Windows Workgroup v, Windows Server v. Linux
Discussion
We have 20 people in our company. The computers run a variety of Windows OS's with a mix of Office products. We have two networked printers and a NAS drive for central storage (RAID5).
What i want to do is move away from Windows Workgroups as i believe that this is no longer a good solution for companies of our size. I've made enquiries about buying a server and running Windows SBS but I'm now wondering whether this will be a cost effective solution.
One thought i currently have, is to get a decent computer in and run SAMBA to give us a (better than NAS) solution for central storage? We currently dont need to have Exchange as all our emails are handled by Register1. We just need a decent file storage system.
I guess my main question is that if we ran Windows SBS, we would move from workgroups and use a Windows server domain network? If i just use a computer runing SAMBA would it still keep us in a workgroup type network or is there a way of using a server domain?
What i want to do is move away from Windows Workgroups as i believe that this is no longer a good solution for companies of our size. I've made enquiries about buying a server and running Windows SBS but I'm now wondering whether this will be a cost effective solution.
One thought i currently have, is to get a decent computer in and run SAMBA to give us a (better than NAS) solution for central storage? We currently dont need to have Exchange as all our emails are handled by Register1. We just need a decent file storage system.
I guess my main question is that if we ran Windows SBS, we would move from workgroups and use a Windows server domain network? If i just use a computer runing SAMBA would it still keep us in a workgroup type network or is there a way of using a server domain?
The answer will be 'what skills do your IT people have'. No point getting a Linux server if nobody knows how to look after Linux. Equally no point getting a Windows server and going the whole hog with Active Directory etc. without having a MS expert on the case (if you don't know what you're doing with directory services then you can just get *very* confused). What do your chaps know?
We don't have any specific IT people in the company.
What i do have access to is a couple of software engineers who can pick most things up relating to Windows (and probably Linux with a bit of application!)
What I am trying to do, is undertake some of the upfront research work, before passing it on to those better suited to implementing the requirement. My main concern is how to easily escape the use of workgroups.
I'm hoping that whatever solution we select, that we can get it up and runing with the minimum of effort and then let it run with the minimum of supervision, that probably a number of us in the company can manage.
What i do have access to is a couple of software engineers who can pick most things up relating to Windows (and probably Linux with a bit of application!)
What I am trying to do, is undertake some of the upfront research work, before passing it on to those better suited to implementing the requirement. My main concern is how to easily escape the use of workgroups.
I'm hoping that whatever solution we select, that we can get it up and runing with the minimum of effort and then let it run with the minimum of supervision, that probably a number of us in the company can manage.
Windows gives you easier centralised security management than Linux on file sharing, if that's an issue for you.
SBS might be overkill if you're not bothered about having Exchange. Just a standard server gives you active directory (centralised security & user accounts management) plus file sharing for as many users as you buy CAL's for.
I'm sure that software developers won't have a problem picking up some basic linux skills, with no pesky license costs. It will take them some time but so will learning windows server and active directory admin.
You could just do what everyone else in your situation does, which is to buy a Dell server with SBS preinstalled, configure it in the most bizarre way possible and ignore half of the features
SBS might be overkill if you're not bothered about having Exchange. Just a standard server gives you active directory (centralised security & user accounts management) plus file sharing for as many users as you buy CAL's for.
I'm sure that software developers won't have a problem picking up some basic linux skills, with no pesky license costs. It will take them some time but so will learning windows server and active directory admin.
You could just do what everyone else in your situation does, which is to buy a Dell server with SBS preinstalled, configure it in the most bizarre way possible and ignore half of the features
buggalugs said:
Windows gives you easier centralised security management than Linux on file sharing, if that's an issue for you.
SBS might be overkill if you're not bothered about having Exchange. Just a standard server gives you active directory (centralised security & user accounts management) plus file sharing for as many users as you buy CAL's for.
I'm sure that software developers won't have a problem picking up some basic linux skills, with no pesky license costs. It will take them some time but so will learning windows server and active directory admin.
You could just do what everyone else in your situation does, which is to buy a Dell server with SBS preinstalled, configure it in the most bizarre way possible and ignore half of the features
Soooo true!SBS might be overkill if you're not bothered about having Exchange. Just a standard server gives you active directory (centralised security & user accounts management) plus file sharing for as many users as you buy CAL's for.
I'm sure that software developers won't have a problem picking up some basic linux skills, with no pesky license costs. It will take them some time but so will learning windows server and active directory admin.
You could just do what everyone else in your situation does, which is to buy a Dell server with SBS preinstalled, configure it in the most bizarre way possible and ignore half of the features
You could do much worse than buying an Apple Mac Mini Server. No experience with one but I know that it makes an excellent small business server without huge costs.
http://www.apple.com/uk/macmini/server/
http://www.apple.com/uk/macmini/server/
This may be the opportunity you need to employ a hands on IT Manager (someone who know all the techy stuff as opposed to how to write reports to the board).
He will save you a lot of money if you are expecting your software engineers to stop working and "figure out" an IT problem affecting the company.
Also, if you choose properly, he will be able to move your company forward using technology as well.
He will save you a lot of money if you are expecting your software engineers to stop working and "figure out" an IT problem affecting the company.
Also, if you choose properly, he will be able to move your company forward using technology as well.
Go to http://www.contribs.org and take a look at SME Server. Linux server without needing to know anything about linux.
Download the ISO image (free), burn it to a cd, stick it in a pc/server, boot up and follow the instructions. All the configuration is done via a web browser interface.
I've run our 3 companies on this for nearly 10 years, and it really does everything you could wish for from a server system. You can also run your own web site(s), e-mail system. It can also do spam/virus scanning for you, and act as a router for your internet connection.
It is unbelievably brilliant. Everyone should be using this!
P.S. I have no interest other than being a very contented user.
P.P.S. Will also do all functions of a Windows domain controller.
Download the ISO image (free), burn it to a cd, stick it in a pc/server, boot up and follow the instructions. All the configuration is done via a web browser interface.
I've run our 3 companies on this for nearly 10 years, and it really does everything you could wish for from a server system. You can also run your own web site(s), e-mail system. It can also do spam/virus scanning for you, and act as a router for your internet connection.
It is unbelievably brilliant. Everyone should be using this!
P.S. I have no interest other than being a very contented user.
P.P.S. Will also do all functions of a Windows domain controller.
Edited by sunbeam_alpine on Friday 12th March 20:01
Would remote access to files and emails be of use? Email to mobiles? Centralised backup of all users files? If so you should consider SBS and using Exchange that comes with it. Smaller companies than yours have moved to SBS and wished they had done it sooner. Just find a microsoft partner to do the install and configuration for you. He/she can then look after it for you as an ongoing thing at very little cost. Most of the work after installation can be done remotely. We look after several companies this way.
The big plus is if they have a problem, they just call us, we login straight away and sort it. In much less time than it would have taken us to arrange a visit and drive over, the problem is all fixed.
The big plus is if they have a problem, they just call us, we login straight away and sort it. In much less time than it would have taken us to arrange a visit and drive over, the problem is all fixed.
Edited by arcturus on Friday 12th March 21:20
Mag1calTrev0r said:
You could do much worse than buying an Apple Mac Mini Server. No experience with one but I know that it makes an excellent small business server without huge costs.
http://www.apple.com/uk/macmini/server/
http://www.apple.com/uk/macmini/server/
I run my entire business off one of these. Brilliant bits of kit and very, very cheap for what you get.
From what you have said a Windows standard server will do you fine.
SBS is a bundle of Windows Server/Exchange/SQL Server etc see http://www.microsoft.com/sbs/en/us/compare-feature...
which may be your next step should you need the features in a few more years
But really the first question is "What are you trying to achieve that your current setup does not do'?
SBS is a bundle of Windows Server/Exchange/SQL Server etc see http://www.microsoft.com/sbs/en/us/compare-feature...
which may be your next step should you need the features in a few more years
But really the first question is "What are you trying to achieve that your current setup does not do'?
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