Win2000 server repair... opinion needed

[ccie2b2004]

I did a job for a client in which her server was running out of HD space to work properly. The server, a PIII with 512MB RAM, was running Windows2000. The network consist of 5 other PCs. She needed to use WordPerfect in every PC, so obviously I installed the software in every PC. Her argument now is that why I did not installed the software in the server allowing the PCs to share WordPerfect from the server, specially since I “fixed” the server now with the new HD; with this fix, the server should be able to carry the extra load. I tried to explain to her that the HD will not add muscle to the server, it would just allow the server to work as intended: a file server. Is like hoping to put heavy duty tires on a VW beetle and hope that the car is now a 4 wheel drive hoping to go cross country. My argument did not got far, and I do not know how to research this issue to back up my claim…. Any word of wisdom that you would like to share in the hope that would help me? Any links to any site that would explain this?

 

[chilleds]

It's just common knowledge - besides, WordPerfect mite not work well over the network. It's just common knowledge that a hard disk won't add muscle, it's a storage device! That should do it!

--Ed

 

[hewissa]

Wordperfect needs to be installed locally on each machine. It needs to be registered in the registry.

I would present your case as not why it can't be done but as to how it CAN be done - using Terminal Services. Present your boss with "plan" to implement TS, the expencses, licensing for TS, and WP. Then go into what the server requires to run TS and in doing that you can expalin why her "idea" won't work.

Keep us posted.

Hewissa

MCSE, CCNA, CIW

 

[ccie2b2004]

The other question would be regarding licensing:

I find out that running individual copies from the server is a violation without 5 licenses and 2 the program would NOT allow more then one system to run it at once.

I am used to work in large environments, from 50 PCs and up. So whenever I needed to install a software I would normally use Ghost (a software which allows you to "make an image" of a PC in all respects, including serial numbers, preferences, rights, and all) since files are normally stored in servers because of back up. In the event of "different" PCs, I would then install the software on those particular PCs with one CD. At the end of the job, all need it to do was to match how many licenses with how many PCs. On this job that is what I did: I opened one box, installed the software in all PCs and done. So she is saying that she is legally forced to pay for one license because all PCs have only one license installed. That is when I tried to explain to her that it is standard procedure to use one license through all PCs and that nevertheless, she needed to have a license per PC, and take advantage of registering each license with Corel so to have support. That is when she stayed that it was my fault anyway because she was only forced to pay for one license and that I should now install it on the server. (this last part I already figured out which I stayed at the begining of this e-mail)

 

[LeonBar]

Just tell her this. If you load the software from the server when one user locks up a document (and they will) it will probably cause all of the other users to lockup. (it might not do that but is sounds good) If you load the program locally a lockup will not affect the other users. You are only trying to make her office more productive with the least amount of problems.

Leon