win 2000 pro
 

Is win 2000 pro worth buying for a small business server. And what is the diffrence between 2000 and 2000 pro? Thanks )

There are four versions of Windows 2000.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000...ew/default.asp

• Windows 2000 Pro
• Windows 2000 server
• Windows 2000 advanced server
• Windows 2000 datacenter server

2000 pro is a work station O/S

Windows 2000 server is what you need as advanced server and datacenter server are most likely more robust then what you need.

for a proper server I reccomend you get windows 200 server or windows 2000 advanced server (there are actually 5 versions of windows 2000, including windows 2000 server [normal])

Ive used both, and they both work.

If you are looking for a more secure and ubiquitous option, however, linux is just as good (may I say: better?) and is also available for no cost in many distributions.

I would suggest learning linux. I haven't used Win2K Server in awhile but the last time I did, it constantly crashed and my linux servers hardly ever crashed. The best part is linux is free.

I've got lots of servers at work running various versions of Win2k Server or Advanced Server, and as long as you've got solid hardware to put them on (we run HP/Compaq Proliant servers), and keep up to date with patches, you'll have no stability issues.

As for your situation - Win2k Pro is not meant to be a server. The only big things that Advanced Server gets you over Server is you increase the RAM limit from 4GB to 8GB, you increase the number of CPUs supported from 4 to 8, and you add Clustering and Network Load Balancing.

I doubt you'll need any of those features, so either go with Win2k Server (though at this point Win2k3 Standard Server costs the same exact amount from Microsoft - and you're getting an OS that's not that out of date), or else download a BSD or Linux distro and use that as your server.

If your setting up an actual domain then get the server version....but then you run into licensing cost which can be very very very expensive.

Some of the business I do work for have only about 5 computers tops so using normal Win2k pro with normal filesharing works just fine.

If your needs are simple file and print sharing, you can use Windows 2000 Server (standard). If you ever want to perform central admin (using Active Directory), you'll need it.

However, you could prob use a Linux distro like SuSE and get more accomplished at less price.

IIRC, Smackre hasnt used Linux before. A server is *not* the place to learn how to use it.

Might want to look at 2k3 too. It will stay supported longer.

thanks for the advise guys )

one of my clients runs Win2k Small Business Server from DELL and IMHO it's waaaay overkill for their application. IMHO when that server dies it's going to be just as easy and cheaper to just use a desktop and run Win2k PRO on it and have file and print services shared so that there is a central disk that files are shared and backed up.

If you don't need the headache of a server, don't both with one.

I was under the impression he was looking to run IIS, possibly a SQL server off it, etc. - and that it would be hosted on a real server - not a pumped up desktop.

If he's only using it for file and print services, then save your money and buy a copy of Win2k Pro.