Can Microsoft w2k3 server run DOS programs?

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Carbon

I just finished ordering a bunch of parts for a new server at work
that's going to be your basic file, print, login type server. However
that machine will also need to run an old DOS program that generates
work orders. Windows 2003 Server can still run dos programs, right?

Btw, I'm using Antec sx1040 server case w/400 ps, a Tyan s5120agnnrf
socket T server board with SATA raid, 2 80 gb Maxtor drives, an Intel
520 CPU w/hyperthreading, a gig of Kingston EEC pc3200 ram, etc.

Also, can win98 and me machines log into an AD domain, or does w2k3
still support nt4-style domains?
 
Carbon said:
I just finished ordering a bunch of parts for a new server at work
that's going to be your basic file, print, login type server. However
that machine will also need to run an old DOS program that generates
work orders. Windows 2003 Server can still run dos programs, right?
Click to expand...

All versions of Windows will run well-behaved DOS programs--that is, DOS
programs that use only standard MS-DOS system calls and do not try to
access the hardware directly. A lot of business software is in this
category, but not all. Games and many other programs (and some business
programs) are not.
 
Carbon said:
I just finished ordering a bunch of parts for a new server at work
that's going to be your basic file, print, login type server. However
that machine will also need to run an old DOS program that generates
work orders. Windows 2003 Server can still run dos programs, right?
Click to expand...

It runs them in a virtual DOS machine, like Windows 2000 does, but not all
DOS commands are supported and, like user Windows programs, it won't allow
DOS programs to talk directly to the hardware. Use either a PIF file or
config.nt and autoexec.nt to set up the DOS environment. If started by a
PIF file the config.nt and autoexec.nt file are not executed, otherwise
they run at the beginning of a DOS program launch as if 'booting' a DOS
machine.

Past the generic description I don't know what other problems you might run
into as I'm not running any legacy DOS apps.
Btw, I'm using Antec sx1040 server case w/400 ps, a Tyan s5120agnnrf
socket T server board with SATA raid, 2 80 gb Maxtor drives, an Intel
520 CPU w/hyperthreading, a gig of Kingston EEC pc3200 ram, etc.

Also, can win98 and me machines log into an AD domain, or does w2k3
still support nt4-style domains?
Click to expand...

Yes, they (and NT4) can log on to an AD domain but you need the DSCLIENT
installed on the client machines (which you also needed for Windows 2000
Server AD domain logon and it's on that CD, or via MS download) and,
because of stricter security, IE 6 SP1, or better, plus, potentially, some
fine tuning.

Windows95 (and DOS clients) would be a bigger problem since IE6 isn't
supported there and, basically, you'd have to downgrade server security by
disabling SMB signing (not recommended).

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555038

You may still find there are things that don't work as expected, depending
on what you want AD to do with the Windows98 boxes, and I've heard stories
of people having problems with log on scripts executing properly.

If you're migrating an existing Windows 2000 DC check here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325379

If you're migrating an existing NT4 server, check here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...a0-76f0-4e25-8de0-19544062a6e6&displaylang=en


http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/upgrading/nt4/upgradeassistance/default.mspx
 
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