Windows Server 2003 presents many editions to suit your server wants. The more aspects you need more you are going to pay sadly. With four editions to select from you can decide edition that is right for production.

Web Edition
Before the release of Windows Server 2003, if you required a Windows server utility as a Web server, you must buy copy of Windows 2000 Server and utilize IIS. This was a misuse of money and functionality, as most aspects of Server would never be used. Now there is an edition of Windows intended to function totally as a Web server, Server 2003 Web Edition. This will save companies money and provide Microsoft a bigger share of Web server market. Web Edition can host Web pages, Web applications, and XML services. It supports IIS 6.0, ASP.NET and the .NET Framework. Web Edition supports able to two processors and 2GB of RAM. Client access licenses are not essential when connecting to Web Edition. Though, you are only permitted ten inbound instant SMB connections, to be utilized for content publishing. Web Edition permits you to install third-party Web server software like Apache, Web accessibility management software like Microsoft Application Center and database engine software like Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE). Web Edition does not support functions given below:

• Internet Authentication Services (IAS)
• Microsoft Metadirectory Services
• Domain controller functionality
• Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration Services (UDDI)
• Remote Installation Service

Standard Edition
Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition is alternative for Windows 2000 Server. It is meant for small to medium-sized industries. It is not limited in functionality like Web Edition and it supports up to four CPUs and 4GB of RAM. This is good alternative for file and print servers, Web servers and application servers that do not want to be composed. It can also work as a domain controller. Microsoft anticipates Standard Edition to be broadly utilized version of Server 2003.

Enterprise Edition
Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition is option for Windows 2000 Advanced Server. Enterprise Edition is destined for any sized industry, but contains aspects frequently preferred by enterprise level organizations. It gives high presentation and consistency. All aspects supported in Standard Edition are supported in Enterprise Edition, with support for groups up to eight nodes. It supports good hardware than Standard Edition, and can utilize up to eight processors and equal to 32GB of memory. There is a 64-bit edition of Enterprise Edition for Intel Itanium equipment. The 64-bit version supports equal to eight processors and equal to 64GB of RAM. Enterprise Edition is superior for companies that desire aspects or hardware not supported in Standard Edition.

Datacenter Edition
Datacenter Edition is Microsoft’s high-end OS. It is destined for companies that want reliable and scalable platform accessible. You cannot buy Datacenter Edition Software and fix it manually; only accepted tools vendors can buy it and they should install it onto established hardware. Datacenter Edition has all features found in both Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition; and, it contains Windows System Resource Manager to aid in system management. It supports up to 32 processors and 64GB of memory in 32-bit edition. The 64-bit edition supports up to 64 processors and 512GB of memory. If presentation and steadiness are at top of list, then Datacenter Edition is an outstanding choice.