1. Chapter 2: Planning for Server Hardware
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2. Learning Objectives
Explain the hardware requirements for Windows 2000 Server
Explain the importance of using Microsoft’s hardware compatibility list
Determine specifications for your server in terms of the right processor type, bus type, and advanced bus features
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3. Learning Objectives (continued)
Select the right network interface card (NIC) for your server
Calculate the amount of memory needed for your server
Plan disk capacity, disk architecture, and fault tolerance
Plan a backup system and CD-ROM specifications
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4. System Requirements
Use the Windows 2000 Server basic system requirements as a starting point from which to develop server computer specifications
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5. Windows 2000 Server Hardware Requirements
Table 2-1 Minimum Hardware Requirements to Install Windows 2000 Server
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6. Windows 2000 Server Hardware Requirements (continued)
Table 2-1 Minimum Hardware Requirements to Install Windows 2000 Server
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7. Windows 2000 Professional Hardware Requirements
Table 2-1 Minimum Hardware Requirements to Install Windows 2000 Professional
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8. Windows 2000 Professional Hardware Requirements (continued)
Table 2-1 Minimum Hardware Requirements to Install Windows 2000 Professional
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9. Windows 2000 Server Compatibility
Check the Microsoft hardware compatibility list (HCL) before selecting computer hardware for a server
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10. Hardware Listed in the HCL
Single-processor computers
Multiprocessor computers
Processor upgrades
PCMCIA hardware
SCSI adapters and drives
Video adapters
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11. Hardware listed in the HCL (continued)
Network adapters
Audio adapters
Modems
Printers
Tape devices
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs)
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12. CPU Sizing Select a fast processor
Choose a processor that has a fast clock speed
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13. Pentium Computers
Processor cache: A data storage area that is only used by the system processor.
Level 1 (L1) cache, usually KB, built into the processor
Level 2 (L2) cache that supplements L1 cache and is usually 256 KB to 1 MB.
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14. L2 Cache in Different Pentium Processors
Pentium processor: L2 cache is usually an SRAM chip on the mother board
Pentium Pro: L2 cache is built into the chip
Pentium II and III: L2 cache is on a daughter board
Celeron processor: has no L2 cache
Xeon processor: has special L2 caching for extra speed
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15. Multiprocessor Computers
Symmetric multiprocessor (SMP): employs two or more processors, including some computers that can support up to 32 processors
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16. Clustering Computers
Shared disk model: Linking two or more servers to operate as one and to equally share resources
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17. Shared Disk Clustering
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Figure 2-1 Shared disk clustering model

18. Clustering Computers
Shared disk nothing model: Linking two or more servers to operate as one, but with each owning particular disk, CD-ROM, and tape resources
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19. Shared Nothing Clustering
Figure 2-2
Shared nothing
clustering model
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20. Bus Architectures
Industry Standard (ISA): 8-bit and 16-bit bus architecture dating to the early 1980s
Extended Industry Architecture (EISA): 32-bit bus built on the ISA architecture with faster throughput by means of bus mastering
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21. Bus Architectures (continued)
Micro channel Architecture (MCA): 32-bit bus proprietary to IBM computers and having a slightly faster transfer rate than EISA
Peripheral Computer Interface (PCI): 32-bit and 64-bit bus with the fastest data transfer rate and local bus capability
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22. I2O Architecture
Intelligent input/output (I2O): A computer communications architecture that removes some of the I/O processing activities from the main processor to I2O processors on peripherals designed for I2O architectures, such as hard disks. I2O devices use one general device driver for all I2O-compliant devices.
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23. Figure 2-3 I2O communications architecture
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24. Plug and Play
Plug and Play: Ability of added computer hardware, such as an adapter or modem, to identify itself to the computer operating system for installation
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25. USB
Universal serial bus: A bus standard that enables you to attach all types of devices – keyboards, cameras, pointing devices, telephones, and tape drives, for example – to one bus port on a computer. Up to 127 devices can be attached to one port and it is not necessary to power off the computer when you attach a device. USB was developed to replace the traditional serial and parallel bus technologies on computers.
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26. Choosing NICs
Network interface card: An adapter board designed to connect a workstation, server, or other network equipment to a network medium.
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27. NIC Components A connector for the network medium A transceiver
A controller for MAC protocol communications and addressing
Protocol control firmware
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28. NIC Duplex Modes
Half duplex: ability to send or receive signals, but not simultaneously
Full duplex: capacity to send and receive signals at the same time
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29. Setting the Duplex Mode
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Figure 2-4 NIC Duplex Mode setting

30. Memory Sizing Guidelines
Table 2-3 Memory Guidelines
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31. Memory Type
Make sure that the memory used in a server is error checking and correcting (ECC)
EEC: Memory that can correct some types of memory problems without causing computer operations to halt
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32. Troubleshooting Tip
Microsoft generally recommends a minimum of 128 MB on all versions of Windows 2000 Server (unless there are 5 or fewer users), however, they also recommend that you use at least 256 MB or more for best performance.
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33. Disk Capacity Estimate disk capacity to include:
Operating system files
Software files
Data and database files
User files
General public files
Utility files
Server management files
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34. Example Disk Capacity Calculation
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35. Example Disk Capacity Calculation (continued)
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36. Disk Drive Design Issues that Affect Disk Contention
Speed of the individual disks
Speed of the disk controllers
Speed of the data pathway to the disks
Number of disk pathways
Disk caching
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37. Disk Drive Interfaces
Integrated Device Electronics (IDE): An inexpensive hard disk interface that is used on Intel-based computers from the to Pentium computers
Enhanced Small Device Interface (ESDI): An early device interface for computer peripherals and hard disk drives
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI): A 32- or 64-bit computer adapter that transports data between one or more attached devices, such as hard disks, and the computer
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38. Simple Disk Controller Architecture
Figure 2-5 Disk controller connecting a disk drive
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39. Ultra SCSI adapter connected to two disk drives and a tape drive
SCSI Architecture
Figure 2-6
Ultra SCSI adapter connected to two disk drives and a tape drive
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40. SCSI Interface Data Transfer Rates
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Table 2-5 SCSI Interface Data Transfer Rates

41. Troubleshooting Tip
Omitting the cable terminator is a common problem when connecting several devices to one SCSI adapter. If you experience difficulty recognizing hard disk storage during the Windows 2000 Server installation, check to make sure the terminator is connected to the last device on the SCSI cable.
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42. Design Tip
One method to significantly increase performance on a server is to purchase two or more hard disk drives and divide the flow of data between two or more data pathways by placing drives on different adapters.
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43. Setting Up Multiple Disk Pathways
Figure 2-7
Using two SCSI adapters to create separate data paths for hard disk drives
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44. Fibre Channel
For disk intensive applications, consider using Fibre Channel as an alternative to SCSI.
Fibre Channel is a high-speed method for connecting computer peripherals, such as disk drives, to servers and other host computers through copper and fiber-optic cable. Current implementations of Fibre Channel in Windows 2000 servers provide data transfer rates of up to 1 Gbps.
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45. Disk Mirroring
Disk mirroring: A fault tolerance method that prevents data loss by duplicating data from a main disk to a backup disk. Some operating systems also refer to this as disk shadowing.
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46. Disk Mirroring Architecture
Figure 2-8 Disk mirroring
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47. Disk Duplexing
Disk duplexing: A fault tolerance method similar to disk mirroring in that it prevents data loss by duplicating data from a main disk to a backup disk; but disk duplexing places the backup disk on a different controller or adapter than is used by the main disk.
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48. Disk Duplexing Architecture
Figure 2-9 Disk duplexing
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49. RAID Fault Tolerance RAID level 0: Disk striping with no redundancy
RAID level 1: Disk mirroring or duplexing
RAID level 2: Disk striping across an array of disks in which all disks store error-correction data in case of a disk failure
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50. RAID Fault Tolerance (continued)
RAID level 3: Similar to RAID level 2, but error-correcting data is stored on only one disk
RAID level 4: Similar to RAID level 2, but an added feature is checksum verification data stored on one disk
RAID level 5: Similar to RAID level 4, but error-correction and checksum data are spread over all disks
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51. RAID Supported by Windows 2000
RAID level 0
RAID level 1
RAID level 5
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52. Features of the Windows 2000 Disk Management Snap-in
Status information about drives
Ability to create and format partitions
Ability to change drive letter assignments
Support for FAT and NTFS drives
Ability to create mirrored, striped, RAID-5, and spanned volumes
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53. Disk Management Snap-In
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Figure Windows 2000 Disk Management snap-in

54. Analysis Issues Affecting Disk Fault Tolerance Selection
Importance of the data
Tolerance for down time when a failure occurs
Amount of data that must be stored
How fast the data must be accessed
Budget for equipment purchases and support
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55. Software RAID and Hardware RAID Compared
Hardware RAID is more expensive
Hardware RAID is generally faster for read and write access
Ability to place boot and system files on all configurations of hardware RAID
Hardware RAID can include the ability to “hot swap” disks
Hardware RAID generally has more setup and configuration options
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56. Planning Tip
Purchase hardware RAID from a vendor that does not use all proprietary components so you can use disk drives, cables, and various parts from other vendors.
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57. Backup Media
Plan your server so that it can be backed up using removable media such as tapes, Zip/Jaz disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs.
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58. Design Tip
Attach tape backup systems to adapters or controllers that do not also have disk storage attached.
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59. Tape Drive Architecture
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Figure Connecting a tape drive to a separate adapter

60. CD-ROM Drive
Equip your server with a fast CD-ROM drive from which to load the Windows 2000 Server operating system, device drivers, and application software
Implement a CD-ROM “jukebox” in situations where users will access CD-ROM resources over the network
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61. Example CD-ROM Jukebox
Figure CD-ROM “jukebox”
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62. Implementation Tip Fully set up and test all server components
Allow for a “burn-in” period
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63. Chapter Summary
Server hardware comes in a full range of sophisticated options including fast processors and fault-tolerant disk drives.
Plan server hardware to meet or exceed the needs of the intended implementation.
Begin the selection process by consulting the Microsoft HCL.
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64. Chapter Summary
Select a fast bus architecture and other features that enable you to expand the server as needed.
Implement disk storage using fast channel technology such as SCSI or Fibre Channel and include fault tolerance in your planning.
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65. Chapter Summary
Implement at least one CD-ROM drive to load software and drivers.
Plan to test the server hardware before you install Windows 2000 Server.
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66. Key Terms 4/27/2019 LastUpdated 3/16/04
bus – A pathway in a computer used to transmit information. This pathway is used to send CPU instructions and other data to transfer within the computer.
bus mastering – A process that reduces the reliance on the CPU for input/output activities on a computer’s bus. Interface cards that have bus mastering can take control of the bus for faster data flow.
clock speed – Rate at which the CPU sends bursts of data through a computer’s buses.
data transfer rate – Speed at which data moves through the disk controller along the data channel to a disk drive.
disk access time – Amount of time it takes for a disk drive to read or write data by moving a read/write head to the location of the data.
disk duplexing – A fault tolerance method similar to disk mirroring in that it prevents data loss by duplicating data from a main disk to a backup disk; but disk duplexing places the backup disk on a different controller or adapter than is used by the main disk.
disk mirroring – A fault tolerance method that prevents data loss by duplicating data from a main disk to a backup disk. Some operating systems also refer to this as disk shadowing.
Enhanced Small Device Interface (ESDI) – An early device interface for computer peripherals and hard disk drives.
error checking and correcting memory (ECC) – Memory that can correct some types of memory problems without causing computer operations to halt.
Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) – A computer bus design that incorporates 32-bit communications within a computer. It is an industry standard used by several computer manufacturers.
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67. Key Terms 4/27/2019 LastUpdated 3/16/04
Fibre Channel – A high-speed method for connecting computer peripherals, such as disk drives, to servers and other host computers through copper and fiber-optic cable. Current implementations of Fibre Channel in Windows 2000 servers provide data transfer rates of up to 1 Gbps.
firmware – Software that is stored on a chip in a device, such as in a ROM, and that is used to control basic functions of the device such as communications with a disk drive.
full duplex – The capacity to send and receive signals at the same time.
half duplex – The ability to send or receive signals, but not simultaneously.
hardware compatibility list (HCL) – A list of computer hardware tested by Microsoft and determined to be compatible with Windows 2000 Server.
Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) – An older expansion bus design dating back to the 1980s, supporting 8-bit and 16-bit cards and with a data transfer rate of 8 MB per second.
Integrated Device Electronics (IDE)– An inexpensive hard disk interface that is used on Intel-based computers from the to Pentium computers.
intelligent input/output (I2O) – A computer communications architecture that removes some of the I/O processing activities from the main processor to I2O processors on peripherals designed for I2O architectures, such as hard disks. I2O devices use one general device driver for all I2O-compliant devices.
MicroChannel Architecture (MCA) – A bus architecture that is used in older IBM Intel-based computers. It provides 32-bit communications within the computer.
network interface card (NIC) – An adapter board designed to connect a workstation, server, or other network equipment to a network medium.
Peripheral Computer Interface (PCI) – A computer bus design that supports 32-bit and 64-bit bus communications for high-speed operations.
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68. Key Terms 4/27/2019 LastUpdated 3/16/04
Plug and Play (PnP) – Ability of added computer hardware, such as an adapter or modem, to identify itself to the computer operating system for installation.
processor cache – A special data storage area used only by the system processor and located on either the processor chip or a chip separate from the processor.
redundant array of ­inexpensive (or independent) disks (RAID) – A set of standards to extended the life of hard disk drives and to prevent data loss from a hard disk failure.
shared disk model – Linking two or more servers to operate as one and to equally share resources that include disk, CD-ROM, and tape storage.
shared nothing model – Linking two or more servers to operate as one, but each owns particular disk, CD-ROM, and tape resources.
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) – A 32- or 64-bit computer adapter that transports data between one or more attached devices, such as hard disks, and the computer. There are several types of SCSI adapters, including SCSI, SCSI-2, SCSI-3, SCSI wide, SCSI narrow, wide Ultra SCSI, and Ultra2 SCSI. All are used to provide high-speed data transfer to reduce bottlenecks within the computer.
striping – A data storage method that breaks up data files across all volumes of a disk set to minimize wear on a single volume.
symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) – A type of computer with two or more CPUs that share the processing load.
Universal Serial Bus (USB) – A bus standard that enables you to attach all types of devices – keyboards, cameras, pointing devices, telephones, and tape drives, for example – to one bus port on a computer. Up to 127 devices can be attached to one port and it is not necessary to power off the computer when you attach a device. USB was developed to replace the traditional serial and parallel bus technologies on computers.
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