Options for dead server

shadowboxer · 09-08-2006, 10:22 PM

I teach at a small non-profit school which has about 30 computers (mostly XP pro, a few still run win98). The scsi drive in our old server died about a week ago, and we are looking at options.

The primary need is for central file storage, reachable from any of the desktops. The server was also apparently serving as a DNS server; as a stop-gap, right now we are using static IP's on a few boxes that we really need to use.

Anyway, we've considered the following options:

1) Just shove a HD into a box that isn't being heavily used. However, XP Pro apparently only supports 10 connections to the drive at once, and that wouldn't be enough.

2) Use a NAS and not worry about DHCP. However, most of the inexpensive ones I've seen support 32 connections, and we are on the cusp of that now, so no room for expansion.

Right now, we are thinking about installing Windows 2000 Server, which was on the dead server, on one of the current XP Pro machines and adding an extra drive to use as the "central storage", accessible by all computers in the building. (We don't need much space - the SCSI drive was only 10GB!).

My question is: can we put Windows 2000 on a machine that is going to see occasional use (Office and Internet Explorer) and also use an EIDE drive for storage and not run into any real issues? There won't be any heavy-duty power user activity going on here, mainly just Word and internet browsing.

(Obviously, money is a big issue, so we're trying to get away with investing as little as possible.)

Thanks!

Eric

Chevy · 09-08-2006, 10:39 PM

To answer the "can we ...?" .... Yes.

It's best not to use your server as a desktop, but you can. Server 2000 will meet your needs, and doesn't care if the drive system is SCSI or IDE.

**Bill_Castner** · 09-09-2006, 12:05 AM

"Chevy" is absolutely right about Win2k server, but I still hate to see a server used as a workstation. You cannot completely isolate the local console logon session from the server. You crash the first you could crash the second as well.

Repair the failed machine. While I doubt you could find a 10gb drive anymore, you can still find 20gb and 40gb quite easily. This should be around US$ 40.00 for a 40gb drive and often less when on sale or with a rebate. For example, (and I am not endorsing this site), see: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...|c:134||c:522|

Then if you need a workstation, buy one. Very reasonable computers can be obtained for under US$ 400.00 anymore.

.

shadowboxer · 09-09-2006, 07:38 AM

Thanks for both of the replies. I just started at the school, and the person who manages the computers and network (who took the server in to a local chain to see if they could repair it) was quoted $1000 for a replacement, sans software, which is a pretty large expense for us. (The server is 7 years old; almost all of the computers are donated.)

Is there necessarily anything different, hardware-wise, about the server? (I have done home networking and dabbled at larger stuff, but am obviously not anywhere close to being an expert.) Can we just purchase an inexpensive desktop to store files and maybe be the DHCP server?

Thanks again!

**Bill_Castner** · 09-09-2006, 08:10 AM

Not really.

There can be "serious" servers with redundent power supplies, RAID arrays, UPS protection, 32 processors, etc. but I suspect if you were happy with a 7-year-old computer and a 10gb hard drive then any reasonably speedy computer should do.

The $1,000 figure I suspect was an indirect way of telling you not to repair the old machine but buy a new one. Just for that do not buy from them.

If you did not know this, many of the large OEM retailers have Auction sites to dispose of certified and warranted equipment. For example, consider what you could get from Dell: http://www.dellauction.com/cgi-bin/n...08269&gallery=

You can Google to find other sites by IBM, HP, Compaq, Gatway, .etc. or just use Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re...F8&node=896918

Best wishes.

09-08-2006, 10:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
shadowboxer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2 OS: XP	Options for dead server I teach at a small non-profit school which has about 30 computers (mostly XP pro, a few still run win98). The scsi drive in our old server died about a week ago, and we are looking at options. The primary need is for central file storage, reachable from any of the desktops. The server was also apparently serving as a DNS server; as a stop-gap, right now we are using static IP's on a few boxes that we really need to use. Anyway, we've considered the following options: 1) Just shove a HD into a box that isn't being heavily used. However, XP Pro apparently only supports 10 connections to the drive at once, and that wouldn't be enough. 2) Use a NAS and not worry about DHCP. However, most of the inexpensive ones I've seen support 32 connections, and we are on the cusp of that now, so no room for expansion. Right now, we are thinking about installing Windows 2000 Server, which was on the dead server, on one of the current XP Pro machines and adding an extra drive to use as the "central storage", accessible by all computers in the building. (We don't need much space - the SCSI drive was only 10GB!). My question is: can we put Windows 2000 on a machine that is going to see occasional use (Office and Internet Explorer) and also use an EIDE drive for storage and not run into any real issues? There won't be any heavy-duty power user activity going on here, mainly just Word and internet browsing. (Obviously, money is a big issue, so we're trying to get away with investing as little as possible.) Thanks! Eric

09-09-2006, 12:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bill_Castner Users Helping Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,029 OS: XP SP2 Vista Win2k	"Chevy" is absolutely right about Win2k server, but I still hate to see a server used as a workstation. You cannot completely isolate the local console logon session from the server. You crash the first you could crash the second as well. Repair the failed machine. While I doubt you could find a 10gb drive anymore, you can still find 20gb and 40gb quite easily. This should be around US$ 40.00 for a 40gb drive and often less when on sale or with a rebate. For example, (and I am not endorsing this site), see: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...\|c:134\|\|c:522\| Then if you need a workstation, buy one. Very reasonable computers can be obtained for under US$ 400.00 anymore. . __________________ MS-MVP Windows Networking VSOP AUMHA Forums MVM BroadbandReports / DSLR MVP Tek-Tips Last edited by Bill_Castner; 09-09-2006 at 12:07 AM.

09-09-2006, 07:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
shadowboxer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2 OS: XP	Thanks for both of the replies. I just started at the school, and the person who manages the computers and network (who took the server in to a local chain to see if they could repair it) was quoted $1000 for a replacement, sans software, which is a pretty large expense for us. (The server is 7 years old; almost all of the computers are donated.) Is there necessarily anything different, hardware-wise, about the server? (I have done home networking and dabbled at larger stuff, but am obviously not anywhere close to being an expert.) Can we just purchase an inexpensive desktop to store files and maybe be the DHCP server? Thanks again! Last edited by shadowboxer; 09-09-2006 at 07:39 AM. Reason: Typos

09-09-2006, 08:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bill_Castner Users Helping Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,029 OS: XP SP2 Vista Win2k	Not really. There can be "serious" servers with redundent power supplies, RAID arrays, UPS protection, 32 processors, etc. but I suspect if you were happy with a 7-year-old computer and a 10gb hard drive then any reasonably speedy computer should do. The $1,000 figure I suspect was an indirect way of telling you not to repair the old machine but buy a new one. Just for that do not buy from them. If you did not know this, many of the large OEM retailers have Auction sites to dispose of certified and warranted equipment. For example, consider what you could get from Dell: http://www.dellauction.com/cgi-bin/n...08269&gallery= You can Google to find other sites by IBM, HP, Compaq, Gatway, .etc. or just use Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re...F8&node=896918 Best wishes. __________________ MS-MVP Windows Networking VSOP AUMHA Forums MVM BroadbandReports / DSLR MVP Tek-Tips Last edited by Bill_Castner; 09-09-2006 at 08:15 AM.

09-08-2006, 10:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chevy Retired Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Notlob Posts: 5,452 OS: Vista Ultimate My System	To answer the "can we ...?" .... Yes. It's best not to use your server as a desktop, but you can. Server 2000 will meet your needs, and doesn't care if the drive system is SCSI or IDE.