Windows Server 2003 on a home computer? 1

[Jon20120]

BACKGROUND:
Hello, my son is getting in the networking field and he wants to gain more experience with Windows Server 2003. I have managed to aquire a decent and modern (about 1 year old) desktop computer and a copy of Server 2003 (Along with the never-before used serial key) through a giveaway at our company.

I want to set up Server 2003 on this computer so he can use it at home and play around with it a bit (I'm buying a self-study MCSE book for him too). Here are my questions:

QUESTIONS:
1. Is it okay to set up Windows 2003 on a home computer?
2. I'm not sure, but will I have to buy any other license to "attach" other computers to this computer?
3. When I first tried to set up in the first place, there were a bunch of options I could choose from: Enterprise, Standard, and there was another one I think, I don't remember. Which is best for home practice/testing/playing around... or will I need a different type of software? Has to be Windows 2003!
4. Is setting up 2003 on a home computer even a good idea, or can I do the same things with XP PRO? He's pretty fluent with XP but says that he wants to try 2003 to see what more he can do.

Thank you in advance.

 

[LWComputingMVP]

2003 is a server. XP is a client. 2003 has Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, services (among MANY others that XP does not have). 2003 won't be good for playing games, but other than that, it should work absolutely fine for just about everything.

1. Absolutely. A low end server and a home computer can be virtually identical.
2. Maybe. Really depends on how you obtained the license. Typically, server includes 5 client acccess licenses. Rather than using a copy from work, I'd suggest you go download a 6 month trial version from Microsoft's site. After 6 months, he'd have to wipe it and reinstall it. But other than that, it should work identically.
3. Standard has more features than the Web server version, Enterprise has more features than standard, and Data Center (not available except with the purchase of VERY expensive hardware) has more features than Enterprise. Other than the ultimate capability, there is no other difference in the software. I would suggest either Standard or Enterprise is fine.
4. It's fine. But frankly, I wouldn't. I'd suggest you download either VMWare or Virtual PC and setup a few virtual computers to run 2003. This will give him the ability to setup a cluster (which requires to computers), and to experiment with sites and services, replication, DFS, and variety of other things. Entire test networks are installed this way - on one PHYSICAL computer that runs 2,3,4,5 or more virtual computers. For best performance, you'll want a multicore/multi CPU system with LOTS of RAM. BUT, that said, I run Virtual PC on my 1.9 GHz 3.5 year old laptop with 768 MB of RAM (I just never run more than one virtual machine at a time).

Lastly, if you REALLY want to support his learning you can look into getting him a subscription to TechNet Plus - which offers copies of most Microsoft software (including Exchange, SMS, SQL, ISA, and MANY other titles) for testing and learning purposes only. Cost is $350... This also includes other learning materials, archived web casts, and other resources that will let your son REALLY learn this stuff - it he truly wants to dedicate the time to it.
Just google TECHNET PLUS for more information. (And considering that a fully licensed copy of Windows Server 2003 typically costs $800, $350 for it - AND DOZENS of other titles - isn't bad.