Server OS advice

[golf-sib]

I have truly discovered how incompetent I am with servers. I tried Linux and Windows server 2003 and could not understand neither. With workstations I'm happy as a squirrel but servers just baffle me, any guides on setting up windows server 2003 for home use as from guides/reviews it seems the somewhat easier one to workout/use.

There's a lot I dont understand such as how to configure simple file sharing... I've used the wizard and gone around the manual way but no avail, on my other machines if I say \\odin\Share they can't see what I am referring too.

Then whats the difference between a workgroup/domain?

What is an active directory?

Why does the server want to be a DHCP server when my hub already does so?

[Jay]

Workgroup = small office/home use and pants, domain = awesome, same users/groups/printers/shares controlled centrally

Is this 2003 standard, SBS 2003 or other 2003?

Active directory is the database that essentially holds all the Domain info, users/password/groups etc

The server will only be a DHCP server if set up that role and authorised it, if it detects another dhcp server (your hub) it will stop being a dhcp server until you manually disable the hub being the dhcp server and start the dhcp server service again, or restart the server.

Sounds like you need someone to come in and sort it out tbh otherwise you'll be reading guides for days to grasp what everything is implement it, I'm not saying you're thick it's just there is a load to learn and understand how it all integrates and works together, and what effect certain things have on other things... 'tis a little complex at times

What's your time worth to the company vs what you'd pay for someone to come in and sort it? I would estimate 4-6 hours for the server and depending on how many users you have 1-2 hours per user for migration and a bit of training, maybe more depending on how much you've already setup or broke

[golf-sib]

I've noticed how some things have an effect on others and I'm lost in terms of what I am doing, lack off understanding doesn't help.

I got a spare windows xp disc and license which is tempting me, reason being is I have about 5 pc's, non with network accounts (ie a username+password) they are just machines with the default account as nothing fancy is needed. Really all I'm after is a machine to install:
Printer
Share folders off the drives and backup
FTP
Wamp package (prob go with XWAMP, basically apache and mysql, I have the router configured with a DYNDNS account for a url and to deal with the dynamic IP)

The version of the server and license I got is the Enterprise edition.

[golf-sib]

Sorted, with my week off I did a few lame ass server idea's. Since all the other computers are win7 I got the server to run win7 on a trial to see how it goes. I got it sharing files which was a bit more whacking round the bush than xp, but printer is sharing etc so I am chuffed.

I got xampp installed with apache and mysql. I configured it and sorted out a DYNDNS account to deal with the dynamic ip and got a subdomain off them. Instead off setting up FTP i went the lazy way off using "live mesh".

Server now does everything I want, but I think a crash course in win servers or linux is something I will need to do for the near future. I had a positive experience with one of the linux OS's as I really enjoyed the way it was done, just the command lines through me off.

Thanks for all the help guys, really appreciate it

[Gareth]

with Linux which variation would you recommend. would you say its easy to work with for someone new? Also with variations they seem to come in many variations from, home to Soho to full blown server, what edition would you recommend for my functions.

I've been on a machine withe fedora and red hat, but I was stumped.

hows the driver support? and how does it work out with windows with the file system and drivers.

Are there automated schedules I can setup for back up etc?

Any remote desktop functions as well?

I got some time to fiddle around and try different OS's but I am looking for the easiest solution.

Windows home server looks tempting as its really dumped down.

for a new user i would say ubuntu by far! my nan uses it on her laptop! thats no joke, it just doesn't go wrong and get fat and slow like windows.

just install ubuntu desktop thats fine for using for a server. i recommend a program call webmin for controlling you server. Its a php program you view in your browser and you can install and configure webservers etc from the click of a button!

[golf-sib]

I tried FreeNas, its just the command line off linux, so you see no desktop, instead it's like what you described you log onto it via it's ip on the network. Only problem is it never came with php or mysql and the install process scared me off. But as a file server it was brilliant.