I need a computer to run Windows 2003 Server which will just be used as a file server, it will only have a maximum of 5 people connecting.

Whats the minimum spec i can get away with?

Cheers.

Pretty much anything. We ran an old 600 mhz machine last year with about 256mb of Ram and w2k3 server for about 20 people as a fileserver and it was fine. Would think anything you can buy new today would breeze it.

sweet thanks for that, helps alot mate.

Is it purely a file server? Or do you need it to be part of a domain etc?

Just thought you would get better performance with FreeNAS or something like that? And then the spec is even less of an issue?

 

FreeNas is bloody awesome. Runs on almost nothing!

Even if in a Windows network environment it is still compatible to active directory...

...I had a play with it ages ago... might give it an install later to have a play looks really awesome now

If it has to be as cheap as possible, then the cost of a server 2003 license must surely swing it in favour of something free

Sounds like i should take a gander at FreeNAS, that would possibly do the trick.

Tis purely or a file server for a very small 3 person business.

Quote from: adam2975Sounds like i should take a gander at FreeNAS, that would possibly do the trick.

Tis purely or a file server for a very small 3 person business.

just get a nas drive then

Quote from: adam2975Sounds like i should take a gander at FreeNAS, that would possibly do the trick.

Tis purely or a file server for a very small 3 person business.

FreeNas will do it with capacity to spare

I boot it from a 32mb usb 1.1 key Runs samba, nfs, iscsi, ftp, http, integrates with Active Directory . Can do raid and all sorts of goodies.

Wish they made plugins for it though, if it could be a print server Id be running it all the time.

Quote from: adam2975Sounds like i should take a gander at FreeNAS, that would possibly do the trick.

Tis purely or a file server for a very small 3 person business.

Stick a big fat drive in someones PC, share it out over the network, and make sure they have a decent backup proggy doing nightly copies.  

Actually these look good and would save alot of hassle.

Can use as print server and you can access it over the internet.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140781

Quote from: adam2975Actually these look good and would save alot of hassle.

Can use as print server and you can access it over the internet.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140781

Those arent bad to be fair, however they are £129.99 at staples when i was in last week.  cheaper than ebuyer, and easier to get.  I paid £40 for a 250Gb one that was end of line.  

Has anyone played with the raid on this? I know there used to be problems?

Considering just mirroring drives just for a bit of data security, maybe raid 5 even?

Quote from: M3ta7h3ad

Quote from: adam2975Sounds like i should take a gander at FreeNAS, that would possibly do the trick.

Tis purely or a file server for a very small 3 person business.

FreeNas will do it with capacity to spare

I boot it from a 32mb usb 1.1 key Runs samba, nfs, iscsi, ftp, http, integrates with Active Directory . Can do raid and all sorts of goodies.

Wish they made plugins for it though, if it could be a print server Id be running it all the time.

Just run a BSD server? Or hack freenas to include CUPS or the like.