Installing Windows 2003 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

a2k · 09-02-2003, 10:35 AM

I'm setting up a new computer and I'm thinking about instaling Win2k3. I'm planning on using this computer as my day-to-day work machine in my new office. I'd like to install the standard edition, but I've only got Enterprise Edition and Web Edition which both have tons of features that I know I don't want. Anybody know if Enterprise Edition will bog me down if I use it as a desktop OS?

sambocom · 09-02-2003, 10:57 AM

The installation will take up a lot more space on the hard drive, but I think you should be able to go into the Services control panel and turn off services you don't need, freeing up the extra ram the enterprise edition uses.

charliex · 09-02-2003, 10:13 PM

win2k3 is a server os, installing it on a deskop probably isn't going to do much for you more than 2k or certainly XP.

what would you use it for, other than cause you can ?

a2k · 09-02-2003, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by charliex
win2k3 is a server os, installing it on a deskop probably isn't going to do much for you more than 2k or certainly XP.

what would you use it for, other than cause you can ?

Thanks for replying, sambocom, and charliex.

What I want to do is do file sharing and VPN so that I can connect to my work machine from home and access my files. There's no domain to connect an XP machine to, so as far as I know, I need to use 2k or 2k3 if I don't want to share to everyone in the world. I could certainly use 2k, but sooner or later they're gonna push me to upgrade so I might as well do it sooner. Also, there's a bunch of software I want to check out that needs to run on 2k or 2k3, and also I want to be able to serve more than one website at a time.

If I had the desktop version of the OS, I'd install it and wouldn't have ever created this thread.

Pragma · 09-03-2003, 04:49 AM

"No domain to connect an XP machine to"

But there is a domain to connect a 2k or 2k3 machine to? No, Active Directory (or NT4 domains) are for all of the OSes (well, unless you specifically prohibit 2000 from joining 2003 AD forests).

As for software that requires 2k or 2k3, I've never seen software that says "I need 2000 or 2003 or I won't install."

And there is no "desktop version" of 2003. There's (a) Web Server, (b) Standard Server, (c) Enterprise Server, and (d) Datacenter Server.

And that's about it.

a2k · 09-03-2003, 08:54 AM

By my talk of "domains", you can tell I haven't done any systems admin stuff since the days of NT 4. It does say "To rename this computer or join a domain, click Change" on the Computer Name tab of System Properties in XP.

Anyway, call me crazy, but I'd assume that when Windows 2003 came out, you'd no longer use Windows 2000, kinda like when the 2003 Honda Accord came out, they stopped shipping 2002 Accords. Guess I was wrong, but my original hunch was right ("why can't I find the CD for 2k3 professional edition? Am I supposed to just go and install enterprise edition? Better ask people that know more than I do.").

The software that I want to install that (claims) it won't run on XP is server stuff - specifically, Microsoft CRM.

The real issue that has me not installing XP, though, is that I want to be able to share files on my computer but not to the entire world. As far as I can tell, setting permissions on a share is easy to do with 2k/2k3, but can't be done with XP.

charliex · 09-03-2003, 09:14 AM

Yeah thats what i thought you were thinking 2k3 is server based, so far as pragma said there is no desktop version, and unlikely to be.

2k3 server is a bunch of network admin friendly stuff, better .net 1.1 support and a few other things. most users wouldn't see any benefits in using 2k3 over 2k, in fact most would see a downgrade in performance due to higher OS costs.

XP Pro has the same if not better sharing support and security than 2K

hrdwareguy · 09-03-2003, 10:31 AM

As others have said, Win2K3 is a server software, there is no desktop version. Can you run it as a desktop? Sure. Will it bog you down? You bet.

Quote:

Originally posted by a2k
Thanks for replying, sambocom, and charliex.

What I want to do is do file sharing and VPN so that I can connect to my work machine from home and access my files.

This is going to cause all kinds of trouble. In order to use VPN, you have to set up routing and remote access. In order to set up routing and remote access, you must have Active Directory installed. Once you install Active Directory, presto, you have a domain. Once you have a domain, you also have to set up DNS.

Now that you have your domain set up, you will have to configure all your other machines to access the domain if you still need to have access to them.

A better solution would be to get 2 machines (if possible). Set one up as your Win2K3 machine for file sharing. Install WinXP on your day-to-day machine. You won't be paying for extra overhead on the XP machine and you can still run CRM on the 2k3 box. Next enable remote desktop on your xp box and open a pinhole in your router for it. Now you can access your local machine from home. The only thing you can't do is direct file transfers. You would have to email the files to yourself at home.

Pragma · 09-03-2003, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by a2k
The real issue that has me not installing XP, though, is that I want to be able to share files on my computer but not to the entire world. As far as I can tell, setting permissions on a share is easy to do with 2k/2k3, but can't be done with XP.

Go into file options (pull down tools, select folder options) and uncheck "Simple File Sharing"

Also, you need to be running an NTFS partition to get the full security benefits.

Problem solved, you now have all of the same file/share permissions options that any 2000 server would.

a2k · 09-03-2003, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pragma
Go into file options (pull down tools, select folder options) and uncheck "Simple File Sharing"

Also, you need to be running an NTFS partition to get the full security benefits.

Problem solved, you now have all of the same file/share permissions options that any 2000 server would.

Aha... getting off topic here, but can an XP home machine access shares on an XP Pro machine that has simple file sharing turned off and permissions set to not include "everybody"? I'm not getting a login prompt on the XP home machine.

rubicon · 09-03-2003, 01:14 PM

You might also accomplish what you want with Linux.

I don't have a lot of Linux knowledge, but I'm currently configuring Red Hat 9 to replace my Windows 2000 Server to provide file sharing, VPN, remote monitoring, ftp, and all the other stuff that is more difficult or more $$$ with Windows.

waigouren · 09-04-2003, 07:18 PM

I have been running 2k3 server as a desktop machine for a few months now, and I find it to be a little quicker than winxp for the majority of tasks.

Check this guide out for converting it to a useable desktop OS
http://www.msfn.org/win2k3/

smooth · 09-05-2003, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by a2k
Aha... getting off topic here, but can an XP home machine access shares on an XP Pro machine that has simple file sharing turned off and permissions set to not include "everybody"? I'm not getting a login prompt on the XP home machine.

IIRC, you have to enable the 'guest' account. I wasn't ever able to get home and pro to play nice together.

a2k · 09-05-2003, 08:30 AM

Thanks again, everyone.

Waigouren, that guide is great. I spent a bit of time trying to figure out all of the exact things they've described. I'm also finding 2k3 to be quite the snappy OS running on my little desktop machine, but that could just be the affects of a fresh install.

Smooth, that's for confirming my issue with XP home vs pro.

09-02-2003, 10:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
a2k Crazy Location: Seattle	Installing Windows 2003 I'm setting up a new computer and I'm thinking about instaling Win2k3. I'm planning on using this computer as my day-to-day work machine in my new office. I'd like to install the standard edition, but I've only got Enterprise Edition and Web Edition which both have tons of features that I know I don't want. Anybody know if Enterprise Edition will bog me down if I use it as a desktop OS?

09-03-2003, 04:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Pragma I am Winter Born Location: Alexandria, VA	"No domain to connect an XP machine to" But there is a domain to connect a 2k or 2k3 machine to? No, Active Directory (or NT4 domains) are for all of the OSes (well, unless you specifically prohibit 2000 from joining 2003 AD forests). As for software that requires 2k or 2k3, I've never seen software that says "I need 2000 or 2003 or I won't install." And there is no "desktop version" of 2003. There's (a) Web Server, (b) Standard Server, (c) Enterprise Server, and (d) Datacenter Server. And that's about it. __________________ Eat antimatter, Posleen-boy!

09-03-2003, 08:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
a2k Crazy Location: Seattle	By my talk of "domains", you can tell I haven't done any systems admin stuff since the days of NT 4. It does say "To rename this computer or join a domain, click Change" on the Computer Name tab of System Properties in XP. Anyway, call me crazy, but I'd assume that when Windows 2003 came out, you'd no longer use Windows 2000, kinda like when the 2003 Honda Accord came out, they stopped shipping 2002 Accords. Guess I was wrong, but my original hunch was right ("why can't I find the CD for 2k3 professional edition? Am I supposed to just go and install enterprise edition? Better ask people that know more than I do."). The software that I want to install that (claims) it won't run on XP is server stuff - specifically, Microsoft CRM. The real issue that has me not installing XP, though, is that I want to be able to share files on my computer but not to the entire world. As far as I can tell, setting permissions on a share is easy to do with 2k/2k3, but can't be done with XP. Last edited by a2k; 09-03-2003 at 09:27 AM..

09-03-2003, 01:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
rubicon Stop. Think. Question. Location: Redondo Beach, CA	You might also accomplish what you want with Linux. I don't have a lot of Linux knowledge, but I'm currently configuring Red Hat 9 to replace my Windows 2000 Server to provide file sharing, VPN, remote monitoring, ftp, and all the other stuff that is more difficult or more $$$ with Windows. __________________ How you do anything is how you do everything.

09-02-2003, 10:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
sambocom Tilted Location: Sunny California	The installation will take up a lot more space on the hard drive, but I think you should be able to go into the Services control panel and turn off services you don't need, freeing up the extra ram the enterprise edition uses.

09-02-2003, 10:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
charliex Junkie Location: North Hollywood	win2k3 is a server os, installing it on a deskop probably isn't going to do much for you more than 2k or certainly XP. what would you use it for, other than cause you can ?

09-03-2003, 09:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
charliex Junkie Location: North Hollywood	Yeah thats what i thought you were thinking 2k3 is server based, so far as pragma said there is no desktop version, and unlikely to be. 2k3 server is a bunch of network admin friendly stuff, better .net 1.1 support and a few other things. most users wouldn't see any benefits in using 2k3 over 2k, in fact most would see a downgrade in performance due to higher OS costs. XP Pro has the same if not better sharing support and security than 2K

09-04-2003, 07:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
waigouren Upright Location: Brisbane, Australia	I have been running 2k3 server as a desktop machine for a few months now, and I find it to be a little quicker than winxp for the majority of tasks. Check this guide out for converting it to a useable desktop OS http://www.msfn.org/win2k3/

09-05-2003, 08:30 AM	#14 (permalink)
a2k Crazy Location: Seattle	Thanks again, everyone. Waigouren, that guide is great. I spent a bit of time trying to figure out all of the exact things they've described. I'm also finding 2k3 to be quite the snappy OS running on my little desktop machine, but that could just be the affects of a fresh install. Smooth, that's for confirming my issue with XP home vs pro.