running XP Pro SP2 in place of a server machine.. pros/cons????

[Guest Niteowl]

Hi all,

 

I had a server hit with a power surge over the weekend, and it's dead...

getting info for replacing it, but ......

 

I was wondering if I can just install the 2 programs it was running on an XP

machine and run them from there. It would seem like it would work okay..

 

The unit I'm considering is a Dell Optiplex GX270, XP Pro SP2, 2.8ghz cpu,

768M RAM (I know it should be more, and could be easily enough)... 40G HD,

 

One program would have to serve 22 clients only... the other program is used

sporadically, perhaps 10 users at once... but is installed on all our

computers... approx. 100 units.

 

We have a simple WORKGROUP, so the server was really installed for future

use I think...

 

Please share any pros and cons you can, I need to get something up asap.

 

the only thing that I can think of at the moment, is I'd have to rename and

reassign the IP for that machine to match the dead one, so as not to have to

change all the links on the client stations.

 

thanks in advance for any wisdom.

 

niteowl

[Guest John John (MVP)]

Re: running XP Pro SP2 in place of a server machine.. pros/cons????

 

Get another server, XP pro is not suitable for your server needs.

 

John

 

Niteowl wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> I had a server hit with a power surge over the weekend, and it's dead...

> getting info for replacing it, but ......

>

> I was wondering if I can just install the 2 programs it was running on an XP

> machine and run them from there. It would seem like it would work okay..

>

> The unit I'm considering is a Dell Optiplex GX270, XP Pro SP2, 2.8ghz cpu,

> 768M RAM (I know it should be more, and could be easily enough)... 40G HD,

>

> One program would have to serve 22 clients only... the other program is used

> sporadically, perhaps 10 users at once... but is installed on all our

> computers... approx. 100 units.

>

> We have a simple WORKGROUP, so the server was really installed for future

> use I think...

>

> Please share any pros and cons you can, I need to get something up asap.

>

> the only thing that I can think of at the moment, is I'd have to rename and

> reassign the IP for that machine to match the dead one, so as not to have to

> change all the links on the client stations.

>

> thanks in advance for any wisdom.

>

> niteowl

>

>

[Guest HeyBub]

Re: running XP Pro SP2 in place of a server machine.. pros/cons????

 

Niteowl wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> I had a server hit with a power surge over the weekend, and it's

> dead... getting info for replacing it, but ......

>

> I was wondering if I can just install the 2 programs it was running

> on an XP machine and run them from there. It would seem like it

> would work okay..

> The unit I'm considering is a Dell Optiplex GX270, XP Pro SP2, 2.8ghz

> cpu, 768M RAM (I know it should be more, and could be easily

> enough)... 40G HD,

> One program would have to serve 22 clients only... the other program

> is used sporadically, perhaps 10 users at once... but is installed on

> all our computers... approx. 100 units.

>

> We have a simple WORKGROUP, so the server was really installed for

> future use I think...

>

> Please share any pros and cons you can, I need to get something up

> asap.

> the only thing that I can think of at the moment, is I'd have to

> rename and reassign the IP for that machine to match the dead one, so

> as not to have to change all the links on the client stations.

>

> thanks in advance for any wisdom.

>

 

Won't work. XP is limited to ten simultaneous network connections. You need

Win98.

[Guest Niteowl]

Re: running XP Pro SP2 in place of a server machine.. pros/cons????

 

 

"HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:%234mVY9dDJHA.4884@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Niteowl wrote:

>> Hi all,

>>

>> I had a server hit with a power surge over the weekend, and it's

>> dead... getting info for replacing it, but ......

>>

>> I was wondering if I can just install the 2 programs it was running

>> on an XP machine and run them from there. It would seem like it

>> would work okay..

>> The unit I'm considering is a Dell Optiplex GX270, XP Pro SP2, 2.8ghz

>> cpu, 768M RAM (I know it should be more, and could be easily

>> enough)... 40G HD,

>> One program would have to serve 22 clients only... the other program

>> is used sporadically, perhaps 10 users at once... but is installed on

>> all our computers... approx. 100 units.

>>

>> We have a simple WORKGROUP, so the server was really installed for

>> future use I think...

>>

>> Please share any pros and cons you can, I need to get something up

>> asap.

>> the only thing that I can think of at the moment, is I'd have to

>> rename and reassign the IP for that machine to match the dead one, so

>> as not to have to change all the links on the client stations.

>>

>> thanks in advance for any wisdom.

>>

>

> Won't work. XP is limited to ten simultaneous network connections. You

> need Win98.

 

:) okay...

[Guest Niteowl]

Re: running XP Pro SP2 in place of a server machine.. pros/cons????

 

John,

 

not even temporarily? is there a limit to simultaneous connections?

"Heybub" says limit is 10..

that definitely would make it unsuitable..

 

thanks,

niteowl

 

"John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

news:Oav0P0dDJHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Get another server, XP pro is not suitable for your server needs.

>

> John

>

> Niteowl wrote:

>

>> Hi all,

>>

>> I had a server hit with a power surge over the weekend, and it's dead...

>> getting info for replacing it, but ......

>>

>> I was wondering if I can just install the 2 programs it was running on an

>> XP machine and run them from there. It would seem like it would work

>> okay..

>>

>> The unit I'm considering is a Dell Optiplex GX270, XP Pro SP2, 2.8ghz

>> cpu, 768M RAM (I know it should be more, and could be easily enough)...

>> 40G HD,

>>

>> One program would have to serve 22 clients only... the other program is

>> used sporadically, perhaps 10 users at once... but is installed on all

>> our computers... approx. 100 units.

>>

>> We have a simple WORKGROUP, so the server was really installed for future

>> use I think...

>>

>> Please share any pros and cons you can, I need to get something up asap.

>>

>> the only thing that I can think of at the moment, is I'd have to rename

>> and reassign the IP for that machine to match the dead one, so as not to

>> have to change all the links on the client stations.

>>

>> thanks in advance for any wisdom.

>>

>> niteowl

[Guest Bob I]

Re: running XP Pro SP2 in place of a server machine.. pros/cons????

 

Nope XP won't tolerate over ten connections to it. (and that doesn't

necessarily mean 10 users)

 

Niteowl wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> I had a server hit with a power surge over the weekend, and it's dead...

> getting info for replacing it, but ......

>

> I was wondering if I can just install the 2 programs it was running on an XP

> machine and run them from there. It would seem like it would work okay..

>

> The unit I'm considering is a Dell Optiplex GX270, XP Pro SP2, 2.8ghz cpu,

> 768M RAM (I know it should be more, and could be easily enough)... 40G HD,

>

> One program would have to serve 22 clients only... the other program is used

> sporadically, perhaps 10 users at once... but is installed on all our

> computers... approx. 100 units.

>

> We have a simple WORKGROUP, so the server was really installed for future

> use I think...

>

> Please share any pros and cons you can, I need to get something up asap.

>

> the only thing that I can think of at the moment, is I'd have to rename and

> reassign the IP for that machine to match the dead one, so as not to have to

> change all the links on the client stations.

>

> thanks in advance for any wisdom.

>

> niteowl

>

>

[Guest John John (MVP)]

Re: running XP Pro SP2 in place of a server machine.. pros/cons????

 

No, not really, you will just be doing work for nothing setting up the

machine. Also note that the 10 concurrent connection limit does not

necessarily mean that 10 users can access the resources at the same

time, in certain circumstances one user could have more than one session

running and in these instances fewer than 10 users will be able to

access the machine.

 

In my opinion it would be just as simple to slap your server license on

to a temp machine until you get your new server, being that you were

only running a simple workgroup it should be quite easy to slap that

together, not withstanding of course Product Activation which may or may

not cause problems if you move the license around too much, if you have

Server 2000 it won't bother anything, if you have Server 2003 you may

want to ask others about how having the license activated on 3 different

machines within in a short time span might affect your rights.

 

John

 

Niteowl wrote:

> John,

>

> not even temporarily? is there a limit to simultaneous connections?

> "Heybub" says limit is 10..

> that definitely would make it unsuitable..

>

> thanks,

> niteowl

>

> "John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

> news:Oav0P0dDJHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>

>>Get another server, XP pro is not suitable for your server needs.

>>

>>John

>>

>>Niteowl wrote:

>>

>>

>>>Hi all,

>>>

>>>I had a server hit with a power surge over the weekend, and it's dead...

>>>getting info for replacing it, but ......

>>>

>>>I was wondering if I can just install the 2 programs it was running on an

>>>XP machine and run them from there. It would seem like it would work

>>>okay..

>>>

>>>The unit I'm considering is a Dell Optiplex GX270, XP Pro SP2, 2.8ghz

>>>cpu, 768M RAM (I know it should be more, and could be easily enough)...

>>>40G HD,

>>>

>>>One program would have to serve 22 clients only... the other program is

>>>used sporadically, perhaps 10 users at once... but is installed on all

>>>our computers... approx. 100 units.

>>>

>>>We have a simple WORKGROUP, so the server was really installed for future

>>>use I think...

>>>

>>>Please share any pros and cons you can, I need to get something up asap.

>>>

>>>the only thing that I can think of at the moment, is I'd have to rename

>>>and reassign the IP for that machine to match the dead one, so as not to

>>>have to change all the links on the client stations.

>>>

>>>thanks in advance for any wisdom.

>>>

>>>niteowl

>

>

>

[Guest Niteowl]

Re: running XP Pro SP2 in place of a server machine.. pros/cons????

 

this was the only server box we had (running Server2003 btw), all the rest

are XP Pro "normal" PC's... :(

 

oh well, we're boxing it back to Gateway for repair... so we'll just be

unable to run those programs for a couple of weeks..

 

ah, life happens. the kids won't mind I'm sure... :) (not sure if I

mentioned this was a small school)

 

thanks for the info

 

gives me some ammo for pushing to purchase a "backup" server though... have

to look at the positive.

 

thanks again,

niteowl

 

"John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

news:g9mg55$hq8$1@aioe.org...

> No, not really, you will just be doing work for nothing setting up the

> machine. Also note that the 10 concurrent connection limit does not

> necessarily mean that 10 users can access the resources at the same time,

> in certain circumstances one user could have more than one session running

> and in these instances fewer than 10 users will be able to access the

> machine.

>

> In my opinion it would be just as simple to slap your server license on to

> a temp machine until you get your new server, being that you were only

> running a simple workgroup it should be quite easy to slap that together,

> not withstanding of course Product Activation which may or may not cause

> problems if you move the license around too much, if you have Server 2000

> it won't bother anything, if you have Server 2003 you may want to ask

> others about how having the license activated on 3 different machines

> within in a short time span might affect your rights.

>

> John

>

> Niteowl wrote:

>> John,

>>

>> not even temporarily? is there a limit to simultaneous connections?

>> "Heybub" says limit is 10..

>> that definitely would make it unsuitable..

>>

>> thanks,

>> niteowl

>>

>> "John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

>> news:Oav0P0dDJHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>

>>>Get another server, XP pro is not suitable for your server needs.

>>>

>>>John

>>>

>>>Niteowl wrote:

>>>

>>>

>>>>Hi all,

>>>>

>>>>I had a server hit with a power surge over the weekend, and it's dead...

>>>>getting info for replacing it, but ......

>>>>

>>>>I was wondering if I can just install the 2 programs it was running on

>>>>an XP machine and run them from there. It would seem like it would work

>>>>okay..

>>>>

>>>>The unit I'm considering is a Dell Optiplex GX270, XP Pro SP2, 2.8ghz

>>>>cpu, 768M RAM (I know it should be more, and could be easily enough)...

>>>>40G HD,

>>>>

>>>>One program would have to serve 22 clients only... the other program is

>>>>used sporadically, perhaps 10 users at once... but is installed on all

>>>>our computers... approx. 100 units.

>>>>

>>>>We have a simple WORKGROUP, so the server was really installed for

>>>>future use I think...

>>>>

>>>>Please share any pros and cons you can, I need to get something up asap.

>>>>

>>>>the only thing that I can think of at the moment, is I'd have to rename

>>>>and reassign the IP for that machine to match the dead one, so as not to

>>>>have to change all the links on the client stations.

>>>>

>>>>thanks in advance for any wisdom.

>>>>

>>>>niteowl

>>

>>

>>

>

[Guest Niteowl]

Re: running XP Pro SP2 in place of a server machine.. pros/cons????

 

John,

 

turns out it wasn't the power surge that apparently caused the issue,

found this KB article link on microsoft today:

Knowledge Base for Iastor.sys issue on Server2003

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/835166

 

RESOLUTION

 

To resolve this problem, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

905205 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905205/) You may receive a "STOP:

0x000000D1" error message, the computer may stop responding, and data may

become corrupted after you install the hotfix that is described in Microsoft

Knowledge Base article 835166 on a computer that is running Windows Server

2003

 

Just FYI,

 

thanks,

niteowl

"John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

news:Oav0P0dDJHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Get another server, XP pro is not suitable for your server needs.

>

> John

>

> Niteowl wrote:

>

>> Hi all,

>>

>> I had a server hit with a power surge over the weekend, and it's dead...

>> getting info for replacing it, but ......

>>

>> I was wondering if I can just install the 2 programs it was running on an

>> XP machine and run them from there. It would seem like it would work

>> okay..

>>

>> The unit I'm considering is a Dell Optiplex GX270, XP Pro SP2, 2.8ghz

>> cpu, 768M RAM (I know it should be more, and could be easily enough)...

>> 40G HD,

>>

>> One program would have to serve 22 clients only... the other program is

>> used sporadically, perhaps 10 users at once... but is installed on all

>> our computers... approx. 100 units.

>>

>> We have a simple WORKGROUP, so the server was really installed for future

>> use I think...

>>

>> Please share any pros and cons you can, I need to get something up asap.

>>

>> the only thing that I can think of at the moment, is I'd have to rename

>> and reassign the IP for that machine to match the dead one, so as not to

>> have to change all the links on the client stations.

>>

>> thanks in advance for any wisdom.

>>

>> niteowl

[Guest John John (MVP)]

Re: running XP Pro SP2 in place of a server machine.. pros/cons????

 

Good to hear, now might be the time to ask for the funds for a second

server.

 

John

 

Niteowl wrote:

> John,

>

> turns out it wasn't the power surge that apparently caused the issue,

> found this KB article link on microsoft today:

> Knowledge Base for Iastor.sys issue on Server2003

> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/835166

>

> RESOLUTION

>

> To resolve this problem, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

> 905205 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905205/) You may receive a "STOP:

> 0x000000D1" error message, the computer may stop responding, and data may

> become corrupted after you install the hotfix that is described in Microsoft

> Knowledge Base article 835166 on a computer that is running Windows Server

> 2003

>

> Just FYI,

>

> thanks,

> niteowl

> "John John (MVP)" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message

> news:Oav0P0dDJHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>

>

>>Get another server, XP pro is not suitable for your server needs.

>>

>>John

>>

>>Niteowl wrote:

>>

>>

>>>Hi all,

>>>

>>>I had a server hit with a power surge over the weekend, and it's dead...

>>>getting info for replacing it, but ......

>>>

>>>I was wondering if I can just install the 2 programs it was running on an

>>>XP machine and run them from there. It would seem like it would work

>>>okay..

>>>

>>>The unit I'm considering is a Dell Optiplex GX270, XP Pro SP2, 2.8ghz

>>>cpu, 768M RAM (I know it should be more, and could be easily enough)...

>>>40G HD,

>>>

>>>One program would have to serve 22 clients only... the other program is

>>>used sporadically, perhaps 10 users at once... but is installed on all

>>>our computers... approx. 100 units.

>>>

>>>We have a simple WORKGROUP, so the server was really installed for future

>>>use I think...

>>>

>>>Please share any pros and cons you can, I need to get something up asap.

>>>

>>>the only thing that I can think of at the moment, is I'd have to rename

>>>and reassign the IP for that machine to match the dead one, so as not to

>>>have to change all the links on the client stations.

>>>

>>>thanks in advance for any wisdom.

>>>

>>>niteowl

>

>

>