Run active directory on windows 7 instead of windows server

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jbard

1377 posts

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#94708 17-Dec-2011 00:52

I am planning a 10 computer setup with Active Directory.

I have a spare i5 computer here with 6GB ram which i think will do the job as the domain controller.

Can i just install active directory on that or do i need to purchase server 2008.

The only reason i can see why i need server 2008 is for the DNS, i don't think you can do that on windows 7?

All the computers in the setup will be running windows 7.

Cheers for the help.

Regs

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Snowflake

#558869 17-Dec-2011 01:37

you will need a server version to do that. the i5 with 6gb ram will be plenty to run AD, but if its a desktop machine then you're not going to have much fault tolerance

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gjm

808 posts

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#558885 17-Dec-2011 07:56

what he said. You can install the tools to manage active directory onto a windows 7 computer but active directory itself can be only installed on a server version of windows.

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jbard

1377 posts

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#558977 17-Dec-2011 14:03

Regs: you will need a server version to do that. the i5 with 6gb ram will be plenty to run AD, but if its a desktop machine then you're not going to have much fault tolerance

Yes it is only a desktop machine. It is only going to be used for 3-4 hours a day and only for the first 4 - 6 months - then i should be able to afford a server machine.

On that note where is the cheapest place to buy windows 2008 server edition these days?

Regs

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Snowflake

#559018 17-Dec-2011 16:55

jbard:
On that note where is the cheapest place to buy windows 2008 server edition these days?

probably as an OEM license with new hardware, or as charity or educational pricing... but no good for a business. what sort of 'business' are you in? Software/High Tech?

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Zeon

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#559021 17-Dec-2011 16:57

TBH I would go with even an older server (like socket 775) which has the proper hardware, build quality and fault tolerance. You can probably get 2008 r2 standard (including 5 CALSs) for just over $1k NZ

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jbard

1377 posts

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#559023 17-Dec-2011 16:58

Regs:
jbard:
On that note where is the cheapest place to buy windows 2008 server edition these days?

probably as an OEM license with new hardware, or as charity or educational pricing... but no good for a business. what sort of 'business' are you in? Software/High Tech?

I will be buying it on behalf of an educational training centre for children, but it is private not a school so i assume that won't count as an educational pricing.

jbard

1377 posts

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#559024 17-Dec-2011 17:01

Zeon: TBH I would go with even an older server (like socket 775) which has the proper hardware, build quality and fault tolerance. You can probably get 2008 r2 standard (including 5 CALSs) for just over $1k NZ

I see you can pick up a socket 775 server for peanuts these days but it is going to be running in the office as they have nowhere to properly store it, rack servers are far to noisy to run in an office.

Not sure if quiet servers even exist?

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Kyanar

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#559487 19-Dec-2011 11:19

jbard:
Regs:
jbard:
On that note where is the cheapest place to buy windows 2008 server edition these days?

probably as an OEM license with new hardware, or as charity or educational pricing... but no good for a business. what sort of 'business' are you in? Software/High Tech?

I will be buying it on behalf of an educational training centre for children, but it is private not a school so i assume that won't count as an educational pricing.

Small Business Server could do the job - it's around 1K and supports 10 computers, but it also has Exchange, ISA etc so you can set them up with email and proxy as well.

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#559491 19-Dec-2011 11:29

Kyanar:
jbard:
Regs:
jbard:
On that note where is the cheapest place to buy windows 2008 server edition these days?

probably as an OEM license with new hardware, or as charity or educational pricing... but no good for a business. what sort of 'business' are you in? Software/High Tech?

I will be buying it on behalf of an educational training centre for children, but it is private not a school so i assume that won't count as an educational pricing.

Small Business Server could do the job - it's around 1K and supports 10 computers, but it also has Exchange, ISA etc so you can set them up with email and proxy as well.

Yeah that is the option i will most likely go with, 1K is still a lot of money, if only Samba 4 was released...

geekiegeek

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#559496 19-Dec-2011 11:35

Dont take this the wrong way but if you have to ask this question about AD on Windows 7, I think you should get a small business IT provider to come and set this up for you. It sounds like you dont have experince in AD and if you are thinking about SBS you also need to understand Exchange and a bunch of other stuff.

Not done properly you will have issues in the long run.

jbard

1377 posts

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#559498 19-Dec-2011 11:38

geekiegeek: Dont take this the wrong way but if you have to ask this question about AD on Windows 7, I think you should get a small business IT provider to come and set this up for you. It sounds like you dont have experince in AD and if you are thinking about SBS you also need to understand Exchange and a bunch of other stuff.

Not done properly you will have issues in the long run.

Fair comment, i have actually setup a Active directory system 5 or 6 times on a much larger scale. I have also maintained them for years as well.

The difference this time is they need it as cheap as possible and so i was looking to cut costs anyway i can.

I do have limited experience with exchange but they already have the email hosted externally and want to leave that as it is.