Running Windows 2003 server as a desktop OS.

[Runes911]

Ok I recently bought a copy of Win 2k3 server. I wanted to know can it be run as a desktop OS? I remember seeing something on the internet about being able to and having no problems doing so. Is this true?

The reason I would want to do this is because my friends have LAN parties every now and then and its really annoying having to link up a router to a 24 port switch just to have DHCP/Internet. It would be just so much simpler to be able to hook up and be a server for us.

Edit: forgot to say "server" heh

 

[MrChad]

If you spent $800 on an operating system, more power to you. You can use 2003 as a desktop operating system, but many people don't recommend it as there's little or nothing to gain except for the expensive price tag.

Still, your reasoning for wanting a server OS baffles me. Why would having a server operating system eliminate the need for a switch? You still need some way to physically wire the computers together. IMO a router + switch solution is the simplest way to get a group of computers online. Having a server perform DHCP/Internet sharing tasks would only make things more difficult. Perhaps I'm missing something ...

 

[NokiaDude]

Yes, there is a guide to make it look like XP. I wouldn't game on a server. It's better to leave it alone and run it as a dedicated server.

 

[Runes911]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Still, your reasoning for wanting a server OS baffles me. Why would having a server operating system eliminate the need for a switch? You still need some way to physically wire the computers together. IMO a router + switch solution is the simplest way to get a group of computers online. Having a server perform DHCP/Internet sharing tasks would only make things more difficult. Perhaps I'm missing something ...

Well we usually have >8 people playing and having to unplug my router to darg it all the way to the garage just to have a DHCP server is a big hassle. Plus there have been times when I didnt have a router on hand at a LAN party and it was SOO much of a pain to manally assign IPs to all the computers.

Originally posted by: NokiaDude
Yes, there is a guide to make it look like XP. I wouldn't game on a server. It's better to leave it alone and run it as a dedicated server.

Why not? Whats your reasoning?

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Runes911

Originally posted by: MrChad
Still, your reasoning for wanting a server OS baffles me. Why would having a server operating system eliminate the need for a switch? You still need some way to physically wire the computers together. IMO a router + switch solution is the simplest way to get a group of computers online. Having a server perform DHCP/Internet sharing tasks would only make things more difficult. Perhaps I'm missing something ...

Well we usually have >8 people playing and having to unplug my router to darg it all the way to the garage just to have a DHCP server is a big hassle. Plus there have been times when I didnt have a router on hand at a LAN party and it was SOO much of a pain to manally assign IPs to all the computers.

Why not buy a second router for $20-30?

 

[Runes911]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: Runes911

Originally posted by: MrChad
Still, your reasoning for wanting a server OS baffles me. Why would having a server operating system eliminate the need for a switch? You still need some way to physically wire the computers together. IMO a router + switch solution is the simplest way to get a group of computers online. Having a server perform DHCP/Internet sharing tasks would only make things more difficult. Perhaps I'm missing something ...

Well we usually have >8 people playing and having to unplug my router to darg it all the way to the garage just to have a DHCP server is a big hassle. Plus there have been times when I didnt have a router on hand at a LAN party and it was SOO much of a pain to manally assign IPs to all the computers.

Why not buy a second router for $20-30?

Bolded...

It would just be easier. So can Win 2003 server function fine as a game OS? Will I have any issues?

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Runes911

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: Runes911

Originally posted by: MrChad
Still, your reasoning for wanting a server OS baffles me. Why would having a server operating system eliminate the need for a switch? You still need some way to physically wire the computers together. IMO a router + switch solution is the simplest way to get a group of computers online. Having a server perform DHCP/Internet sharing tasks would only make things more difficult. Perhaps I'm missing something ...

Well we usually have >8 people playing and having to unplug my router to darg it all the way to the garage just to have a DHCP server is a big hassle. Plus there have been times when I didnt have a router on hand at a LAN party and it was SOO much of a pain to manally assign IPs to all the computers.

Why not buy a second router for $20-30?

Bolded...

It would just be easier. So can Win 2003 server function fine as a game OS? Will I have any issues?

If you want to spend $800 instead of trying to remember to bring a $25 router with you to your lan parties, more power to you. There isn't any reason 2k3 wouldn't work, its solid. Many freeware antivirus won't install on 2k3 however.

 

[Runes911]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Runes911

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: Runes911

Originally posted by: MrChad
Still, your reasoning for wanting a server OS baffles me. Why would having a server operating system eliminate the need for a switch? You still need some way to physically wire the computers together. IMO a router + switch solution is the simplest way to get a group of computers online. Having a server perform DHCP/Internet sharing tasks would only make things more difficult. Perhaps I'm missing something ...

Well we usually have >8 people playing and having to unplug my router to darg it all the way to the garage just to have a DHCP server is a big hassle. Plus there have been times when I didnt have a router on hand at a LAN party and it was SOO much of a pain to manally assign IPs to all the computers.

Why not buy a second router for $20-30?

Bolded...

It would just be easier. So can Win 2003 server function fine as a game OS? Will I have any issues?

If you want to spend $800 instead of trying to remember to bring a $25 router with you to your lan parties, more power to you. There isn't any reason 2k3 wouldn't work, its solid. Many freeware antivirus won't install on 2k3 however.

Actually I only spent about $250 but this was the answer I was looking for thanks!

 

[igowerf]

I tried running Windows 2003 as a desktop OS and it was a HUGE pain in the ass.

After a few days, it started shutting itself down because of some network domain policy.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555087

Aside from that, a couple games wouldn't install because the wrong OS was detected, I had some really weird problems getting ffdshow to stay properly configured, I HAD to use a server antivirus, and there were lots of other little things that just didn't work well for a desktop OS.

 

[RJR2006]

it is impossible to use Win2003 as a desktop OS, and it is designed to work and act as a server.