SP2 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Dell OpenManage 5.2 supports Windows

Server 2003 R2 with SP2; however, it may not

support all servers that have been supported

in previous Dell OpenManage versions.

Administrators should refer to the readme file

included on the Dell OpenManage 5.2 CD for

a list of supported servers.

2 For more information about the stand-alone sP2 package, visit technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb294403.aspx and technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb229701.aspx.

service Pack 2 for microsoft Windows server 2003 release 2 is designed to increase the security, reliability, and productivity of enter-prise IT resources.”

2www.dell.com/powersolutionsreprinted from Dell Power Solutions, august 2007. Copyright © 2007 Dell Inc. all rights reserved.

www.dell.com/powersolutions

If using Dell OpenManage 4.4 or later,

administrators should update the system BIOS,

system and device firmware, and device drivers;

install Dell OpenManage 5.2; and then install

SP2. If using Dell OpenManage 4.3 or earlier,

administrators should first uninstall the existing

Dell OpenManage tools and software, then

update the system BIOS, system and device

firmware, and device drivers; install SP2; and

install Dell OpenManage 5.2. Figure 1 shows the

steps for installing SP2 on systems running Dell

OpenManage software. The latest versions of

Dell OpenManage software and system BIOS,

firmware, and drivers are available for download

from support.dell.com.

Best practices for SP2 deployment on Dell PowerEdge servers Service Pack 2 for Microsoft Windows Server

2003 R2 provides cumulative system updates

in a single package, including features such

as Windows Deployment Services, changes

to Windows Product Activation, and the

Microsoft Scalable Networking Pack. Following

the best practices described in this article

can help administrators choose an appropri-

ate method of deploying SP2 on their Dell

PowerEdge servers.

Bhushan Gavankar is a senior engineering

analyst in the Server Operating Systems

Engineering Group at the Dell Bangalore

Development Center. Bhushan has a B.E. in

Electronics and Telecommunication from the

University of Mumbai.

Perumal Raja is a senior engineering analyst in

the Server Operating Systems Engineering

Group at the Dell Bangalore Development

Center. Perumal has a B.Tech. in Electronics and

Communication from Pondicherry University.

Lukman Mannurkar is a senior systems engi-

neer in the Server Operating Systems

Engineering Group at the Dell Bangalore

Development Center. Lukman has a diploma in

Electronics and Communication Engineering

from the government of Karnataka’s Department

of Technical Education.

Figure 1. Installing SP2 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 on systems running Dell OpenManage software

Is Dell OpenManage 4.4or later running on the system?

Yes No

Update system BIOS,system and device firmware,

and device drivers

Install Dell OpenManage 5.2

Install SP2 forMicrosoft Windows

Server 2003 R2

Uninstall Dell OpenManagetools and software

Update system BIOS,system and device firmware,

and device drivers

Install Dell OpenManage 5.2

Install SP2 forMicrosoft Windows

Server 2003 R2

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