XP Pro as File/Printserver?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jim barty
  • Start date Start date
J

jim barty

I'm trying to find out if there are any advantages to using one of the five
XP Pro machines we have as a combined File/Printserver.

We have a cable connection with a Linksys router and the necessary hardware
to use one machine as a dedicated File/Printserver for our network.

This setup was suggested by the technician that services our machines. He
said this type of setup would be more secure, stable and faster than the
normal five machine peer to peer setup. We only need four machines now so we
do have the luxury of setting one up as a File/Printserver.

I didn't even know XP Pro could be used this way and I guess we could switch
back in the future if we wanted to. Is this a good idea, and could someone
tell me the advantages of dedicating one machine as a File/Printserver vs. a
normal peer to peer setup? Sign me puzzled and thanks for any thoughts!
 
Hi Ron,

Thanks for your answer. Is the only downside to this configuration the
expense of using one machine as a dedicated File/Printserver, or can you
think of others?

Would changing back be difficult or expensive? I'm thinking, that for now at
least, we have the luxury of this option and could change back to a straight
peer to peer setup if we needed to. Thanks for helping.
 
Jim,
as for having all printers and file shares on one
single machine, i would prefer this option. It is MUCH
easier to make backups of all important data, or even use
a redundant disk setup, defending yourselves from a
probable data loss. (disk can and will get damaged)
the other pro. to such a setup is, that all your
business's data can be organised in a neet way on a
fileshare, with the appropriate access rights, rather
than having all four computers their own fileshares, with
who knows what access.
As for printing, it does not really make a difference, if
a printer is attached to one machine or the other, except
if you want to access it. It is easier for everyone to
remember one printserver name, than remember which
machine had which printer.

Regards,
mosza
 
Thanks mosza,

Ease of use, tracking of files and backup are all important to us. Since we
have the extra machine available, I guess the question is, why not put it to
the best use? It seems, from both your and Ron's reply, that using the extra
XP machine as a combined File/Printserver would be the best use. Anything
else you'd like to add? Thanks to both for the help.
 
Back
Top