Windows 2000 Server

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GAZZA

Windows 2000 must be one of the most expensive pieces of software known.
Does anyone know of a way to get it for free? I am really desperate - dont
say use linuk because open-source no longer means free it means £300 pluss
for software!!!
 
GAZZA said:
Does anyone know of a way to get it for free?
Click to expand...
You could always steal it, though I don't recommend that.
I am really desperate - dont say use linuk because open-source no
longer means free it means £300 pluss for software!!!
Click to expand...
Why would someone tell you to use linux... that's not the way to get
W2k for free.

Someone might tell you to use one of the free *nixes and Samba to get
many of the same features of W2k... and yes, that can be done for
free. I've set up NetBSD/Samba as a home PDC with profiles and
file/print sharing... I think some of the free distributions of linux
have better native support for mounting windows drives... though i
havn't looked at it for a while.

good luck.
 
Windows 2000 (now that it's at the end of it's full support cycle) can be
had pretty cheap on eBay (about $50 US). Open source is free as long as you
don't mind the short support cycles for distros like fedora (redhat). Most
software is free. The notable exceptions are enterprise-class network tools.
Open Office has come a LONG way from what it was a couple of years ago. The
biggest disadvantage to free open source software IMHO is lack of decent
documentation. Even so, if you're willing to put in the time you can set up
a pretty decent network of servers and workstations for just the cost of the
computers if your time isn't worth anything ('cause you'll spend a lot of
that ... and just keep spending).

...kurt
 
This is GAZ again. Thanks 4 the advice, i was wondering if windows xp will
log on 2 a linux server, or if u would actually neeed linux (i am a self
confessed windows freak). Is there any linux software that allows win xp pro
to log on 2 it?

thanks again

GAZ
 
GAZZA said:
Is there any linux software that allows win xp pro to log on 2 it?
Click to expand...
An operating system does not log on to an operating system.

You appear to want a server for something.
do you want it for:
a domain controler?
print and/or file sharing?
web server?

A user on a Windows XP pro box could use several ways of connecting to
a linux (or other unix like) box. SSH, http, smb/nfs mounts, etc.

What exactly do you want to do?

Also, most folks here at make a reasonable attempt at actually writing
out words. Please save message shorthand for when it counts...
On instant or text messaging, for example.
 
this is a reply to private email, since nothing personal in it and
it's good to keep the conversations public so everyone can give their
input.

Sorry phillip for writing in shorthand,
Click to expand...
Not sure how old you are, but my opinion is that "leet-speak" like
that tends to make it look like the writer is not to be taken as
seriously. If you don't mind that, that's ok... but generally folks
try to write things out if they wish to be taken seriously. ;)

Of course, my whinging about it makes me look like a wanker... but
that's the way it goes. (and yes - my spelling, punctuation, and
grammer are not the best, so perhaps this is a case of pot & kettle. :)
I would like a server for my three computers to log onto, so a
domain controller, Thank you once agin , GAZ
Click to expand...

You can do this with Samba, running on any number of free operating
systems. I've been using www.NetBSD.org for a while and like it... but
I havn't figured out how to do everything I'd like to do (though I
know it *can* do everything) but overall it's pretty complete "out of
box" and the package system is nice.

If you are really unfamiliar with the unix scene, you might do better
with one of the free linux distributions, but I cannot recommend any,
since I have no familiarity with them. The various howtos which are
out there will get you going on practically any OS however... so don't
be afraid to experiment.

Once you get a machine running some OS, check out:
http://www.google.com/search?q=samba+pdc+howto
and of course
http://www.samba.org/

That should get you going. You can set up a simple domain, or have
roaming profiles, ldap, and whatever.

If you really don't want to stick with windows, might I recommend
http://www.cygwin.com/

You might be able to compile samba under cygwin and run the pdc
functions from a non "server" install of windows.

Of course, if you only have a few machines/accounts, and you don't
need roaming profiles and all that fancy schmancy domain stuff, you
might be able to get by without a server at all. it means maintaining
accounts on all machines, and less system wide security, but it's
certainly doable. Most windows installs allow for basic file and
printer sharing.


Hope this helps.
 
Any of the "famous" free linux distros will do just fine. I use fedora core
(Fedora 4 was just released, seems faster than FC3), but Mandrake, Debian,
Slackware, etc. all work. Fedora is easy to install, not much different than
installing Windows. You can choose to install Samba as well as network
services like DHCP, DNS, FTP, Web, etc. during the install, or add them
later with "Add and Remove Packages" (sound familiar?). Most people will get
a system up and running quite easily. If all you need are the packages
(programs) included in the distribution (includes Open Office), there's not
a lot to it.

If you want to install software outside the realm of the distro, be prepared
for a fight. You might want to consider Fedora core 3, as it has been out
for some time and binary packages ("RPMs") specifically for FC3 are
plentiful. Not much out there yet for FC4, although I've had success
installing packages for Redhat Enterprise Linux 3 (RHEL3). Getting programs
to compile (be sure to install the gcc C compiler) can be tough if you can't
locate all of the dependencies. That would not be any different regardless
of distro. Linux is fun and challenging. It's definitely NOT Windows - not
even close. If you want something where you can just throw in the CD, click
"Next" a few times and have a fully configured server in 30 minutes, buy
Windows - it's worth it.

....kurt
 
Uzytkownik "Philip Lewis said:
this is a reply to private email, since nothing personal in it and
it's good to keep the conversations public so everyone can give their
input.

Vamat eng."Gavin Morrison" writes (in private email):
Not sure how old you are, but my opinion is that "leet-speak" like
that tends to make it look like the writer is not to be taken as
seriously. If you don't mind that, that's ok... but generally folks
try to write things out if they wish to be taken seriously. ;)

Of course, my whinging about it makes me look like a wanker... but
that's the way it goes. (and yes - my spelling, punctuation, and
grammer are not the best, so perhaps this is a case of pot & kettle. :)


You can do this with Samba, running on any number of free operating
systems. I've been using www.NetBSD.org for a while and like it... but
I havn't figured out how to do everything I'd like to do (though I
know it *can* do everything) but overall it's pretty complete "out of
box" and the package system is nice.

If you are really unfamiliar with the unix scene, you might do better
with one of the free linux distributions, but I cannot recommend any,
since I have no familiarity with them. The various howtos which are
out there will get you going on practically any OS however... so don't
be afraid to experiment.

Once you get a machine running some OS, check out:
http://www.google.com/search?q=samba+pdc+howto
and of course
http://www.samba.org/

That should get you going. You can set up a simple domain, or have
roaming profiles, ldap, and whatever.

If you really don't want to stick with windows, might I recommend
http://www.cygwin.com/

You might be able to compile samba under cygwin and run the pdc
functions from a non "server" install of windows.

Of course, if you only have a few machines/accounts, and you don't
need roaming profiles and all that fancy schmancy domain stuff, you
might be able to get by without a server at all. it means maintaining
accounts on all machines, and less system wide security, but it's
certainly doable. Most windows installs allow for basic file and
printer sharing.
Click to expand...

From VAMAT question on CIE certification:
A user on a Windows XP pro box could use several ways of connecting to
a linux (or other unix like) box. SSH, http, smb/nfs mounts, etc.

What exactly do you want to do?

Also, most folks here at make a reasonable attempt at actually writing
out words. Please save message shorthand for when it counts...
On instant or text messaging, for example.
 
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