You are the systems administrator for your company. You configure a Windows Essential Business Server 2008 environment on the network. The network consists of a single Windows Server 2003 Active Directory domain. Client computers run Windows Vista or Windows XP. You want to ensure that all client computers can be managed using Group Policy preference items.

What should you do to achieve the stated goal with the least administrative effort and cost?

A.
Upgrade the Windows XP client computers to Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).

B.
Upgrade the Windows XP client computers to Windows Vista.

C.
Raise the Windows Server 2003 domain to Windows Server 2008.

D.
Upgrade all client computers on the network to Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SPl).

Explanation:
You should upgrade the Windows XP client computers to Windows XP SP2. Windows Server 2008 contains several new Group Policy preferences in the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). Group Policy preferences allow you to configure, deploy, and manage operating system and application settings you were not able to manage previously by using Group Policy. Group Policy preference items can be used to manage computers running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 SPl, and Windows XP with SP2.

You should not upgrade the Windows XP client computers to Windows Vista. Computers running Windows XP SP2 can be managed by using Group Policy preference items. Upgrading Windows XP client computers to Windows Vista would involve more administrative effort and cost.

You should not raise the Windows Server 2003 domain to Windows Server 2008 because Group Policy preferences will work in a Windows Server 2003 domain.

You should not upgrade all client computers on the network to Windows Vista SPl. Group Policy preference items can be used to manage computers running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 SPl, and Windows XP with SP2. Therefore, upgrading all client computers to Windows Vista SPl is not required.