Windows Server 2003 includes 11 roles administrators can assign to servers by using the Manage Your Server Wizard.

Terminal Server:

Provides a single point of installation that gives multiple users access to any Windows Server 2003. Users can run programs, save files, and use network resources from a remote location as if these resources are installed on their local computers. Benefits include:

  • Offers rapid, centralized deployment of applications
  • Provides a uniform version of Windows on desktops, reducing maintenance and administrative costs
  • Provides increased scalability
  • Provides improved manageability
  • Has an easy-to-use remote desktop connection

File Server
Sets and helps manage access to files such as data files and network-accessible applications. Benefits include:

  • Automatically copies critical data volumes by using the Volume Shadow Copy Restore service, eliminating downtime. The copies are used to restore or archive files, and users can retrieve archived versions of their documents
  • Enables Encrypting File System (EFS), which provides core file encryption technology. EFS is a public key-based system that makes it easy to manage, difficult to attack, and transparent to the user.
  • Initiates Distributed File System (DFS), a stable, orderly, location-independent naming scheme for all shared files when using Windows. A single share, or a single drive mapped to such a share, can contain files and directories on any number of file servers.
  • Quickly stores, manages, and shares information such as files and network-accessible applications.
  • Limits and monitors the amount of disk space available to individual users.
  • Securely searches for information, either locally or on the network. It also searches in files that are in different formats and languages.
  • Helps users manage their disk space by logging and reporting when a user exceeds a specified disk space limit or warning level—that is, the point at which a user is nearing his or her quota limit.