By James Middleton, VNU
Net
The next generation of Windows 2000 will feature a so-called
‘headless’ option, without local display, keyboard or mouse. It
will be managed over a network, which will allow it to compete with
embedded or Unix systems.
The 32-bit Server editions of the operating system (OS),
currently known as Whistler, can be installed headless but, to make
the option universally available, the Redmond giant is encouraging
hardware suppliers to add Bios support for headless servers.
Microsoft will launch the technology in a standalone kit this
summer but will not actually implement the feature into the OS
until the final release of Whistler early next year.
Ashim Pal, an analyst at Meta Group, said that Microsoft is
making a bid for the growing area of network appliances. He said
that the product could be considered embedded “in some fashion, but
would not increase its standing as a Unix competitor”.
Pal said that all operating systems had a part to play in the
appliance space “because there will be a range of devices available
featuring a cut-down operating system, whether it be Linux, Unix or
NT”.
He said that Linux had the edge because of Microsoft’s licensing
laws. “Appliances are cheaper and, because Linux is free, it
will offset cost even more. NT is still expensive and will only be
able to contend in the higher end space,” he said.
Microsoft said that users will have to wait for a 64-bit version
of the headless server until the release of the next generation
development, codenamed Blackcomb.