Need for Windows Server

fieldwalsh · 05-13-2006, 01:36 AM

I am part of a small commercial real-estate company with 2 computers and a "server" really just a xp pro machine with a RAID1 drive shared and mapped to the other computers so either computer can access the files (word and excel mainly) with the other being off. And to have redundancy if a drive fails.

There is also another company in the same building with 3 computers all sharing the same router for network transfers and internet. Who I think would might be interested in joining in the domain.

I’m a nerd and feel I have extensive computer knowledge my main motive is actually probably just for the fun of it. Would it be overkill to turn that xp pro machine into a windows server based machine where I could run a domain controller and then give everyone their own rights to folders and user permissions and such. The most important thing to me is file management of word suite documents.

The biggest benefit I see is that you could sit at any computer log in and it would be like you were at your own computer with your setting and such.

Would it be possible for an advanced user with no server experience except for a website I ran on IIS for a while to set all this up? I consider myself advanced in computers just not a windows server domain environment. (hey I know what Active Directory is

Drawbacks?

Thanks for the input. Got a network tach coming out Monday to look at our setup but I’m sure hell be all about selling as much as his services as he can.

**Sarge** · 05-13-2006, 07:08 PM

If I had my druthers I would install Windows 2003 R2 Standard Edition or Windows 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition.
You could get away with running XP Pro as a server if you configrued the system correctly, but I don't know if the performance would be aceptable running it as both a domain contrioler and a web server. It really all depends on the hardware.
What's the system specs for this box you're talking about?

Chevy · 05-15-2006, 05:18 AM

Well, I agree with Sarge on the need for a true server OS, but I would lean towards 2003 Small Business Server Standard. It will give you all you need, and save a lot of $$$.

fieldwalsh · 05-15-2006, 08:36 AM

I wouldnt be using it as a web server I have that co located. This would be used stricktly for file server and AD managament. Just be nice to sit down at any computer and log in and ti be set up just like your computer. Or log into the domain from a laptop from a hotel.

MAQ_FR · 05-23-2006, 05:23 AM

I agree SBS is your best option, but just another thought:

Would this other business be happy with you being the Administrator, and potentially have access to all THEIR data (Or them administering you?) , or in other words would you be happy taking on that responsibility?

05-13-2006, 01:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
fieldwalsh Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP/SUSE	Need for Windows Server I am part of a small commercial real-estate company with 2 computers and a "server" really just a xp pro machine with a RAID1 drive shared and mapped to the other computers so either computer can access the files (word and excel mainly) with the other being off. And to have redundancy if a drive fails. There is also another company in the same building with 3 computers all sharing the same router for network transfers and internet. Who I think would might be interested in joining in the domain. I’m a nerd and feel I have extensive computer knowledge my main motive is actually probably just for the fun of it. Would it be overkill to turn that xp pro machine into a windows server based machine where I could run a domain controller and then give everyone their own rights to folders and user permissions and such. The most important thing to me is file management of word suite documents. The biggest benefit I see is that you could sit at any computer log in and it would be like you were at your own computer with your setting and such. Would it be possible for an advanced user with no server experience except for a website I ran on IIS for a while to set all this up? I consider myself advanced in computers just not a windows server domain environment. (hey I know what Active Directory is Drawbacks? Thanks for the input. Got a network tach coming out Monday to look at our setup but I’m sure hell be all about selling as much as his services as he can.

05-13-2006, 07:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sarge TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 653 OS: Windows XP Pro x64	If I had my druthers I would install Windows 2003 R2 Standard Edition or Windows 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition. You could get away with running XP Pro as a server if you configrued the system correctly, but I don't know if the performance would be aceptable running it as both a domain contrioler and a web server. It really all depends on the hardware. What's the system specs for this box you're talking about? __________________ My general recomendations: Anti-malware: Spybot S&D, AdAware SE Personal, SpywareBlaster Anti-Virus: Avast Home Edition Browser: Mozilla Firefox Email client: Mozilla Thunderbird Codec support: K-Lite Codec Packs

05-23-2006, 05:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
MAQ_FR Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Switzerland (origin: Scotland) Posts: 134 OS: WinXP pro: 2003 Server: 2008 Server: RHES 4	I agree SBS is your best option, but just another thought: Would this other business be happy with you being the Administrator, and potentially have access to all THEIR data (Or them administering you?) , or in other words would you be happy taking on that responsibility? __________________ regardz à tous Maq

05-15-2006, 05:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
Chevy Retired Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Notlob Posts: 5,452 OS: Vista Ultimate My System	Well, I agree with Sarge on the need for a true server OS, but I would lean towards 2003 Small Business Server Standard. It will give you all you need, and save a lot of $$$.

05-15-2006, 08:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
fieldwalsh Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP/SUSE	I wouldnt be using it as a web server I have that co located. This would be used stricktly for file server and AD managament. Just be nice to sit down at any computer and log in and ti be set up just like your computer. Or log into the domain from a laptop from a hotel.