If you think of Windows .NET Server ("Whistler Server") as what would have been Windows NT Server 5.1, then you've got the right idea.
Here's the first--and most comprehensive--FAQ dedicated to the next version of Windows Server anywhere!
Q: What is Windows .NET Server ("Whistler" Server)?
A: Essentially, Windows .NET Server consists of the server editions of the next version of Windows 2000.
This includes Web Server Edition Standard Server Edition, Enterprise Server Edition (32-bit and 64-bit versions), DataCenter Server Edition (32-bit and 64-bit versions), and Windows .NET Server Embedded.
Q: What editions will Windows .NET Server include?
A: Initially, Windows .NET Server will include Web Server, Standard Server, Enterprise Server, and
DataCenter versions editions;
Enterprise Server and DataCenter Server will ship in 64-bit versions as well.
An Embedded version and Small Business Server 2003 will appear soon thereafter.
Q: So what's new in Windows .NET Server?
A: Windows .NET Server is designed as an evolutionary step beyond Windows 2000 Server, thus it is not a major new product revision, though it boasts thousands of mostly small improvements.
Windows .NET Server has been updated to include .NET Framework 1.1 and XML Web Services;
this additional functionality led Microsoft to change the name of the product (which was originally to be simply titled Windows 2002 Server).
Windows .NET Server also includes features to make Active Directory (AD) deployments faster and more flexible, such as a Domain Controller (DC) Upgrade Wizard that lets administrators restore DC information from removable media such as CD-ROM and DVD-RAM. AD now supports cross forest trust and authentication and authorization.
There are new remote, headless and unattended management features for in-band and out of band administration, 160 new Group Policy settings, 28 new command line tools, a new Software Restriction Policies feature, and several Terminal Services enhancements.
Windows .NET Server has also been tweaked for better performance and reliability:
Microsoft says that the product performs up to 50 percent faster on the same hardware as equivalent Windows 2000 Server products.
Windows .NET Server includes Internet Information Server (IIS) 6, the latest version of Microsoft's Web server product.
IIS 6 has been rewritten for better security, performance and reliability and now ships in lockdown mode by default.
Q: What's the difference between the 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows .NET Server?
A: The 64-bit versions of Windows .NET Server run only on Intel's 64-bit Itanium 2 hardware, while the other versions run on 32-bit Intel Pentium-based servers.
Q: Will I be able to upgrade Windows 2000 Server to Windows .NET Standard Server?
A: Yes. You will be able to upgrade each edition to the corresponding new version (i.e. you can upgrade Windows 2000 Advanced Server to Windows .NET Enterprise Server).
You cannot "downgrade" releases, however; for example, you cannot upgrade Windows 2000 Server to Windows .NET Web Server.
Q: When will Windows .NET Server be released?
A: Windows .NET Server is on a radically different release schedule from the desktop version of Whistler (Windows XP).
The final release will ship by the end of 2002, after being delayed twice, though customers won't be able to purchase it until early 2003.
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