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windows98 as a server

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Hi we have a clients who runs 30 pc’s with a file server running win98 the main applicaton all pc’s run are on the server the network they are using is lantastic ver 8.0 the server comes up with low in memory & resource errors the server is a AMD K6300 with 192mb memory. pc’s lose there connection to the server regualry. there network cable is rj45 100mbs there hub is a d-link 10/100mbs. can anyone help with ideas on how to solve these problems I think it’s the OS. The hard drive is a western digital. Other people say it’s not the OS because the server does nothing just sits there sharing it’s drive.

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windows98 as a server

In reply to windows98 as a server

Well it is the computer and the OS.

First get a new system. A K6-2 300 is very very slow.

I would recommend a P3 1gig machine with 256mb ram min.

Windows 2000 PRO, or better yet Windows 2000 Server for the OS.

98 is not the best OS to use for a server, it doesn’t manage it’s resources as well as NT does. ( Windows 2000 is NT 5 ).

windows98 as a server

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windows98 as a server

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it is mainly the os as it was never intended to run like this. Try linux as the os you should be able to buy linux on a flash card. if you feel you need a new computer as well consider a dual proccesor configuration with lots of memory although the existing one is probably fast enough. you may also consider a switch to divide the network

windows98 as a server

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windows98 as a server

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WIN98 is a very capable file server provided it has enough power and is rebooted frequently (I recommend daily). Here are a few suggestions:

Run SFC to verify the integrity of the system files.

Use msconfig to unload any and all unneeded junkthat runs in the background. (help free some resorces)

Set the browse master value to disabled (file and printer sharing properties) to free up even more resources and help with maintaining connections.

If these don’t help then you need a better machine. Windows 2000 (you don’t need server for this)256 ram and 1g processor sounds about right.

windows98 as a server

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windows98 as a server

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I think all of the answers given are correct as far as they go. What you need to do is really evaluate your network and what you want to do. Lantastic works wel for 10-15 PC’s. When you start growing, you really should be looking at a more robust network system for a couple of reasons. If you are running a central application, it must be important. PC backup software is not going to provide the security that server backup software can, (Back-up Exec). A Win98 PC can work well as a server if allyou are doing is file & print sharing. If you are sharing an app, you need something bigger. My suggestion would be get a small server with some kind of RAID drives, a good tape drive, Win 200 server, Backup Exec, and you probably already have antivirus software. This will give you room to grow, and provide a solid, fast, app server, and file & print server.
Hope that helps.

windows98 as a server

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windows98 as a server

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Interesting how many people say throw a large cpu and W2K on the server. You don’t gain much by speeding up the cpu. Better to upgrade the RAM and fit a second small hard disk purely for the swap file (and nothing else!)

There are several methodsof optimising W98 as a server – we have 27 pc’s here running from a single W98 K6-II 350Mhz PC with 128Mb ram acting as a server. The system is left on 24/7 and is only ever rebooted once or twice a month. It has been the most stable system we have used because we do not allow any access to the server (no keyboard or mouse and only a mono VGA graphics card). That kinda puts people off trying to play Freecell or Solitaire!

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