File systems Windows NT 5.0 will support NTFS, FAT, FAT32 (for compatibility with Windows 95 OSR2 and Windows 98), and UDF (Universal Disk Format), which is a new file system for DVD (Digital Video Disk) and CD media. Windows NT 5.0's enhancements to its native NTFS format will include public key file encryption, distributed link tracking, and per-user disk quotas. Of all of these features, our readers have most often asked about or commented on FAT32 support and disk quotas. No longer will you have to waste valuable disk space on drives larger than 2GB, or purchase expensive third-party tools to prevent a user's home directory from taking more than its fair share of the disk. Windows NT 5.0 will also include the Microsoft Distributed File System (DFS). Keep in mind that DFS is now available in beta for Windows NT 4.0.
Mobile computing One of the biggest complaints that we've heard from laptop users who run Windows NT is about the lack of power-management functions. Windows NT 5.0 will support power management through its Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI). Also, the Briefcase Utility will be replaced by a new utility that creates offline copies of folders that update themselves automatically when a mobile computer reconnects to its home network.
Web publishing Windows NT Server 5.0 will include the latest versions of Microsoft Internet Information Server and Microsoft FrontPage. Windows NT Workstation 5.0 provides Peer Web Servers suitable for publishing information in a small intranet environment. Both Web-publishing platforms use Windows NT's Challenge/Response Authentication to grant users access to information.
Plug-and-Play Some Windows NT users have long been envious of Windows 95's Plug-and-Play compatibility, which makes adding and removing hardware components easier--especially laptop users who rely on PC cards for connection to peripheral devices and networks. Windows NT 5.0 will support Plug-and-Play and provide improved Hardware Wizards for adding new devices. In addition, Windows NT 5.0's new Device Manager applet will use Windows 95's tree-style display to manage installed devices.
Disk management Windows NT 5.0 will feature new disk management tools, one of which allows client-side file caching--a technology that lets you work with network copies of files offline. Once you've finished working with the files, Windows NT 5.0 will automatically replicate changes when you reconnect.
The Active Desktop and the streamlined interface Microsoft Internet Explorer will be integrated into Windows NT 5.0. Hence, Windows NT 5.0's Active Desktop will use Internet Explorer's familiar controls to navigate content both on the local machine and the intranet or Internet. Active Desktop will also feature many user-customizable controls, allowing you to essentially create your own interface using Active X controls and HTML. Because of its added Plug-and-Play support, Windows NT 5.0's Control Panel will be greatly simplified in comparison to Windows NT 4.0's. In addition to a simplified administrative tools organization, Windows NT 5.0's Microsoft Management Console will provide a single, customizable user interface to all administrative tools. Administrators will be able to create Microsoft Management Consoles and will be able to provide all of the administrative tools needed for specific job functions, plus distribute the console to appropriate personnel. Third-party vendors can create their own "snap in" application modules that you can add to your consoles.
Active Directory Windows NT 5.0 will use an entirely new directory service called Active Directory, based on the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). Microsoft designed Active Directory to make network administration easier by providing a single network logon, a single point of administration for all network objects, and the ability to fully query the attributes of any network object. Active Directory is fully backward compatible with Windows NT 4.0's directory service. Furthermore, Windows NT 5.0 will also feature the Microsoft Directory Migration tool, which facilitates the migration of Novell NetWare user accounts and resources to Windows NT 5.0's Active Directory.
The Zero Administration Windows initiative You've probably heard a lot of hype about Microsoft's Zero Administration Windows (ZAW) initiative. The gist is this: ZAW strives to lower the cost of owning and maintaining PCs by making them easier to administer. How much easier? It is so easy that an administrator never needs to leave his or her chair. Windows NT 5.0 will feature Microsoft Installer software, a transaction-based application installer that automatically installs, manages, and repairs applications on networked client machines.
Third party "lite add-ons" Windows NT 5.0 will ship with third party "lite" add-on applications that address two major complaints from Windows NT 4.0 users. First, everyone who uses Windows NT's native NTFS file format knows that despite what Microsoft has claimed in the past, this file system is subject to fragmentation. Fortunately, Windows NT 5.0 will ship with a "lite" (somewhat limited) version of Executive Software's Diskeeper utility, which defragments NTFS partitions. Second, to address complaints about the inadequacy of Windows NT 4.0's Tape Backup utility, Windows NT 5.0 will ship with a "lite" version of Seagate Software's Backup Exec utility. This version will match its Windows 98 counterpart feature for feature and will provide full support for backup to a variety of storage devices and mediums, including parallel and IDE devices. Backup Exec will allow you to create emergency recovery disks that will let you restore data without reinstalling the operating system or backup software.
The Windows Scripting Host All that time you spent learning JavaScript and VB Script when you were dabbling with Web-site development will pay off big with the release of Windows NT 5.0. The new version of Windows NT will feature the Windows Scripting Host (WSH), which will support the direct execution of JavaScript and VB Script from the user interface or command linewithout requiring you to place the scripts in an HTML document and execute them in a browser runtime environment. When combined with Windows NT 5.0's new Task Scheduler applet (a replacement for Windows NT 4.0's AT command and Schedule service, which we've discussed in previous issues), the WSH can use JavaScript and VBScript to automate repetitive tasks. The WSH has a language-independent architecture that will allow third-party developers to create compatible scripting engines for languages such as Perl, TCL, REXX, and Python.
Finding out more about Windows NT 5.0 If you're looking for more information on Windows NT 5.0, we recommend that you get it straight from the horse's mouth on the Microsoft Windows NT 5.0 beta Web site at ntbeta.microsoft.com. This site features the latest information regarding the release of Windows NT Server and Windows NT Workstation 5.0. If you're already working with a beta copy of Windows NT 5.0, you can use forms on this site to report bugs.