You are choosing a Windows 2000 operating system edition to install on a new computer that will be used exclusively as a network file server for your company. The server will host shared folders and provide file services for users, but it will not be used as a client workstation. Which Windows 2000 edition should you select for this dedicated file server role?

Introduction / Context:
This question evaluates your ability to choose the appropriate Windows 2000 edition for a dedicated network file server. While Windows 2000 Professional can share files, Microsoft designed the Server editions to handle larger workloads, provide directory services, and support advanced server features. Selecting the correct edition is important for scalability, licensing, and management.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The new computer will be used exclusively as a network file server.
• It will host shared folders and serve multiple users.
• There is no requirement for special clustering or very high end features.
• The scenario is a typical company environment that requires a reliable file server.

Concept / Approach:
Windows 2000 Server is the base server edition designed for general server roles, including file and print services, domain control, and application hosting. It supports more concurrent connections and server specific features than Windows 2000 Professional. Advanced Server and Datacenter Server add features such as clustering and support for larger multiprocessor configurations, which are not required for a standard file server in most companies. Therefore, Windows 2000 Server is the most appropriate and cost effective choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the role is a general file server without explicit high availability or massive scalability needs.Step 2: Recognise that Windows 2000 Professional is primarily intended as a client operating system, with limits on concurrent connections.Step 3: Note that Windows 2000 Server is the standard server edition designed for file and print services.Step 4: Choose Windows 2000 Server as the correct edition for this dedicated file server.

Verification / Alternative check:
Product documentation lists Windows 2000 Server as suitable for file and print servers and domain controllers. Professional edition is positioned as a desktop and workstation operating system. Advanced Server and Datacenter Server are aimed at more demanding workloads, such as high availability and large databases. For a typical file server, Windows 2000 Server is recommended unless there are special requirements.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a uses Windows 2000 Professional, which can share files but is not designed for heavy server workloads and has connection limits. Option c incorrectly claims that only Advanced Server can share files, which is false. Option d suggests always using the highest edition, which is unnecessary and costly for normal file serving. Option e mentions Windows 2000 Home, which is not even a real Windows 2000 edition and would not be suitable for a company file server.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates assume that any Windows edition can serve as a file server without considering scalability and licensing limits. Others believe that more expensive editions are always better, even when features are unused. In practice, matching the edition to the role ensures a balance between capability and cost, and for standard file servers Windows 2000 Server is sufficient.

Final Answer:
You should install Windows 2000 Server, which is the standard edition designed to act as a network file server and support server specific features.