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Hardware Design Guide Version 2.0 for Windows NT Server is for engineers who build server systems, expansion cards, and peripheral devices that use the Microsoft® Windows NT® Server operating system.

This guide is co-authored by Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation. The requirements and recommendations in this guide indicate features that the hardware industry should consider in designing servers and peripherals for various price levels and performance levels.

This guide includes design guidelines for servers that will run any version of the Windows NT Server operating system. These guidelines address the following design issues:

• Features for basic commodity server design alternatives for small office/home office (SOHO) and Enterprise servers.
  
  
• Requirements for implementing the OnNow design initiative, including those related to the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification, Plug and Play device configuration, and power management in server systems.
  
  
• Implementation of devices supported under Windows NT Server.
  
  
• Manageability features that help to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) under Windows NT Server by providing support for maximum automation of administrative tasks with centralized control and maximum flexibility.

Important: Implementing these guidelines produces servers that deliver an enhanced user experience with the Windows NT Server operating system. These requirements are not related to the minimum, most-optimal, or best system requirements for running the Windows NT Server operating system. For information about the minimum system requirements for running Windows NT Server, see the web site at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/.