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Originally Posted by Dav
NetBEUI (Network BIOS Extended User Interface) is an Extension of NetBIOS (Network Basic Input Output System) ann is a seperate Network Protocol in its own right, like TCP/IP IPX/SPX and is really only suitable for small networks (it is approximatley faster than TCP/IP with 2-15 computers). If you want web-serving, then you must use TCP/IP. And you don't need 2003 Server for a File Server, do it on the 2k Box by creating a share and then you can create a mapped drive (Network Drive) on the others pointing to the network share.
You'll only need extra CAL's if your running Microsoft Terminal Services, a CAL for every client connection.
Do you want to use Windows Server? I can't see how unless you want DNS\DHCP\IIS or RAS (note: never gotten this to work  )? If your after a simple network just install XP on all of them, connect them and let the wizards do the rest. |
The reason why I've been using Server 2003 as a desktop OS is simply because, for me, it has been considerably faster than the run-of-the-mill XP. Part of the reason is, I suspect, that many unnecessary services are disabled by default. Also, I could never find a really good way to get rid of Windows Messenger on XP, which was a huge resource hog. Even when I did manage to rid myself of it, it would somehow find itself back on my system, and I'd always have to forcefully shut it down from Task Manager on every logon session.
I switched back to Server 03 from XP a couple of months ago, installed the typical software, and lo and behold, within less than two months it had become unbearably slow. At least by my standards. There is just way too much clutter in XP for my taste, I don't need/want any of the eye candy. And there's always some of it there, even when you switch off the candy GUI.
I also found it easier to set up an ftp server and a web server on Server 2003 than to run separate server apps for both on XP. I like this because I live half a world away from my family, and it's easier for me to use Windows Media Services to allow them to stream home videos directly from my machine as opposed to trying to cram them into small enough files to be downloaded the old fashioned way.
I've a couple of questions about setting up a simple network with just XPs, as I am still considering this an option... One thing I like about having an actual server is that you have great control over data security. Let me put it this way: I can easily hide my vast porno collection on the server from my nosy wife, simply by editing her access privileges. Can I do the same effectively with XP? I could never get XP to hide my porno folders from my wife's user account on a stand-alone setup, would it be possible over a network connection though?