Windows 2003 Server Role?

[GoPackGo]

Can anyone here come up with a good reason why I shouldn't use a single machine/server for performing the roles DHCP Server, DNS Server, WINS Server and Print Server?

 

[Rapidskies]

It all depends on what other roles the server is doing, applications it is running, hardware specs of server, and number of users it is going to be serving. For a small network environment we often run all those on one box.

 

[spyordie007]

Even for a medium sized network you'll typically be fine running all these services on the same server (so long as it's decent hardware).

We've got pretty decent sized network segments with one server acting as a DC, DHCP, DNS, WINS, File and Print at the same time.

 

[GoPackGo]

The network is about 80 users. The server isn't running any apps and all function beside the print server are backed up by a secondary system.

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: GoPackGo
Can anyone here come up with a good reason why I shouldn't use a single machine/server for performing the roles DHCP Server, DNS Server, WINS Server and Print Server?

No reason why that shouldn't work just fine. We run all of those services except the print server on a single Xeon server for 1000 users.

 

[imported_Phil]

Yeah, should be absolutely fine.

I did a school installation once with a couple of hundred users, all with directly-mapped-to-the-server profiles (i.e. nothing is stored locally at all), and the server was running all the roles you specified, as well as some other stuff. The load on the server was average, at best.

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: GoPackGo
The network is about 80 users. The server isn't running any apps and all function beside the print server are backed up by a secondary system.

Than unless you're working with 5 year old hardware you should have plenty of power to provide these services.