Technology

Windows NT

Windows NT is the operating system, which have the followed main advantages:

Windows 95 User Interface. Windows NT® Workstation 4.0 has the same interface as Windows® 95. This means that you can use the same interface for all your Windows-based 32-bit desktops and servers. The Windows 95 interface includes:

• Start Button, Taskbar, shortcuts
• My Computer, Network Neighborhood, and the Recycle Bin

Windows NT Explorer. Windows NT Explorer is a tool for browsing and managing files, drives, and network connections. Windows NT Explorer displays your computer's contents as a hierarchy, or "tree", enabling you to see the contents of each drive and folder on your computer, as well as any network drives your computer is connected to. Windows NT Explorer replaces the File Manager, which was used in previous Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Installation. The installation process simplifies the setup procedure when upgrading to Windows NT Workstation. Features include an interface, hardware detection, installation wizards, and a series of tools for corporate customers to deploy Windows NT Workstation on multiple systems.

Task Manager. The Task Manager is an integrated tool for managing applications and tasks, and providing key performance metrics of the Windows NT-based system. Task Manager maintains detailed information on each application and process that is running on the desktop. It also provides a way to terminate applications and processes that are not responding, making the overall system more reliable.

Accessibility Options. Numerous Accessibility Options are installed by default, making the system easier to use for people with disabilities. These features include:

• Special key functions and support for alternative input devices that emulate the keyboard and mouse for users with limited dexterity.
• Scalable user interface elements, audible prompts during setup, and high contrast color schemes for users with low vision.
• SoundSentry and ShowSounds functions that translate audible cues to visual cues for users who are hard-of-hearing.

These features are the result of working with users who have disabilities, organizations that represent people with disabilities, and software developers who create products for this market.

Accessories. The Windows NT Workstation 4.0 operating system includes a number of additional applications and utilities such as:

• HyperTerminal, a 32-bit communications application that provides asynchronous connectivity to host computers such as online services. HyperTerminal is pre-configured to allow access to AT&T Mail, CompuServe, MCI Mail, and other systems.
• WordPad, a 32-bit editor that allows users to create simple documents and memos.
• Paint, a 32-bit graphics application that allows users to read PCX and BMP file formats.
• Quick Viewers, enabling users to view files in the most popular file formats without opening the application that was used to create the file.

Access to the Internet and Corporate Intranets

Microsoft Internet Explorer. Microsoft Internet Explorer is Microsoft's easy-to-use Internet browser.

Peer Web Services. Microsoft Peer Web Services (PWS) enables publication of personal Web pages. PWS allows users to share information on their corporate intranets. PWS is ideal for development, testing, and staging of Web applications, as well as peer-to-peer publishing. As with Windows NT Server's built-in Web server, Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS), PWS supports all ISAPI extensions and filters. PWS has been optimized for interactive workstation use, and does not have the system requirements (memory requirements, server processes, and footprint) of a full Web server such as IIS.

Client Support for PPTP. The Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) provides a way to use public data networks, such as the Internet, to create virtual private networks connecting client PCs with servers. PPTP offers protocol encapsulation to support multiple protocols via TCP/IP connections, and data encryption for privacy — making it safer to send information over non-secure networks. This technology extends the Dial-up Networking capability by enabling remote access and securely extending private networks across the Internet without needing to change the client software.

WINS and DNS Integration. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 takes advantage of the integration between two Windows NT Server services — Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) and Domain Name System (DNS) — to provide a form of dynamic DNS. With WINS and DNS integration, users can enter DNS fully qualified domain names, making it easier to connect to network resources.

Network Integration

Network Control Panel. The Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Network Control Panel provides a single access point where all network settings — such as, identification, services, protocols, adapters, and bindings — can be installed and configured.

Client Support for NDS. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 includes a version of Client Services for NetWare that supports Novell NetWare Directory Services (NDS). This enables Windows NT Workstation 4.0 users to log on to Novell NetWare 4.x servers running NDS to access files and print resources. This service is integrated into Windows NT Workstation and provides the features that Novell users need, such as:

• NDS authentication, including authentication to multiple NDS trees
• Ability to browse NDS resources
• Ability to print to NDS print queues
• Full support for processing NetWare login scripts, NDS property pages, and NDS passwords

Dial-Up Networking Multilink Channel Aggregation. Dial-Up Networking provides channel aggregation that enables users to combine all available dial-up lines to achieve higher transfer speeds. For example, you can combine two or more Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)-compliant ISDN B channels to achieve speeds of up to 128K, or combine two or more standard modem lines. This provides increased bandwidth and allows you to combine ISDN lines with analog modem lines for higher performance.

Windows Messaging Client. Windows Messaging Client is a universal e-mail inbox that you can use with many different e-mail systems. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 includes drivers for Internet Mail and Microsoft Mail. You can use Internet Mail to communicate on the Internet or on any network with Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3) services. The Windows Messaging Client includes full Messaging API (MAPI) 1.0 support. You can send, receive, organize, and store e-mail and file system objects. You can also store e-mail addresses for any e-mail system with a MAPI driver. When Microsoft Exchange Server is installed, the Windows Messaging Client allows you to take full advantage of Microsoft Exchange Server's advanced messaging and groupware functionality.

Management Features

System Policies and User Profiles. System policies and user profiles allow system administrators to manage and maintain their user's desktops in a consistent manner. System policies are used to standardize desktop configurations, to enforce behavior, and to control user's work environments. User profiles contain all user-definable settings for the work environment of a computer running Windows NT Workstation 4.0. Profiles can be stored on a Windows NT Server, so users always receive the same desktop when logging on to any Windows NT-based computer on the network.

Setup Manager. Setup Manager is a utility that assists system administrators in creating installation scripts, thereby reducing the time and effort of deploying Windows NT Workstation 4.0. The new Setup Manager provides a graphical interface for creating hands-free installation scripts that allow system administrators to automate installation for end users. These hands-free scripts eliminate the need for users to answer questions during the installation process, thus avoiding mistakes that can occur during system software upgrades.

System Difference Utility. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 includes the System Difference Utility (sysdiff) that provides a way to pre-install additional applications simultaneously with the operating system. The sysdiff utility allows system administrators to create packages that can be applied to a system during installation. These packages can also be applied during Windows NT Workstation 4.0 setup.

Windows NT Diagnostics Program. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 includes a Windows NT Diagnostics program that simplifies troubleshooting. It contains information such as build number, device driver information, network usage data, and information about system resources like IRQ, DMA, and I/O address. Diagnostics information is viewed in a graphical tool that you can also run remotely on Windows NT.

Printer Management. Printer management allows printers to be managed remotely using the remote printers folder on the local machine. Additionally, printer drivers for shared printers can be located on the server for point-and-print automatic client driver installation. Printing performance has also been improved through server-based rendering (spooling) of non-PostScript print jobs. This results in a rapid return-to-application time, which means that after a print job is initiated, control is returned to the user more quickly.

Mobile Computing

Dial-Up Networking. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 extends the functionality offered by Dial-Up Networking and provides the ability to automatically dial a connection when required. With automatic dialing, dial-up networking is smoothly integrated into the new Windows NT interface. Whether users are connecting to the Internet, running client/server applications, accessing remote databases, or accessing shared files, mobile network access is as easy as network access in the office. Establishing a remote connection works the same as establishing a local connection — simply double-click the desired network object. For example, using the automatic dialing feature, you can establish a remote connection to the Internet by simply clicking on the Internet Explorer icon.

Hardware Profiles. Hardware Profiles allow you to create hardware configuration lists to meet specific computer needs. At system startup, you can select from these hardware profiles to establish a specific hardware setup. This allows for different computer settings depending on the environment in which a computer is being used, making it easier to use computers in different configurations. For example, if you have a portable computer, you probably use a different hardware configuration depending on whether the computer is docked or undocked.

Briefcase. The Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Briefcase allows portable PC users to escape the hassle of managing document versions by tracking relationships between different file versions on different computers. You specify which files and directories you want to track by simply dragging and dropping them into the Briefcase.

Multimedia and Graphics

Multimedia APIs. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 supports the multimedia APIs first introduced in Windows 95: DirectDraw®, DirectInput®, DirectPlay®, and DirectSound®. Supporting these APIs allows developers to simultaneously create games and other applications for Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation 4.0 platforms.

Imaging for Windows NT. The Microsoft imaging software for Microsoft Windows 95 is available on Windows NT. This imaging software provides imaging services that enable users to access and control information directly at their desktops.

Compact Disc File System Enhancements. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 now supports the following Compact Disc File System (CDFS) enhancements: Auto-Run and CD-XA formats. Auto-Run allows the operating system to recognize that a compact disc has been inserted into the drive and to start the application immediately. CD-XA is an extended format for video compact discs that contain MPEG movies.

Driver Support. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 includes numerous video drivers that improve screen quality and are especially helpful when using multimedia features. Some of the newly supported drivers are: WD ThinkPad, Matrox Millennium, Trident, Number 9 Imagine, C&T, and Cirrus.

Application Programming Interfaces and Additional Features

Telephony APIs. Telephone API (TAPI) integrates advanced telephone capabilities with the power of PCs. TAPI provides a level of abstraction software developers so their applications don't need to be bound to specific telephone hardware. Through the TAPI interface, communications applications can ask for access to the modem or telephone device. Unimodem (Universal Modem Driver) provides TAPI services for data/fax modems and voice so that users and application developers don't have to learn or maintain difficult modem "AT" commands to dial, answer, and configure modems. Some of the Windows NT 4.0 applets that use the TAPI/Unimodem support are Dial-up Networking, HyperTerminal, and Phone Dialer.

Cryptography APIs. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 includes a set of encryption APIs that allow developers to create applications that work securely over non-secure networks, such as the Internet.

Distributed COM. The Component Object Model (COM) allows software developers to create component applications. Now, Distributed COM (DCOM) in Windows NT Workstation 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0 provides the infrastructure that allows DCOM applications (the technology formally known as Network OLE) to communicate across networks without needing to re-develop applications. An example of a DCOM application would be a stock quote server object running on Windows NT Server that distributes quotes to multiple clients running Windows NT Workstation. DCOM provides the infrastructure for connecting and providing uniform communication between client/server objects. DCOM uses the same tools and technologies as COM, preserving investments in training and software.

486 Emulator. Allows 386-enhanced 16-bit applications to run on RISC machines.