Windows NT Workstation Capabilities

This section compares the various capabilities of past and present Microsoft operating systems.

• Windows NT Server
  • Supports 256 clients on the RAS or DUN server.
  • Supports unlimited clients for resource access
  • Supports unlimited outbound connections.
  • Can support up to 4 processors and 32 processors if OEM version of the system.
  • Peer Web Services (PWS) provided for small workgroup web publishing.
  • Can import or export directory replication.
  • Includes System Management Server, SNA Server, and SQL Server, IIS (Internet Information Server), DNS Name Server for fully qualified internet domain names.
  • Apple Share server that allows access to MacIntosh and can act as a gateway to Netware servers.
  • Supports DHCP, BOOTP, WINS and multi-protocol routing.
  • Can remotely reboot Windows 95 clients.
  • Supports disk fault tolerance with mirroring, striping and hot fixing
  • Supports directory replication which replicates directories and files to other computers on the network.
  • Supports RAID
• Windows NT Workstation
  • Can support one remote dial in session as a RAS or DUN server.
  • Supports up to 10 clients for resource access.
  • Any number of peer to peer outbound connections.
  • Can support up to 2 processors and 32 processors if OEM version of the system.
  • Peer web servers.
  • Can import directory replication and not export.
  • No disk fault tolerance support.
• Windows NT Server and Workstation
  • A 32 bit operating system
  • Supports 16 and 32 bit applications.
  • There is no direct hardware access.
  • Provides memory protection.
  • Logon is mandatory. The CTRL-ALT-DEL key combination is used to logon since it disables user mode and TSR programs in NT.
  • Expanded memory support - Supports up to 4 Gb of RAM.
  • Preemptive Multitasking - Threads may be assigned relative priorities.
  • Expanded Filesystem support - Supports the New Technology Filesystem (NTFS) for increased security and can track disk transactions which will aid in the recovery of data should loss of power occur. It supports up to 16 exabytes of disk space. Supports FAT, VFAT, and the CDFS filesystems.
  • Local and shared (extensive) security.
  • Multiple platform support - The Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) isolates the operating system from the platform. Supports both CISC and RISC platforms.
  • Can operate multiple microprocessors on one computer using symmetric multiprocessing.
  • Can run OS2 1.3 but not 2.0
• Windows 95
  • Runs in a 16 and 32 bit environment
  • Supports 16 and 32 bit applications
  • Allows direct access to hardware devices such as those used for I/O
  • Supports Legacy and PNP devices
  • Only supports CISC platforms.
• Windows for workgroups
  • 16 bit system that runs on top of DOS
  • Includes group networking
• Windows 3.1
  • 16 bit system that runs on top of DOS
  • No networking
• DOS
  • Is a 16 Bit system
  • No original networking ability