Small network hardware question

[unfaithfulsfan]

Hi all. I'm still alive, barely. Just spent three weeks in the hospital with a case of pneumonia that turned into bronchitis. But I'm walking again. Leg swells up and sings the blues after a while but at least I'm off the crutches.

Anyway, the Village Clerk/Treasurer asked me to price new computers for their office. Here's the problem. All the PCs in Village Hall and the server are running Windows 2000 Pro. They constantly complain about the server being slow so I'm thinking they're going to have to bite the bullet and replace it as well.

So my first question is: Being as it's only a 5 node network, could they not just get away with running Win 7 Pro on all including the server?
Here are the specs for the workstation computers from *cough* Dell:

• Dell Vostro Mini Tower

• E7500 Core 2 Duo @ 2.93 GHz

• 250 GB SATA HDD

• 4 GB 1066 RAM

• 19" Monitor

• Keyboard and mouse

• Windows 7 Pro

• $511--Just can't build them one with those features and that price and still make any money

For what they do, other than the necessity for more HDD for backups, etc., could they not just use Win 7 Pro as the server? Also, there's one computer in a remote location which is also running 2000 pro. Would it still work on the network without replacing it?

Thanks,
Jack

[pwcmed]

Yes and yes

I network all my computers using the homegroups feature, it works like a champ. I did have to move all my folders into the four different libraries but that was easy enough. Whats server used for? If it's used as a file server a simple NAS might suit there needs better. Give me a little more details and I can write up a plan for you.

If anyone is wondering why I am being so nice it's because I am extremely grumpy and trying to get rid of it by being nice.

I just added that same PC with 4 gigs of DDR2 800MHZ for 481. That is a hell of a deal.

[DL126]

How do they know it's the server that's slow?
Maybe it's the workstations themselves instead.

If they wanna spend $511.00 per workstation, IMO, you should let somebody else do it for them.
After the new smell wears off of that $511.00 boat anchor, they're gonna be blaming you for getting them junk.

If they don't wanna spend $1k per station, PLUS your labor, let it go man.
There's other fish in the sea.

[unfaithfulsfan]

Wow, how varying can two responses be? Thanks for being nice. I've been away for a while so I'm not familiar with your temper. I just feel lucky you're feeling charitable.

I'm doing this legwork because it's my wife's job and I also do some light hw/sw support for them in addition to developing and maintaining their web site so it's a little bit personal. My experience with "off-the-shelf custom" is that computers from Dell fare better than their HP/Compaq counterparts. And while Dell's service sucks big time, it's still better than HP.

Yes, their sever is pretty much just a file server to the best of my knowledge. I know one major problem is that the server hangs and has to be rebooted several times each week.

The main PCs in need of replacement belong to the Clerk/Treasurer and the Deputy Clerks (My wife shares one PC with another Deputy Clerk) The PCs are very slow, admittedly so the server could very well be OK. There are two other computers at Village Hall that don't necessarily need to be replaced as they are seldom used. One belongs to the mayor, the other to the Village Accountant who comes in once or twice a week and is also used when both Deputy Clerks are on duty. But, would W7 PCs be backward compatible to the W2K server?

Thanks again for the help
Jack

[DL126]

Sorry if I came off with a temper. Didn't mean to.

This is why I do business the way I do ....
I support aprox. 100 different customers ... aprox. 250 - 300 PC's. (And 3 POE video surveillance setups.)
Everything from animal supply stores to banks, doctor's offices, home users, lawyers, manufacturing facilities, retail stores, to veterinarian offices.
Pretty much any small business environment around that I can get a hold on.
Approx. a 100 mile radius.

I'm a "one man show".
I simply don't have time to support sub-rate hardware.
Using Systemax PC's, you can spend around $800 - $1000 and get good machines with good parts, AND off the shelf parts so you can fix them when they break.
Oh ... and did I mention AMERICANS ON THE PHONE WHEN YOU CALL TECH SUPPORT!
That's right ... built in Ohio ... and supported in Ohio!

I've been doing it this way for going on 11 years now and so far it has worked out great.
As best as memory serves ... I've had 4 PC's actually go down on me.

In summary .... (as I'm sure you already know),
Spend more up front ... have less problems down the road.

In answer to your questions ...
I've yet to try a Win 7 workstation w/a 2K server. But I wouldn't be afraid to say that it'll work w/o incident.
Intel is putting out a NAS box now that works great! I have 5 of them in place. No problems as of yet.
Replace the workstations first ... then if things are still slow, make sure routers, switches, & cables aren't bottlenecking things.
If not ... then it would be time to look at replacing that server.

P.S. In no way am I making an attempt to boast about my customer base, no doubt I'm a "small fry" compared to others!
Its no more than an attempt to validate my contempt for lesser rate hardware.

[unfaithfulsfan]

Boast away, my friend, & thanks for the info. May hat is off to all you "one man shows." I worked in a shop where the owner was never in because he was out on the road coming from or heading to a customer. He could be a bonafide a** but he knows his stuff, too. I'm not, as you can tell, a network guy. I know enough to be dangerous (Getting everything up and running after a lightning storm and light troubleshooting) and that's about it.

While I'm not overly fond of Dell, the specs sound pretty good for the price. I've built more than a few boxes and have found a successful basic rule of thumb to consist of Core 2 Duo; as much RAM up to 4 GB as you can afford (for 32 bit); and a good mobo. Obviously with Dell, there's not much choice on the mobo but, while I would build it a little differently, I can't compete with those prices.

Just wasn't sure about the whole W2K thing and whether keeping the server at that level would bottleneck things. Thanks so much for the info. I'll relay it on.

Jack

[bluedragon9r]

If they are just using the server for file shares and backup, you might consider a Windows Home Server type solution. HP has the business version of their home server out now for fairly cheap. ($700 or so for a 2TB server)

I've heard of a lot of small businesses using a similar setup with huge success.

[unfaithfulsfan]

Took your advice and looked at Systemax PC. Forgot I used to sell them back in the mid-90s. Actually I thought they went the way of the dodo. Decided on the H421 model with an E7500 C2D, 500 W PSU and 4 GB of RAM. Came out at $630 per unit. That comes in under budget for 2 machines and the cost of my labor for installing them. (Budget is $1500 total)

Now I've just got to get them to work with W2K.

[unfaithfulsfan]

Is there anything I need to look out for when installing these PCs to the network? This is kind of uncharted territory for me. I'm planning to do the install over New Year's weekend and just want to get the job straight in my head before I get there and get stumped.

All help and advice is appreciated.

Jack

[DL126]

I don't know of anything in particular other than usernames/passwords.
Just give them the same ones as they've been using and I think you'll be fine.

Oh, and when Win 7 detects the network and asks you what the location is, tell it Work.
That way you won't have to deal with Homegroup passwords and the likes.

[unfaithfulsfan]

OK thanks! Don't know if I mentioned it but they mostly use their server as a file server. They only run one app remotely and it's an accounting program that has its own support. I should only have to create a shortcut that might even copy over when I import their local data.

Thanks again. Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday!

Jack