Normally, I would never recommend a server be set up on such an old and low
powered machine.  However, there are some details you left out that could be
relevant.  For instance, how would the users connect to this server?  Would
they connect directly via modem or on an ethernet network?  How often would
they need to connect?

If they are connection via the modem and only a single user would be able to
access the machine at one time, I would say it would handle what you are
talking about without too much trouble.  If they are each going to be
connected via an ethernet network, you need to take into consideration that
"technically" you can only have 10 computers connected at one time on a
peer-to-peer network.  Personally, I've never tested this limitation, so I
don't know the realities of it.

If you wanted to do things properly, you would put a server operating system
on the machine.  While you could put either Windows NT 4.0 or 2000 Server on
the computer, it would be ghastly slow.  Installing it would require the
better part of a weekend, as well as a few dollars out of pocket to do it
legally.  You would also need to purchase client licenses for each machine
that would be connecting to it.  At this point, of course, we are talking
about a rather ungainly setup.  As a previous poster suggested, at that
point I would install Linux.

If this is going to be a single connection, light use server, leave it as it
is, clean up all the unnecessary applications, then set up a regular backup
schedule.  If there is more involved, try giving us a few more details on
how much it will be used, the way they will be accessing the system, and
what kind of application needs to be supported.

Regards,

Kyle Elmblade

From: "Ian" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 4:42 PM
Subject: [PCBUILD] Setting up a server


> A customer has an old IBM 330-P75 machine, running W98, which has a P75,
> 80ram and I think the HDD is about 2Gb. The modem is external.
>
> He's considering a new PC and has asked me if his old machine would
function
> as a server for his business.
>
> He runs a HomeHosting business in this tourist area where we both live.
> The organisation consists of a dozen or so private residences, whose
owners
> entertain visitors in their own homes.
>
> Each of these host residences has access to customer info and booking data
> which is currently on an out of town server, but it's planned to set one
up
> locally.
>
> The amount of data concerned is negligible, as far as I know.  It consists
> mainly of names and numbers etc, but the total number of visitors is quite
> small. I wouldn't be surprised if a daily backup would fit onto one or two
> floppies.
>
> I'd appreciate it if someone is able to comment on this - my knowledge of
> servers, and the requirements thereof, is negligible.
>
> TIA
>
> Ian Porter

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