2. Microsoft Windows NT
Microsoft Windows NT (Windows quot;New Technologyquot;) is an operating system
produced by Microsoft Corporation. It was originally based on OS/2 3.0, a joint
project between Microsoft and IBM. The collaboration fell apart, and IBM continued
to market the previous version OS/2 3.0 (later rebranded OS/2 Warp) while
Microsoft renamed their version to MS Windows NT, changing the main API to a 32-
bit version of its MS Win16 API.
Microsoft hired a group of developers from Digital Equipment Corporation to build a
new system. Many elements of NT reflect the earlier DEC experience with VMS and
RSX-11
NT enjoyed more success than OS/2, due to its feature promises that were never
fully realized and to Microsoft's market prowess.
The following are the major releases of Windows NT :
• Microsoft Windows NT 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT 3.5
• Microsoft Windows NT 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP are later versions of Windows NT:
• Microsoft Windows 2000 (Version 5.0)
• Microsoft Windows XP (Version 5.1)
Windows NT is now simply called Windows:
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (Version 5.2)
Version 3.1, the first version based on quot;NT Technologyquot; (which may have been
numbered perhaps to match that of Windows 3.1, or perhaps to best OS/2 Warp 3),
came in quot;Advanced Serverquot; and quot;Workstationquot; editions. From Version 3.5, quot;Advanced
Serverquot; was renamed quot;Serverquot;. From Version 5.0 (Windows 2000) onwards,
quot;Workstationquot; was renamed quot;Professionalquot;. A quot;Home Editionquot; was introduced with
Version 5.1 (XP), to mark the discontinuation of the previous MS-DOS based
Windows system.
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3. The acronym WNT was acknowledged by its ex-Digital developer, Dave Cutler, to be
a pun on VMS -- obtained by shifting each letter one position in alphabetical order,
akin to the urban legend regarding the name of IBM and the villanous computer HAL
9000, as featured in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
NT uses a highly layered design, with the hardware hidden from the NT kernel by a
hardware abstraction layer, and most operating system API functionality provided by
API-specific interface modules that present specific functionality such as the Win32,
OS/2, DOS and POSIX system call compatibility environments.
In 1993, when it was first released, Microsoft Windows NT was Microsoft's platform
of choice for high-end systems. The current version, 4.0, is intended for use as a
network server (NT Server) or a workstation (NT Workstation). Windows NT did not
replace Windows 95. While Windows NT contains the Windows 95 interface, it is
entirely 32-bit. For more information on the differences between Windows 95 and NT
4.0, see the Knowledge Base document What are the differences between Windows
95 and Windows NT Workstation 4.0?
Technical features of Windows NT
• Interface
Contains the Windows 95 interface and features like the Start button,
o
Taskbar, Explorer, Network Neighborhood, and Briefcase
• Networking
NetWare client and login script support
o
Enhanced meta-file (EMF) spooling for improved network printing
o
speed
Support for 15 network protocols
o
Peer-to-peer and FTP server capabilities
o
Client software for both telnet and FTP services
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• Messaging Capabilities
Windows Messaging Subsystem
o
Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Schedule+ included
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WINCHAT, NET MESSAGE, or NetDDET
o
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4. • Remote Management
Remote management utilities such as Event Viewer, Performance
o
Monitor, Service Controller, and Registry Editor
Dial-out capability to remote servers
o
Remote dial-in capability
o
• Remote Access Services (RAS)
Internet access to Windows NT Server and DNS names for resource
o
connections
Dial-out capability to remote servers, including Internet services
o
Remote dial-in ability to any workstation
o
Full network functionality over remote links using NetBEUI, IPX/SPX,
o
and TCP/IP protocols
Dial-in capability to remote NetWare servers using RAS
o
Multi-link capability for channel aggregation of multiple modem
o
connections
• Security
Per-file and per-directory security with the NT file system (NTFS)
o
Local desktop security; user ID and password required for access
o
Account lockout capabilities to prevent unlimited login attempts
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Network security with single network login using challenge/response
o
protocol
Government C-2 level certifiable security
o
• Application Support
Native support for all applications based on Windows 95, Win32, 16-bit
o
Windows, 16-bit MS-DOS, 16-bit OS/2, and POSIX 1003.1
Separate memory spaces for 16-bit applications (multiple virtual MS-
o
DOS machines)
Preemptive multitasking for 16-bit and 32-bit applications
o
486 emulator allows 386-enhanced 16-bit applications to run on RISC
o
machines
OLE support between all 16-bit and 32-bit Windows based applications
o
Asynchronous I/O queue for improved responsiveness
o
Structured exception handling for easy troubleshooting
o
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5. • Graphics and Multimedia
Significant performance gains for graphic intensive applications
o
OpenGL APIs for high-performance three-dimensional color graphics
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16-bit and 32-bit API support for the Video for Windows 1.1 feature
o
set
• Utilities
File compression with NTFS
o
User Manager for configuration and security
o
Disk Administrator for graphical disk configuration
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Diagnostics utility that details basic system information
o
Performance Monitor for local and remote troubleshooting
o
Tape backup
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Event Viewer and logging utility for local and remote troubleshooting
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Long filename support on FAT and NTFS
o
Configuration details managed in registry database
o
• Hardware Support
Multiple hardware configuration; you can specify a hardware profile at
o
start time, including services, devices, and video resolutions
Intel, Alpha AXP, MIPS, and PowerPC platforms
o
Symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) support
o
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6. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 system requirements
• Intel based Systems
486/25MHz (or faster) or Pentium based system
o
12MB memory (RAM); 16MB recommended
o
110MB available hard disk space
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CD-ROM drive or access to a CD-ROM over a network
o
VGA or higher resolution display adapter
o
Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device
o
• RISC-based Systems
Workstation with Alpha AXP, MIPS R4x00, or PowerPC processor
o
16MB of memory
o
110MB of available hard disk space
o
CD-ROM drive or access to a CD-ROM over a network
o
VGA or higher resolution display adapter
o
Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device
o
• Optional
Network adapter card
o
Audio board
o
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