Determining Hardware Requirements for Windows Server 2003
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
When you have a complete list of the hardware and supporting software used in your organization, compare the data you collected with the hardware requirements in Table 1.3 and Table 1.4 to determine whether your hardware is compatible with Windows Server 2003 and — where applicable — with Windows XP Professional. All of the client and server computers on which you plan to install these operating systems must be capable of supporting the installation.
Important
- When determining the minimum hardware requirements for your deployment project, account for all of the applications and services that computers in your organization use. Some applications might require faster processors or more RAM than Windows Server 2003 requires. When evaluating the published hardware requirements for your applications, account for the complete desktop and server configuration.
Table 1.3 Windows Server 2003 Hardware Requirements
| Windows Server 2003 Edition | Number of Processors | Processor Speed | RAM | Available Disk Space (for Setup) | Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Web |
1–2 |
133 megahertz (MHz) minimum; 550 MHz recommended |
128 megabytes (MB) minimum; 256 MB recommended; 2 GB maximum |
1.5 gigabytes (GB) |
Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) or higher; Super VGA (SVGA) (800 × 600) or higher recommended |
Standard |
1–4 |
133 MHz minimum; 550 MHz recommended |
128 MB minimum; 256 MB recommended; 4 GB maximum |
1.5 GB |
VGA or higher; SVGA (800 × 600) or higher recommended |
Enterprise |
1–8 |
133 MHz minimum; 550 MHz recommended |
128 MB minimum; 256 MB recommended; 32 GB maximum |
1.5 GB |
VGA or higher; SVGA (800 × 600) or higher recommended |
Datacenter |
8–32 |
400 MHz minimum |
512 MB minimum; 64 GB maximum |
1.5 GB |
VGA or higher; SVGA (800 × 600) or higher recommended |
Note
- Upgrade your organization’s devices, remote access, and applications before deploying Windows Server 2003. For information about upgrading, see "Designing Unattended Installations" in Automating and Customizing Installations of this kit.
Table 1.4 lists the minimum and recommended hardware requirements for installing Windows XP Professional.
Table 1.4 Windows XP Professional Hardware Requirements
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|
Intel Pentium (or compatible) 233 MHz or higher processor |
Intel Pentium II (or compatible) 300 MHz or higher processor |
64 MB of RAM |
128 MB (4 GB maximum) of RAM |
2 GB hard disk with 650 MB of free disk space (additional disk space required if installing over a network) |
2 GB of free disk space |
VGA or higher video adapter |
SVGA video adapter and Plug and Play monitor |
Keyboard, mouse, or other pointing device |
Keyboard, mouse, or other pointing device |
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive (required for CD installations) |
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive (12X or faster) |
Network adapter (required for network installation) |
Network adapter (required for network installation) |