Question about windows server 2003

[cisco99999]

Hi guys,

I have a really newbie question about win server 2003. To honest, I'm using Linux/Unix all the time since I got my first job last 4 years so I am not really windows server expert here. all i know is how to setup DA and DNS on win server 2003 and not thing else. One of my friend want me to help him to setup a server that run windows server 2003. His company has about 5-8 peoples and 10 PCs. I've seen that windows server 2003 with 5 client licenses, 10 CALs or even 25 CALs. My question is what does 5 CALs mean for window server 2003 here ?

He bought a storage appliance 2TB, and I'm wondering that i can use windows server 2003 to make that storage as SAN? I setup SAN before with Mac OS Xserve and Xserve RAID for my company so i really sure that Mac OS server can do the job but not sure about windows server 2003 can do the same thing !?.

Thanks

 

[58sniper]

A CAL is a Client Access License. You need one for each user. Use Small Business Server 2003 R2, not Windows Server 2003 R2. It's cheaper and easier to manage for small businesses.

Not sure on the appliance. Hard to say without more info.

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP

 

[cisco99999]

Thanks,

Let's say i have a storage RAID 5 about 2TB, and I want to share it with my employees at work. If they have windows and they want to put files/folders in to that share storage, they have to go to Start->Run then type \\10.10.0.5 and click ok or they can do the other way like My Network Places->Add a Network place but this SAN was setup under Mac OS Server.

Let's say I have a RAID 5 with 3TB, it's connected directly to windows server 2003 by SCSI, Will windows server 2003 able to set that storage to be an SAN so peoples can connect to that storage when they at work ? something like Start ->Run then type \\192.168.0.5 to connect to the RAID. Hope this make sense, thanks

 

[58sniper]

Well, if it's directly attached, it's not a SAN (by definition).

If it's directly attached, OR a SAN, it can be accessed by users, provided proper permissions exist.

A drive letter could be assigned to it via a login script.

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP

 

[LWComputingMVP]

Just a note - I agree - get SBS (Small Business Server). I have some resource links to it you might find useful at

http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/sbs.asp

Note: SBS typically costs $600 (Standard Edition) where Standard Windows Server typically costs $800-900. And SBS Includes Exchange 2003 - a great tool for e-mail/groupmail.

 

[cisco99999]

Thanks LWComputing. The link is awesome