File Server Possibility?

[DrewKaree]

I need to get the file server capability off of the MAIN computer @ work.  

There are three terminals, and I'll probably be adding a fourth in a month or two.  Right now, the main computer (the acting file server) is running XP Home Edition.  The other two are running XP Pro.  We used to use an old crappy PII 450 as an additional terminal, but it was requested to remove it.

Can I take the PII and use it for the fileserver?  It's got 512 Mb memory, with a 60 Gb HD....as I said, it used to be hooked into the network, but now....will this be enough to set up as a file server, and if so, what flavor OS should I use for it?  I'm "fiddling" with Linux, and DO NOT have enough knowledge yet to troubleshoot it if something terrible happens....I've got Win 95, 98, 98SE, ME, 2K, and XP Pro.

This would be used to simply serve Quickbooks Pro, Office (word, excel, and the occasional Publisher), and a few various pictures amongst the three/four other terminals.  

I'd also like this tied to the 'net, but after adding the fourth terminal, that won't be necessary...fileserving will be its main function after that.

What's the plan of attack you'd recommend....even if your plan of attack is "Scrap that idea, dope!".  I need to know if this is worth giving a shot, and what/how to do next.

[Thenasty]

Linux or Novell, if you want XP server.
Or the good old Lantastic.

[DrewKaree]

Linux or Novell, if you want XP server.
Or the good old Lantastic.

Linux, not a realistic option for me this year....mebbe in the next year, after I've got some practice @ home

Lantastic and Novell, I couldn't quite figure out what these are.  Are they server/client programs that make it easier to implement a file server?  Do they have to be installed on each PC accessing the network?  It seems as if I could just set up the PC as a server without either of those programs, and it'd still work just fine.

I'm just wondering if that old PC would hold the files and let others access them easily in the plainest possible (read: easy to set up) configuration.

[Thenasty]

if thats all you wnat is to share files, then just do your P2P like you did before with your HOME EDITION.

[Mameotron]

Novell is networking software.  The idea is if you install it, it would replace active directory, or back office, or whatever flavor of windows networking software you are running.  It does work with windows, but I think you can't justify adding more networking software just for one file server.

I would just set up your file server using Windows NT or Server 2000 (or whatever you have running now).

If you aren't actually using networking software (using workgroups instead of domains) I'd install Windows 2000 on your file server.  Just my personal preference, I use it a lot.