Windows Server 2003 vs. Windows XP

[2Xtreme21]

I ask this because for my work, I'm responsible for setting up SharePoint Services for different companies, which only works on 2003. I thought, instead of having to use another PC with Server 2003 on it for my "playground," could I get away with getting rid of XP on this rig, installing 2003 and using this computer as my playground?

I'm an avid gamer-- would Server 2003 have any effect on game performance and such? Would it bog my pc down with unnecessary services, etc.?

Thanks.

 

[gaidin123]

Well, The server versions of Windows are optimized for running services rather than single applications but I'm sure with some tweaking you could get 2003 to act very much like XP. I wouldn't bother if you've got XP working well now as there's probably the potential for more game related driver issues in 2003 than XP. Not sure if 2003 has compatibility mode for older games. Er and isn't the server version vastly more expensive than XP?

Gaidin

 

[Brazen]

how about install the free VMWare Server on this PC and use that as your playground?

 

[RebateMonger]

I'd just work in Virtual PC. Set up Virtual PC on an XP computer. Install Windows Server 2003 inside of Virtual PC. Using multiple computers is a pain.

 

[fartbag]

I had no luck getting a sound card working with 2003 server.

 

[smashp]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
I'd just work in Virtual PC. Set up Virtual PC on an XP computer. Install Windows Server 2003 inside of Virtual PC. Using multiple computers is a pain.

I agree, i use Vmware to do most of my playing around.

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: Brazen
how about install the free VMWare Server on this PC and use that as your playground?

Vmware Server (Workstation, ESX and GSX) are not free products. The free product you are talking about is the Vmware Player software. You still have to have the fully functional (paid for) products to create the virtual environment that the free Vmware Player will operate.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: jlbenedict

Originally posted by: Brazen
how about install the free VMWare Server on this PC and use that as your playground?

Vmware Server (Workstation, ESX and GSX) are not free products. The free product you are talking about is the Vmware Player software. You still have to have the fully functional (paid for) products to create the virtual environment that the free Vmware Player will operate.

Not true

double check, the player is free, but they are also offering vmware server for free.

 

[spyordie007]

Another vote for using a virtual machine to do your testing of Server 2003/sharepoint. :thumbsup:

 

[Madwand1]

On the original question, it would probably work OK, but you'd be up against various vendors' limitation. E.g. your virus scanner software could go "Ahem, this is an Enterprise machine, you need to buy the big $ version, not the consumer version".

You could face similar problems with other applications and hardware, and if it even installs, get into potential problems with lack of official support for the product on the platform.

 

[JonnyBlaze]

I ran 2003 for about 2 years, gaming almost every day with no problems. Its a great os.

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: nweaver

Originally posted by: jlbenedict

Originally posted by: Brazen
how about install the free VMWare Server on this PC and use that as your playground?

Vmware Server (Workstation, ESX and GSX) are not free products. The free product you are talking about is the Vmware Player software. You still have to have the fully functional (paid for) products to create the virtual environment that the free Vmware Player will operate.

Not true

double check, the player is free, but they are also offering vmware server for free.

Yeah.. you are right.. .. haven't checked it lately..
looks like its beta though.. I'd have to pass on beta software

 

[spyordie007]

looks like its beta though.. I'd have to pass on beta software

If all you're talking about is testing software than beta is usually fine.

 

[nweaver]

Beta is meaningless. There is pleanty of software out there that is release that is much much worse than many beta releases.

 

[daveshel]

I would install Server 2003 and SharePoint on a separate box - doesn't have to be a real server - for 2 reasons. One, you want to be able to isolate the issues you will encounter while learning SharePoint from the issues you will encounter related to using vmware. Two, you want to learn SharePoint in the same kind of environment that you and your eventual users will be using when it goes production. SharePoint is a very powerful tool with the potential to cause some paradigm shifting over the next few years, and the cool thing about it is the way it enables document managemet and collaberation in an Web-type environment that isn't much more complicated to users than working with an office suite.

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: jlbenedict

Originally posted by: nweaver

Originally posted by: jlbenedict

Originally posted by: Brazen
how about install the free VMWare Server on this PC and use that as your playground?

Vmware Server (Workstation, ESX and GSX) are not free products. The free product you are talking about is the Vmware Player software. You still have to have the fully functional (paid for) products to create the virtual environment that the free Vmware Player will operate.

Not true

double check, the player is free, but they are also offering vmware server for free.

Yeah.. you are right.. .. haven't checked it lately..
looks like its beta though.. I'd have to pass on beta software

I use VMWare Workstation and I had demo'd GSX Server (we were in the process of purchasing it right before they released it for free) and it looks like they just took the latest version of GSX Server and released it for free. I don't know why they call it beta. I've been using it extensively since it was released for free and have had no problems and can't tell any difference from GSX Server.

 

[Doug117]

Originally posted by: fartbag
I had no luck getting a sound card working with 2003 server.

Pop in your XP CD and get the drivers from there Server doesnt have sound drivers built in.... i mean, who uses sound on a server heheh.