peer-to-peer limitations

[Howard]

We curently run a peer-to-peer netwrok in a mixed windows
enviroment, eg:win95,98,w2k,and winXP, as well as some of
the machines being very dated, and running out of disk
space. Plus, none and I mean none, of the machines are the
same make or model. I have sugested the use of a server
and use terminal services, to get everyone on the
same "page" so to speek, and therefore be using the power
of the server to run apps etc. The powers that be have
spoken to a " consultant ", and he has sugested we buy new
machines, use w2k, and carry on with the peer-to-peer
system. The question is??..I have heard there is an approx
10 machine limitation when using a peer-to-peer network??
Has anyone see or heard of this complication/limitation??
We will eventually have more system added over time. I am
still under the belief that a server and TS is the way to
go. It would be unfournunate to impliment this ptp and
find that we can not add additional machines when the time
comes. Granted, server and TS is a lot more costly, but at
least everyhting is central.

Thanks

 

[Marina Roos]

Yep, 10 is really the maximum in a workgroup. You'll need a server.

Marina

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

You'll need a server, and I think going to a domain model now while your
network is still pretty small will make growth a LOT easier. Not sure where
terminal services fits in - if you want to use TS in application mode (for
'remote desktop' or thin client use), you'll really want more than one
server anyway in that case - don't want to be installing Office on a domain
controller, don't want users logging into it. A plain old domain model with
the workstations you have now should get you in better shape than you are -
altho' I'd say getting the 9x PCs off and using only 2k/XP workstations -
ideally standardizing on one or the other exclusively - will make things
easier.