DOD cleared for Windows 2000
- By Bill Murray
- Apr 10, 2001
On his last day of work at the Pentagon, the Defense Department's chief
information officer gave the green light for military implementation of
Microsoft Corp. Windows 2000.
Art Money, whose last day as Defense CIO was April 6, lifted an economic
analysis stipulation he had placed on DOD organizations in a May 31, 2000,
memo.
Now, DOD organizations that deploy Windows 2000 no longer have to list
their hardware and software replacement costs, software licensing fees and
maintenance, and training expenses before using the software.
A key component of Windows 2000 server is Microsoft Active Directory,
which some have called the company's version of Novell Inc.'s Network Directory
Services. Microsoft Active Directory gives systems administrators a place
to store data about network users and devices, such as application files,
servers and printers. The directory can simplify management and improve security and interoperability, according to Microsoft.
In his April 6 memo, Money wrote that the Defense Information Systems
Agency has set naming conventions for Windows 2000 to "ensure a consistent
Windows 2000 Active Directory naming structure" within DOD, "thus providing
the highest level of interoperability." Windows 2000 is not mandatory within
DOD, according to Money's memo.
The Army's Active Directory pilot is its Global Combat Support System
logistics program, which will use Windows 2000 on more than 40,000 workstations
during the next few years. The Air Force Air Mobility Command is also deploying
Windows 2000 across its enterprise, said Keith Hodson, a Microsoft Government
spokesman.
The Marine Corps and Navy will receive Windows 2000 through the Navy
Marine Corps Intranet procurement by 2003.
Users with .mil domains can access more information through the Directory
Services Working Group within DISA's Defense Information Infrastructure
Common Operating Environment Configuration Review and Control Board at www.disa.mil/directories.