to use XP Pro as a server?

[tmmm]

hi all

I'm setting up small business network, approx 4-5 users, with web access
through DSL and no defined backup strategy as yet.

I am thinking of simply running with xp-pro at this stage, saving on the
expense of a dedicated small biz server 2003. I know I am limited to 10
concurrent connections but that's ok for now..

I did however want to implement some kind of fault tolerance and did want to
use disk mirroring. Is this available with xp pro??

as for web access I am just going to use ics for now..

does anyone have any thoughts...especially on the data backup\fault
tolerance side of things with xp pro..

thanx

tm

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Windows XP Professional is a "workstation" operating system.
In your scenario, you need Windows Server 2003.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| hi all
|
| I'm setting up small business network, approx 4-5 users, with web access
| through DSL and no defined backup strategy as yet.
|
| I am thinking of simply running with xp-pro at this stage, saving on the
| expense of a dedicated small biz server 2003. I know I am limited to 10
| concurrent connections but that's ok for now..
|
| I did however want to implement some kind of fault tolerance and did want to
| use disk mirroring. Is this available with xp pro??
|
| as for web access I am just going to use ics for now..
|
| does anyone have any thoughts...especially on the data backup\fault
| tolerance side of things with xp pro..
|
| thanx
|
| tm

 

[xe77]

Windows XP Pro supports mirrored and striped volumes, as
well as NTFS extended (multi-disk) volumes when using
dynamic disk mode NTFS.

 

[David Candy]

It can do what you want. Buy a tape drive and use Backup. It can mirror but backups remove the need for it.

 

[CZ]

I'm setting up small business network, approx 4-5 users, with web access
through DSL and no defined backup strategy as yet.
I am thinking of simply running with xp-pro at this stage, saving on the
expense of a dedicated small biz server 2003. I know I am limited to 10
concurrent connections but that's ok for now..
I did however want to implement some kind of fault tolerance and did want to
use disk mirroring. Is this available with xp pro??
As for web access I am just going to use ICS for now..
Does anyone have any thoughts...especially on the data backup\fault
tolerance side of things with xp pro..

tm:

From : http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q314343
"You cannot create mirrored volumes or RAID-5 volumes on Windows XP Home
Edition, Windows XP Professional, or Windows XP 64-Bit Edition-based
computers."

I would recommend using a NAT-router instead of ICS.

 

[Steve N.]

Windows XP Professional is a "workstation" operating system.
In your scenario, you need Windows Server 2003.

Then why does M$ have KB articles for setting up a small home or office
network? For such a small network Windows Server is WAY overkill and
definitely a lot more expensive.

One thing I have greatly appreciated about Windows since Win95 is the
sheer ease of setting up small networks. That's the BEST thing M$ ever
did, IMO, and it works great!

Steve

 

[Malke]

Then why does M$ have KB articles for setting up a small home or
office network? For such a small network Windows Server is WAY
overkill and definitely a lot more expensive.

One thing I have greatly appreciated about Windows since Win95 is the
sheer ease of setting up small networks. That's the BEST thing M$ ever
did, IMO, and it works great!

Steve

I think that a server os is overkill for your office. You probably just
want a file "server" or unified place for backups. The simplest thing
to do is use XP Pro on all machines, although mixed operating systems
will work fine. Use Pro for your "server" box and give it 512MB to 1GB
of RAM - I'll call this box a "server", although that isn't really
accurate. Put two hard drives in the "server" and a cd-rw burner or dvd
burner. I don't think RAID is appropriate for your needs. Use a router,
not ICS. You can run a backup program (SecondCopy, Back Up My PC, etc.)
on the "server" that will copy all pertinent data from the
"workstations" onto the second hard drive. Or set the "workstations" to
only save data to folders you've made on the "server's" second hard
drive. Then burn the data to a cd-r or dvd once a week and take the
burned media offsite.

HTH,

Malke

 

[Bill Crocker]

Windows XP can work great as a server, if you do not need domains.

Bill Crocker

 

[David Candy]

It is a server. All MS OSs are Peer servers and peer clients. Incl Dos with the network packs.