An odd question - Poweredge T20 and Windows 7/8 ?

Question

I am a Dell user since the beginning with stand alone units but have never had a server unit until now. I bought the T20 as an experiment and my first task is to install an OS since the T20 does not come with one when sold in Sweden.

As a rookie I was thinking, is it possible to install Windows 7 or 8 on T20 instead of a VERY expensive Windows Server 2012? I have unused licenses for and thought this could be an opportunity to use them? I have only basic needs and will be the only one to use the T20. It will not be used as an ordinary server would be at least that is what I thought :-).

If it is possible what can I do or not do with T20? What is the limitations? What do I have to add for certain and can I add equipment?

Would appreciate an answer or with a link that could take me further.

Regards Nils

theflash1932 · Accepted Answer

Like I said, Server 2012 Essentials sells for between $300-400 - less than half the price of Standard, but I understand your reluctance to pay more for your OS than you did the hardware, but I guess my question then is why not just buy a desktop PC - one that can and will run Windows 7/8 flawlessly and run circles around your old Dimension - for about the same price?

I understand the adventure and challenge in a "project" like this - I do - but just know that this server will not have "PC" capabilities that you are used to in regular computer models. The graphics, power, and upgradeability will be very limited, so the Windows user experience probably won't be much higher than your Dimension. If you search the forums, you'll find people have run into issues with the small power supply when trying to upgrade and upgrading the power supply and memory.

Now that you have it, try it out. Let us know where you get stuck - maybe we can help.

Good luck!

Adurbe · Accepted Answer

I have a T20 with windows 8.1 and windows 10 preview in.

I installed a low power dedicated graphics card for HDMI support and 4 hard disks. The system now runs impressively well as a desktop while also fulfilling it's functions as a server.

I installed on the system (both 8 and 10) the supported Server 2012 drivers which (touch wood) continue to work flawlessly.

theflash1932 · Answer

There is lots it can do and lots it can't do.  Think of the T20 as basically a low-end desktop PC certified to run Server operating systems.  Why did you buy it - what did you intend to use it for?  If you want to try to install Windows 7 or 8, it will probably work, but there is no guarantee.  Just use the drivers for the corresponding Server OS as needed (Windows 7 = 2008 R2, Windows 8 = 2012, Windows 8.1 = 2012 R2).  You can also purchase Server 2012 Essentials for half the price of Server Standard, and about the same price as the full version of Windows 7 Pro/Ult.

biggles-1 · Answer

Appreciate your feed-back theflash1932, thank you.

Why a server? Well I hang on to the concept of a main stand alone computer with big monitor screen and some extras. I still daily use my old Dimension 5150 from 2005 (!) that still runs without any problem :-). However I can not upgrade it anymore and I need more speed, memory, storage, connections a s o.

Yesterday I was offered from one of the major dealers to buy a T20 with 40% of the price. I thought it to be a good deal and bought it AND maybe it was to quick.

Basically if I can I want to use the T20 instead of the old 5150 and I am interested to see if I can achive that. I never take the easy route and have had a lots of fun, with a track record of normally finding a middle road that gives me more that the easy way :-).

The Windows Server Standard would cost me four times what I paid for the T20. Then I could as well take the easy way and buy myself a new stand alone.

So, I want to persue the route a little bit further and see if I can make it work with proably Windows 8.2, your suggestions concerning drivers (once again thank you) and not a not too high cost.

If you or someone else have more insight too share please do. I take all the support I can.

Have a nice evening.

biggles-1 · Answer

Evening,

Yep I here what you say and I am old enough to know that I am out on deep water. So maybe I just send it back to Dell :-).

Anyway I will sleep on it and decide tomorrow.

Thank you for your feed-back, much appreciated / Nils

biggles-1 · Answer

Evening theflash1932,

Finally I decided not to open the box with the new T20 and I returned today to the dealer :emotion-2:. After a good nights sleep I decided that I made a wrong call and will go for a new stand alone just so you know. Thank you for your feed-back.

Have a good weekend / Nils

theflash1932 · Answer

Like I said, there is nothing wrong with the adventure and challenge of out-of-the-norm scenarios, but from the sounds of it, you just are going to be using it as a PC ... there are lots better options out there for PC use. Some people that run client Windows OS's on servers do so because they want the latest 10-core processors, dual-CPU machines, 384GB RAM, high-performance storage solutions, or redundancy. The T20 doesn't have any of that - it was only ever intended to run a Server OS and manage a small office/domain with a few file shares and printers, while being small enough to stay out of the way. PC's can do basic server things, like web serving and file sharing, but are much better suited for actual everyday at-the-console use.

Take care!

PowerEdge Hardware General

An odd question - Poweredge T20 and Windows 7/8 ?

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