client os question

[RP]

Hi all, I am considering using Windows 2003 Standard/Enterprise as the OS
for my desktop. The main reason being since I do development work and cannot
afford buying 2 machines (seperate server & client). Are there any downsides
to doing this? Basically I need to use/install the following applications:-

1. SQL Server
2. Visual Studio.Net 2003
3. Office/Outlook 2003
4. Acrobat
5. Antivirus Software
6. MSN Messenger
7. ActiveSync

Are any of these programs not compatible or wont work with Server OS? I know
a lot of antivirus vendors like Norton & Mcafee will not let you install
their software on Server OS's.

TIA!

 

[Tonix]

For Antivirus, the Symantec AntiVirus Enterprise (Client) is ok.

All others you mentioned are no problem to use.

Regards,
Tonix

 

[Sijin Joseph]

Hi RP,

I wouldn't recommend using Windows Server 2003 as your main development
machine. 2003 has been built from ground up as a server and hence has a
lot of security restrictuons which will make development difficult. Plus
it will have app compatibility problems. Just as an e.g. when you
shutdown the server it will ask you for a reason why you are shutting
down

My suggestion is to use a virtual PC application like VMWare or Virtual
PC 2004 to run both OS'es in one machine. Infact VMWare even allows you
to setup a virtual network of virtual PC's

Take a look
http://www.vmware.com/products/desktop/ws_features.html
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

Sijin Joseph
http://www.indiangeek.net
http://weblogs.asp.net/sjoseph

 

[RP]

Sijin, thanks for the info. Infact I do have a copy of MS Virtual PC 2004
but I have never used it. Are there any guides/how tos on how to setup
Windows Server 2003 & Windows XP on the same machine using Virtual PC? Also
the most important question is if I do set it up like that will both OS's be
available simultaneously over the network i.e. can clients/applications see
both the server & windows xp in the domain environment?

thanks!

 

[Sijin Joseph]

Hi RP,

Setting up a OS in a Virtual Pc is just like installing it on a regular
machine, it is no different. You will see how easy it is once you
download it and use it, infact a 45 day trial version is available at
the link i gave you.

And yes the host OS and the guest OS'es will be available on the network
as seperate machines with seperate IP addresses. You can have more than
one one virtual machine on the same physical machine. The limitation is
only your physical machine's hardware.

Sijin Joseph
http://www.indiangeek.net
http://weblogs.asp.net/sjoseph