How to set up a server.

Question

Hi all. I have sevral computers running XP 2 runing XP PRO and 2 With HOME. On XP Pro i can use a domail but how do i make a XP PRO pc act as a server. I don't like the Peer To Per network as That i what i'm already using. How do i get the Pc to say Press Ctrl, Alt and Delete to bigen and to get it to say log on to. I just want to use the pc as a server. Not a Peer To Peer network.   Help me out if you can.   Thanks for your time and effort, Nick

zensauce · Answer

To get the 'ctr+alt+del' windows security dialog you need to turn off 'Fast User Switching'  Google it cause I don't remember where it is at, and the only XP box I have here is attached to an Active Directory domain (which forces the security dialog for logon).   That really won't make your computer a server though...it just changes the login method.   What are you trying to get setup?

Nicholas Ouimet · Answer

I tried that and it made it look like it would show after the promp, but still can't do it. I googled it before i asked. And for the server i just want to use my Desktop running XP PRO as a server. Do you think i need a server OS like win 2000 pro server? I don't like peer to peer network (The one I'm on at home) The reason i want a server is because i have 5 pcs and they have small HDs but also have a pc that has a big HD and all my music pictures etc...

Nicholas Ouimet · Answer

I just want to share files and store user names so all the other computers will say log on to. Bacly a Domail is what i want.

zensauce · Answer

Sounds like you have a 'File Server' in mind (there are many, many different kinds of server...web...email...gateway).  If you are not wanting to do simple file sharing, then you will need to find a server OS.   Check out Samba on Linux - it acts like a windows file server, and you can get a copy of CentOS or Ubuntu (versions of Linux) for free by downloading them.   Is there any particular reason that you don't want to just use basic filesharing?  It might be the easiest way to get your file serving up and going.

jmwills · Answer

Answered on your other DUPLICATE post.  The XP Home machines cannot join a Domain.   A domain setting is not necessary to share files with a centalized 'server'.  A server can still belong to a Workgroup.  Do you have Server Software?

Nicholas Ouimet · Answer

Do you have to pay for Server software as i don't have that. And i still want a domain. But would i need A server OS Like WIndows 2000 Pro Server?

jmwills · Answer

Yea, that's why they call it Windows Server.

Nicholas Ouimet · Answer

What is the oldeis operating system that will support windows xp? Will NT 4.0 or win 2000 Server work?

jmwills · Answer

Server 2000 would be your best best to support XP Pro.

Nicholas Ouimet · Answer

But would NT 4.0 work at all?

jmwills · Answer

I have no idea.  Never worked with NT.

zensauce · Answer

Avoid NT if you can.  Microsoft has ended support for it, and compared to most options that are around today it really didn't work very well.   You need to remember that your XP home clients aren't really designed to log-in.  They were meant to stand alone.   If you have a computer that you want to dedicate to fileserving you might be interested in a project called 'openfiler'.  It might be a little too nerdy for what you are wanting to do but I can't really think of another affordable option for what you are trying to do.  Check it out, and good luck.   http://www.openfiler.com/

Windows General

How to set up a server.

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