The software giant plans to use an analyst meeting Thursday to tout, among other things, strong sales of its Windows Server 2003 operating system. At the same time, they issue another passel of warnings about security holes, including a “critical” flaw that affects most Windows PCs.
Microsoft to Tout Windows Server Sales; More Security Holes
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
These days you can’t use Microsoft because it’s just not a good platform. You can’t use Linux because of the SCO trying to own everyone and everything on the planet. I feel sorry for the whole lot of businesses using computer technology.
That’s an irony. Microsoft is saying that they have strong sales of windows2003, ans in the same time we discover security holes in their systems almost every week.
Are the peolpe who buy the microsoft solutions, blind by the mircosoft marketing speech, or what???
I pay close attention to security and the last few months have been absoultly pathetic for MS as an OS vender, I cannot remember anything being this bad before. Yet all everyone seems to talk about is how good they’re getting at security. 2003 is XP sp2 with everything possible turned off. Thats a great start, But they do not yet deserve the high honor of being called secure 3 months into an OS. And we see why again, just like we did when they said ‘there are zero unchecked buffers in XP’ then the week after its out, there is a uPnP exploit by default.
The thing I don’t understand is, both Exchange 2K3 and SQL 2K3 are not out yet, so what are these people using the server for? Or are these just the early adopters with nothing better to do, and just using them as file/print/web servers…
Well, both can run on Windows 2003… although it’s not recommended. I wouldn’t try them on production servers.
Yes, it is Web server sales because that version of Win2003 server is *much cheaper* than a traditional version. Also, NT4 is being EOLed and Licensing 6 counts as “units shipped” even if the peeps aren’t running.
MS is good at spin doctoring. The real story, as always is found by reading between the li(e)nes.
Hi !
I am using Windows 2003 in a French IT company and I can claim that Windows 2003 is the best server OS I have ever used.
My facilities contains about 1 500 computers. Among these computers we have about 100 servers that run several Windows, Linux and Solaris systems.
We use currently 12 Windows Server 2k3 systems as Web server and Files servers. We are currently waiting for a descent Exchange and SQL server softawre.
Windows server 2k3 outperforms Mandrake Network Firewall and Normal Mandrake distro. We are wondering if we can get a deal with Microsoft France to switch from all the Mandrake server to Win 2k3. We got a lot of problems during this year, the CTO is very high and the stability not so good.
Of course we are keeping Linux versions for several servers as Files Servers, Oracle Database and Mail servers. SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 is a very good system, but a bit too expensive, and Redhat Advanced server is a very impresive system.
Redhar, SuSE and Microsoft are the big 3 companies that is very interesting to deal with, MandrakeSoft and Sun are not capable to provide good support and effective softwares.
Now we are waiting a bit more to know what to do with our 9 Sun Solaris Server. Redhat, SuSE and MandrakeSoft were contacted and we are wainting fot their proposals. If they can assure us that we can get an interesting discount so we can think about their products.
In my opinion Microsoft has now understood that their are strong competitors in the area and offers now good products.
As for our Workstation we did not find Windows XP so far good, and we are wondering to switch our Windows stations to SuSE Desktop or Redhat Pack.
Windows on the server side and Linux on the desktops, who would imagine that 2 years ago ?
Yes of course i believe you as much as you are saying me that the Earth is flat!!!!!!!
Notice their 300% increase in W2K3 servers ? Well think about it ! Prior to their release they had 0% W2k3 servers and after the release….well you get the picture. Just a spin on numbers that is all.
Well 300% increase in win2003 servers does not mean that win2003 is a good system or something like that, ….it just means that microsoft know how to make people believing that win2003 is a good system or something like that.
Think about it!!!
Hakime,
We are not discovering one security hole every week but several times a week, and it’s on every system at once.
It’s not even pathetic anymore, it’s just plain ridiculous.
They should go back to the drawing board with the whole windows thing, or opening up the code and let anyone improve it. Absolutely anyone, my six years old daughter would do a better job.
I am sick and tired of all the so called server updates and patches update and security blabla update my company is going through almost every single day.
Since we moved from Novell to W2K it’s a nightmare in here.
There is some light at the end of the tunnel as we are planning some move to Solaris.
Bye
When I needed a W2k and W2k Server license recently I discovered that BOTH were more expensive than W2003 Server. I asked my rep and was told that I could buy the new license and run the old software–so I did. It may count as a W2003 Server license sale, but for me its just saving money.
Can’t complain one bit. Its been solid and runs like a champ.
Lets see. I just reviewed our installed patches. 5 total. 4 on the 12th of July and 1 on the 22nd. There are no other ones available.
Other than those 2 days Win2k3 has been a ‘set it and forget it’ OS for us.
Where’s my buddy now? hehe (just playing CPUguy)
We use 2000 Server at my place of work. If you’re stuck using 2000 Active Directory (which I find to be overly complex anyway and not significantly better than NIS) then 2003 is absolutely a good idea. I’m still evaluating it for eventual replacement of our 2000 servers, but so far I quite like it. It makes AD domain administration a lot easier (Deleting disconnected DCs etc.) The policy management is a lot cleaner than 2000’s, and it runs quite well on low-end HW. My test server is a PII 400 with 256MB of RAM. It’s slow booting and shutting down, but is a pleasure to actually use.
I was hired primarily as a Win admin, but am introducing their first Linux lab. I have used Linux since 97 and can’t wait for it to displace MS’s stranglehold, but in the mean time I’d much rather work with a 2003 Server box than a 2000 Server box. I tried to hate 2003 Server, but it’s actually a very nice OS.
I know this is a bit off topic, but I thought since this was an MS newspost, I should go for it. I’ve heard that MS has been talking to chip makers (AMD and Intel) and is going to work with them on advancing the hardware to coexist with Palladium. Now, I’ve also heard that after doing this, only the new windows OS can run on the hardware. I hope this is not true, because if it is, a whole world of things could happen. But most likely, AMD and Intel would not turn down this whole thing, but even if they went along with it, I’m sure MS would get their ass pounded in court.
These numbers are skewed. For instance, where I work we had to buy win2k3 (to do win2k3 certification) in addition to our universal subscription which already contains it.
We don’t use it at all, but its there, sitting there so we can try to certify on it. Oh, and they offered a HEFTY discount on it if we get our software certified.. I think that might be the real reason why they did it. When it costs 15% of what it normally would.. Why not.
Anyways, the numbers are most likely skewed to make it look like more sold (like sony does with the ps2).
Just keep the Windows machines behind a good firewall. Make sure the firewall is not running a version of Microsoft Windows. There are holes that Microsoft patches and then there are holes Microsoft doesn’t. If Microsoft doesn’t let you know about the holes, hackers might.
There are 3 types of lies, there are lies, there are damn lies, and then there are STATISTICS.
<.sarcasm>
Did you know that 100% of students scored better on the SATs when they got more answers correct?
Or that 100% of students scored worse on the SATs when they got more answers wrong?
Also the income of people who lose their jobs decreases by 150%!
Furthermore 100% of cars have at least 4 wheels or more!
These statistics are AMAZING and I hope you find them informative and realistic! I know I did!
<./sarcasm>
That’s about the jist of Microsoft’s statistical marketing campaign. It’s
– j
… a load of _______ (your favorite noun here).
– j
tips:
Don’t store any important passwords on Windows systems.
Don’t use them for accessing your email.
And don’t use them without an antivirus tsr.
All this anger towards Microsoft… “Windows is as perforated as Swiss cheese!” “Microsoft is SkyNet!” “Bill Gates eats his children!”
All this love towards Linux & co… “Linux is the best!” “Linus Torvalds is God!” “Linux is gonna bring world peace!”
Some people in this world definitely need a vacation– away from divine penguins and windows that don’t seem to shut proparly.
Let everybody use what he wants– let everybody make up for themselves what’s good and what’s not.
I have been using Windows Server 2003 (on a desktop, i know, sounds crazy) since May this year, without any problems. I have been using different versions of Mandrake for about two years know, without any problems (except the ususal newbie problems…)
It just depends on what you need and like. It’s not like Linux is all bliss and Windows is all horseshit. You can’t tell me 90% of the pc users are brainless.
😉
They said over and over again that 2003 was secure…
*sigh*
They said over and over again that 2003 was secure…
*sigh*
It is secure. You just gotta *cough* patch *cough* it first.
Well, let’s take a look at OpenBSD…
http://www.openbsd.org/errata32.html
14 security patches in 5 months for the most secure mainstream OS in the world.
Well, let’s take a look at OpenBSD…
http://www.openbsd.org/errata32.html
14 security patches in 5 months for the most secure mainstream OS in the world
1.-The more of these patches are not just in OpenBSD base system. These simply are ports.
2.-In OpenBSD all the errate is public. Ye can go and read it any time. You can do this with Microsoft?
3.-OpenBSD is secure by default. Install a OpenBSD box and a Win2003 box. Let see which is cracked first!!
I think that Microsoft is cool in home/office computing. But Microsoft has nothing to do in server/networks area.
BSDero
2.-In OpenBSD all the errate is public. Ye can go and read it any time. You can do this with Microsoft?
Yes, it is avaiable at microsoft.com
3.-OpenBSD is secure by default. Install a OpenBSD box and a Win2003 box. Let see which is cracked first!!
Not a fair comparison. Because 90 % of the boxes are out there, thats where hackers energies are focused, and where the holes are discovered.
Believe me, if 90 % of the desktops out there were Linux boxes, there would be more holes discovered.
Simple.
I think that Microsoft is cool in home/office computing. But Microsoft has nothing to do in server/networks area.
“1.-The more of these patches are not just in OpenBSD base system. These simply are ports.”
Irrelevant. If the OpenBSD install includes any software (say, sendmail) that allows a hacker to compromise your network when you run it, that is no different than an Outlook or Explorer hole in Windows 2003. And whenever we talk about “patches” for Windows 2003, we always include all middleware/services/installed apps in the equation.
“3.-OpenBSD is secure by default. Install a OpenBSD box and a Win2003 box. Let see which is cracked first!!”
Sounds like a fair fight to me, if both systems have all of their current patches applied. Go for it.
Eventually the security holes in w2k3 will continue as W2k3 sales continues to rise.
These days you can’t use Microsoft because it’s just not a good platform. You can’t use Linux because of the SCO trying to own everyone and everything on the planet. I feel sorry for the whole lot of businesses using computer technology.
What about Mac.
Why doesn’t Microsoft start making swis cheese, atleast swis is seposed to have holes.
“Just keep the Windows machines behind a good firewall. Make sure the firewall is not running a version of Microsoft Windows. There are holes that Microsoft patches and then there are holes Microsoft doesn’t. If Microsoft doesn’t let you know about the holes, hackers might.
The IT shop where I work used to be an all Windows shop except for their firewalls which are all Solaris. I guess they are not that stupid. They are know running RHAS for the new Oracle deployments.
Whatever the merits of the press release or the article, “passel” is a pretty cool word that one does not see often.
There is only one patch that is for Win2k3, and even at that, Dx is disabled by default (at least it was in the during the beta).
??? There are a ton of patches for Win2K3 now.
Successful Thursday, July 24, 2003 Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (819696) Web site
Successful Tuesday, July 22, 2003 Q282010: Recommended Update for Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 7 (SP7) – Windows Server 2003 Web site
Successful Friday, July 18, 2003 Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (823980) Web site
Successful Wednesday, July 09, 2003 Flaw In Windows Media Player May Allow Media Library Access (819639) Web site
Successful Wednesday, July 09, 2003 823559: Security Update for Microsoft Windows Web site
Successful Wednesday, July 09, 2003 818529: June 2003, Cumulative Patch for Internet Explorer Web site
Which are all part of a default install.
I was referring to the ‘passel’ of patches in the article, only one of them effected Win2k3.
And no, there has only been ONE issue that has effected the default install, and it is only effected if it isn’t behind a firewall.
However, all of these patches are required for a default install. Even if they are not exploitable, they still exist.
Well of course, you should install all patches.
or uninstall the components which is my preferred method. 😉
CRAZZZZZZY…
Well we’re two wild and crazy guys.
Ain’t that the truth hehe!
If you can’t use Microsoft Windows because isn’t a good OS neither Linux because of legal risks, then try *BSD (ie. FreeBSD).
n0dez
“The fact that Windows 2003 outsold its predecessors is a factor of many things, including new licensing programs in which some companies have already, in essence, paid for the upgrade. Essentially the decision to upgrade is more a question of whether the software is ready for prime time, rather than a financial decision. And most customers are still in the testing phase, with plans to migrate most servers several months away, at least.”
Translation; Because of changes in licensing Microsoft is claiming to have “sold” the operating system to companies which may have plans to never use it.
“a French IT company”
Would that be anything like a French car company?
If so I can understand your preference for oddball, ill conceived product designs.
“Would that be anything like a French car company?
If so I can understand your preference for oddball, ill conceived product designs.”
I’d appreciate it if people didn’t start using country of origin to make their point.
Kinda silly isn’t it?
Never knew Operating Systems had anything to do with being French or not.
I’m not a moderator here, but I make myself operator for a sec when it comes to nonsense like this. Think we should let politicians talk the crap.