Server OS Questions

youvegotjermzyouvegotjermz Baton Rouge, La
edited July 2005 in Science & Tech
k guys my little company is looking to get a server. mostly for just documents and file storage. The hardware is no problem for me, i think i'm going to get dell or someone to build it (mostly cause i don't get paid enough to take on that responsibility, which i told my boss, hehe). but anywho, the servers role in the office will primarily be for us to have a central place in which to store and back up our work. we aren't going to be doing anything other than that. no web serving or email serving, all that is done offsite. with 10 computers and possibly a few more to come in the future, my question is do we need 2003 Server Ed or can we just use XP-Pro? thx in advance!

Comments

  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited July 2005
    For just 10 people I'd recomend getting just a regular computer built p4 2ghz 2gigz of ram is plenty. For harddrives, depends on how much you need and how frequently the data will be accessed. But whatever the case make sure it's in a raid, both for speed and mission fault.

    Next for the OS. Personally I'd highly recomend linux. Now that may seem like a little more then you are thinking of biting off - and I can understand that but there a few key reasons why. Getting the server up and running is really, really easy if you use an install like Redhat or Mandriva (formerly mandrake) linux. It's just as easy as windows to install. Linux is faster at serving files and keeping the drives in good shape without having to worry about fragmentation. It's more secure and down the line should you want more out of the system linux can deliver and again for free.

    However if linux isn't an option - then for just serving files all you need is a regular copy of XP. Then just setup file sharing and you are good to go.
  • youvegotjermzyouvegotjermz Baton Rouge, La
    edited July 2005
    that's what i was thinking, i got them a pretty nice pimped out Dell, dual p4's @ 3ghz, and 2gigs of ram, and 4 160gig 7200rpm drives in a raid, and a tape backup drive from newegg. so i'm good on that, they will have room to still grow once im gone. which brings me to the OS, i'm a student worker there, well technically, and i'm not going to be there after i grad in another year and a half, and when i leave i don't want them to be screwed with a non windows OS. that combined with the fact that i'm a total and complete newb with anything linux. i would rather linux but i kinda don't have a couple of weeks to sit down at work and fiddle with it, i'm sure it's really easy but i think i need to just stick with XP pro.

    thx a bunch kryyst!
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited July 2005
    No problel that server is overkill for a file server - but if they want to grow it's good that way.

    Linux is easy. But I know it so that statements not fair. However if you have a few days to play then why not give it a try. Even just boot something like mephis or knoppix on it (no hdd installs) and see how it runs you may be surprised at how quickly you catch on.

    However like I said for just file serving stock XP will do fine.
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