Networks proper software to use for a new server

I can't justify paying 700 dollars for a copy of windows server 2003.

I have no idea what server edition does, and to be honest I have no idea what I need it to do.

why can't I just use XP Pro?

all I want my server to do is this;


be a file server, for the internal people to backup to
print controller, controlls about 8 printers for people to use
antivirus manager
general network manager

do I really need a server edition to do that stuff or can I just use xp?

what are the real advantages to a server edition for just interoffice use, no website or mail hosting going on.

 

xp will do for what you want. god man 98 would do the job.

 

Remember XP is limited to 10 connections. I go to plenty of jobs where they moan about the printer not working because they are sharing one printer of the back of an XP Pro machine to 15 other machines. Thats usually when I sell them a Jet Direct box and they are happy but you cant set permissions on that if you neeeded functionality like that.
The really cheap and not very good solution is to use windows 98.

Advantages
Doesnt limit connections

Disadvantages
Not very robust
Cant set permisions on files(NTFS)/printers
etc etc

but will do if you need something simple.

 

Apparently the difference between Server and Workstation versions of windows, is only two registry settings! IE they are the same software, but one is cripled, so you have to spend several hundred $$$ on the fixed one!

Bloody cheek if you ask me!

 

There is a lot more technology involved in the server versions. Lots of network services and the like.

 

use linux... free and easy....

 

free perhaps. easy it is not.

 

Jet Direct boxes are the bane of my life...

"No, we don't support NT4. No...Not Windows Server Either. Linux? You're joking, right..."

*n (HP Technical Support monkey, All in Ones, Officejets et cetera....)

 

free yes, easy yes

Depends on the distribution you decide to play with There are some custom distros out there just for print serving.

 

I was thinking of NT - it was found they had identical kernels, and the diferences in behaviour were determined at run-time by registry settings. More Info Here.

 

you can get a little tool to switch between them.