Independent software vendors (ISVs) who want to ensure that their software is compatible with Windows Server 2003, or earn the right to display a logo to that effect, have a broader array of options than in the past. In addition to its usual distinction between software that will run on its new server and software that is specifically designed to take advantage of the new server's features, Microsoft will for the first time certify software for specific versions of its server OS. In addition, the company is putting extra promotional effort behind its Datacenter and 64-bit server OSs.

Supported vs. Certified

As in the past, Microsoft will distinguish between applications that will run on its server OS, but that don’t provide full support for all its features, and those that have been more extensively tested for compatibility and feature completeness.

Applications in the former category are called "Supported by Windows" and need only pass tests that ISVs themselves can run with their applications. They receive no logo, but can be listed in the Windows Server Catalog, a new online directory of compatible server applications that complements the client-oriented Windows XP Catalog. This catalog lists not only compatible software but also hardware certified to run Microsoft server OSs.

Programs that have passed more rigorous third-party testing to ensure that they run well under stress on Windows 2003 and take advantage of some of its key features are called "Certified for Windows Server 2003." They are allowed to use a Windows logo, appear in the Windows Catalog, and are eligible for some Microsoft partner programs.

Additional Certified Benefits

For the first time, Microsoft will distinguish among applications certified for specific versions of its server OS. Benefits offered to ISVs increase as they certify their applications for more advanced server OSs.

Certifying an application on Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, for example, earns an ISV the basic benefits outlined previously.

Certifying the same application on Enterprise Edition earns the ISV bonus marketing funds from Microsoft and qualifies them for IBM’s "ClusterProven" logo, which certifies an application’s ability to provide high availability. Although the IBM logo normally requires additional testing and participation in IBM’s partner program, ISVs who meet the certification requirements for Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition qualify for the logo automatically.

Applications certified for Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition receive all the previously noted benefits, are profiled on a special Web site that promotes Datacenter applications, and are eligible for additional promotions at partner events and in Microsoft marketing materials. In addition, Microsoft will help ISVs in this category develop case studies illustrating how their application benefits from running on the Datacenter Edition.

Microsoft is also helping market applications certified for the 64-bit version of its server OS, listing them on their own Web page similar to the page devoted to Datacenter applications.

Interestingly, Microsoft will not certify applications designed to run on Windows Server 2003 Web Edition, the lowest-cost version of the server OS. Although intended to compete with Linux in low-cost Web hosting environments, Web Edition is also likely to be used by some customers for Web-based applications and Web services. Microsoft says organizations interested in certifying such applications should certify them on more advanced editions of Windows Server 2003, even if they will run on Web Edition.

Microsoft says it will maintain the existing Windows 2000 Server certification program alongside the Windows Server 2003 certification program, ensuring that customers can locate certified software for either platform.

Certification Requirements

To obtain certification, all applications must be tested by a third party (VeriTest) and demonstrate that they run well on Windows Server 2003 with no unplanned downtime, verify any drivers that they use, install correctly without requiring a restart, and support Windows Server 2003 security features.

In addition, applications certified for Enterprise Edition must be capable of running in a cluster configuration, use server resources appropriately (e.g., exhibit no memory leaks), and be compatible with virus scanning software.

Applications certified for Datacenter Edition must also be stable when stressed on 8- and 32-processor systems, and must fail over properly when running on a 4-node cluster of 8-way servers.

Corporate developers developing custom applications might not be interested in formal certification, but they can still review the certification guidelines to help ensure that their applications run well on Windows Server 2003. For example, they will need to ensure that their applications do not make use of legacy features that shipped with earlier server versions, such as the Visual Basic 5.0 runtime, some multimedia codecs, or Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), but that are not shipped with Windows Server 2003.

Resources

Software certification and logo requirements for Windows 2000 Server applications were described in "'Certified for Windows 2000' Logo Program Finalized" on page 14 of the Mar. 2000 Update.

For a complete list of the benefits and requirements for Windows Server 2003 certification, see www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/partners/isvs.

The Windows Server Catalog is at www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/server.