I just became the server admin (SA) at my work and really don't have much experience (working on getting training but as of now, none). So I had a few questions i was hoping someone here could help me with.
We currently have a network of around 20 computers (relatively small, including a server machine) and use the server computer/domain for file sharing. We have to get our network certified and part of that is establishing a second server computer at a different site that we can use if the normal one blows up or something. Our idea is to get a second computer and set it up with the current computer such that they are mirror images of each other with the idea that if one goes out, we will still have our data but also will still be able to access the server for everything and perform as close to normal as possible (thus a simple data backup device won't work). The current computer has Windows server 2003 on it. The SA before me ordered a second server computer but got athlon processors and a mobo that only supports opteron. They were planning on simply using Windows XP 64-bit on the second server computer. Here are my questions:
1. Can you run a server off of XP 64-bit?
2. What kind of functionality will you lose as compared to Server 2003?
3. Will there be a problem having one computer as server 2003 and the other XP 64-bit? (seeing as how it's Microsoft, I'm guessing yes)
4. Will our idea of two mirror image machines such that if one fails, we can keep working off of the second one, even work?
5. Since i have to get new processors and a mobo for the second server machine, what is the difference between server cpu's and regular cpu's? Any recommendations?
Really appreciate any help I can get.
We currently have a network of around 20 computers (relatively small, including a server machine) and use the server computer/domain for file sharing. We have to get our network certified and part of that is establishing a second server computer at a different site that we can use if the normal one blows up or something. Our idea is to get a second computer and set it up with the current computer such that they are mirror images of each other with the idea that if one goes out, we will still have our data but also will still be able to access the server for everything and perform as close to normal as possible (thus a simple data backup device won't work). The current computer has Windows server 2003 on it. The SA before me ordered a second server computer but got athlon processors and a mobo that only supports opteron. They were planning on simply using Windows XP 64-bit on the second server computer. Here are my questions:
1. Can you run a server off of XP 64-bit?
2. What kind of functionality will you lose as compared to Server 2003?
3. Will there be a problem having one computer as server 2003 and the other XP 64-bit? (seeing as how it's Microsoft, I'm guessing yes)
4. Will our idea of two mirror image machines such that if one fails, we can keep working off of the second one, even work?
5. Since i have to get new processors and a mobo for the second server machine, what is the difference between server cpu's and regular cpu's? Any recommendations?
Really appreciate any help I can get.