Server alternative ?

[Bob Sisson]

I am looking for a "Server Alternative"

Our Peer-2-Peer network has grown to 12 workstations, 3 print servers, 2
Wi-Fi nodes in two buildings, two file stores totaling 500 Gig, Network Fax
services and a Proxy-server, all on Windows2K Workstations.

As a SOHO, we can't afford a true "Server" and at the same time maintaining
all the shares, passwords and stuff is a PAIN.

I would love a domain controller so I could have central control of
passwords and shares, but don't want to fork over the $$$.

It there anything like a "Server-Lite" for people who don't need ALL of a
server, or things like Exchange-Server or any Big applications running on
the server, but DO want centralized admin ?

The only things currently running on our "Gateway server workstation" are
our Proxy software two NIC's and our Fax-sharing software with its external
modem. We currently manage all the workstation using VNC (PCanywhere done
right) but that means keeping every one "synced" is a PAIN.

About 1/3 of our network is SOHO, the other 2/3 is Home (Kids, Wife,
personal).

Ideas Please !!!

--

Remove VERMIN to reply

Bob Sisson
Keeper of the Dragon and other things at Redwall
mailto:[email protected]
http://www.SissonFamily.com/bob

 

[Jonathan Maltz [MS-MVP]]

Have you looked into Small Business Server 2003 Standard?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/default.mspx

--
--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server]
http://www.imbored.biz - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
tutorial site
Only reply by newsgroup. If I see an email I didn't ask for, it will be
deleted without reading.

 

[KJ]

Exactly as the MS rep. already said, SBS standard would be your ideal.

You can even run it well, though not optimally, on what is considered
desktop hardware...like a Dell Optiplex series. In fact, my University runs
some Standard Server 2k software on the Dell GX260 Optiplex. Software AND
hardware can be had for <$2,500!

 

[Jonathan Maltz [MS-MVP]]

I'm not a software rep (I don't work for Microsoft at all,
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com for info about MVPs)

And by no means is "real" server hardware "needed" (but still STRONGLY
suggested for anything except in-home testing [and I mean that literally]).
I ran the customer preview edition of Windows Server 2003 Standard on a 400
MHz Celeron and it did fine as a web server (I don't think I would have used
it for much else, however)

--
--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server]
http://www.imbored.biz - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
tutorial site
Only reply by newsgroup. If I see an email I didn't ask for, it will be
deleted without reading.