Installing Windows 2003 server on my PowerEdge servers and feel lost

Question

Hi there, I have 8 new PowerEdge 1950 servers. None came with Win2K3 installed but I bought an 8 volume license it for from my Dell rep. I have installed the 2003 server OS on one of the servers so far and it installed fine. My office has 6 Dell dimensions running XP Home and several Mac Pros running Leopard. In the past, when I've purchased new Dells, I plug them into the network and with minor work can get them to show up on My Network Places on the other Dells including my Macs so I can copy files to and from it. I have never used Server 2003 before but figured it would be pretty much like the rest. I'm finding I was wrong. I need to set these servers up to do 2 things. 1) be able to transfer files to/from them from other computers on the network and 2) be able to remotely administrate them from one central Dimension XP Home system. I've tried turning on sharing for some folders on this new server but I can't get any of my network to actually connect to it. When I try to add a 'network place' on any of my XP Home systems, when I try to add this new server I can see the name of the server in the list, but when I try to add it as a networked placed I can see the name of the server, but when I click on it I can't get the 'OK' button to hilite...it's like the server is unavailable. I can also see the name of this 2003 server in the list on my Mac Pro, but each time I try to connect to it I get a 'connection failed' message. Can someone guide me as to the exact settings that I need to have set up so that I can simply access files on my 2003 servers from other computers and the exact settings I need to set up in order to have one of my Dell XP Home systems be able to log in to any of the 8 servers and remotely control them? Using XP Home in the past has been pretty easy in setting this kind of thing up, but trying to get this to work with Server 2003 is proving very difficult for this neophyte. Also, can I get any help/guidance from Microsoft on this? I spent over $5,000 for all the software, but their support section shows that a single support email costs $99 and a phone call is $249. Any help is greatly appreciated.

snapohead · Answer

Almost undoubtebly, the servers will want to be a member of a domain. Meaning you need to set one up as a domain controller.

It's unlikely someone can provide you with an exact guide to doing this, as there are many variables involved. I'd suggest if this is beyond your ability, employ the expertise of someone who can do this for you.

helmecj01 · Answer

Hi

Windows XP home can not use the domain and you have upgrade Windows XP pro.

From Chris

My computer
Dell Dimension 1100
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP 2
512 MB of Ram
Nvidia Geforce FX 5200 256MB
Intel Celeron CPU 2.53GHz
Dell E196FP
HDD WDC WD800BB-75JCO 80GB C:
HDD Samsung SV2042H 20GB F:
TSSTcorp CDRWDVD TS-H492C D:
LITE-ON DVDRW LDW-851S E:
Linksys Wireless-G WUSB54GS With SpeedBooster
Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 90
Logitech Cordless Click Plus Rechargeable Optical Mouse
Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.12

My Security Software
Avanquest SystemSuite 8 Professional
Windows Defender

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