Windows 2000 Server Specs

[dj4uk]

I've read the Microsoft recommended minmum specs for Windows 2000 Server but I have found these aren't necessarily the best guide in the past.

So what do you guys recommend for a stable and smooth system using Win 2000 Server?

[mosquito]

It depends on what you want to do with it of course.

A minimal good working Win2K server config would be:
PIII 500, 256Mb memory, IDE disks (any size will do)
This would be an ok machine to serve as file server, or a small webserver.

When you want a server that is going to be under heavy stress (+50 users connected all the time, or serving a big (+50Gb) database) you will need something with more muscle.
Dual 1Ghz CPU, 1Gb memory ,Raid 5 controller and 10K rpm scsi disks

This setup will help you to keep the performance on par. The Dual CPU's will improve the parallel processing. The Raid 5 will give a higher throughput and added reliability. The problem is that such a system will easily set you back for 5 to 10.000$.

But estimating a server configuration is very difficult. If you can tell what the server has to do, and how many users are going to connect I can give you a much better estimate.

[dj4uk]

Thanks for that Mosquito.

I intend to use it just for web development work (presently have win 2000 pro but some features are disabled) so it should not be under much load at all.

I have an AMD Duron 850MHz with 256Mb RAM and 12.8Gb HDD (IDE).

Will I notice a difference in performance between win 2000 pro and server?

[mosquito]

When you initially install win2K server, a lot of services will be up and running, thus making the system slow. To improve performance, shut down the services you are not using for your work (also make sure you install the server as a stand alone server, and not as a domain server).

the performance of your machine should be fine.

[mosquito]

This guide will help you to set up your server a a webserver:

http://www.systemexperts.com/win2k/HardenWin2K.html

[dj4uk]

Excellent news thanks again mosquito and the link will prove to be very useful.