OK, here’s my basic situation: I have two machines. One has no video capability at all (technically, it’s a server unit that i got dirt cheap and there are no known good PCI vid cards for it… got it from a company that was going out of business) but it’s got twin dual core 3.0 ghz processors and 8 gigs of ram. I have one substantially less less powerful laptop, 1.6 ghz processor and 4gigs of ram, BUT it has the distinct advantage of having a video card in it.
What I want to do is: I want to use the server unit as a slave system, have it running programs of various intensity on it, anything from Photoshop to World of Warcraft.
What I’m willing and capable of doing: I’m a network tech by trade, so I understand the basics of networking, though I’ve mostly dealt with the hardware side rather than the software side. With a detailed walk through, I could readily either set up some kind of client-server system, or I could set up some kind of miniaturized cluster. Either one is with in my capabilities and resources.
Software I have access to: Windows XP Pro, Windows 7 Pro, Windows 7 Pro x64 arch; Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition, Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition, Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition x64, and Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition x64. I am also reasonably competent with home-based usage of Linux, specifically Ubuntu, so if anyone knows a way to rig the idea to work
Also, if I can make this work I’m deeply considering getting a cheap tower with a PCIe x16 slot in it to actually put a good video card into it.
Aside from the information, I have only one request: If you’ve tried something similar to my idea, and made it work, but it just didn’t work for you, that’s fine… I’d still like to know what you did in the first place, for all we know, someone else with more skill in a particular area might go “Oh, hey… you need to tweak this setting right here” and give us both a solution. Please, don’t just tell me it’s not possible. It is, and I know it is because I’ve seen guys with it set up similarly. Unfortunately, I just can’t contact them.
Thanks, all!
~Zarius
