Windows 2003 Webserver Edition

Thinking of switching to this operating system

[wingslevel]

For me, Linux is out, I am running real sql and coldfusion server.

I am currently running windows 2000 advanced server and it has been a bumpy ride. Looking at the current Microsoft options, it looks like Windows 2003 Webserver Edition is my only legal license (because the other versions are all limited to a # of users). Windows 2003 Webserver Edition is also cheaper than the other editions (I assume to compete w/ linux?). Its only about $350.

Seems like this version is stripped down to what you would need as a webserver only, but there are some limitations that concern me - first is a 2gb ram limit.

Anybody using Windows 2003 Webserver Edition? Anything else I should be looking at?

[wingslevel]

Anybody?

[hasbeen]

You really need to watch out for the RAM limitations, especially if you're looking at application pooling. Depending on the number of sites you're going to host on it, the limit could cause problems and increase server load.

Now, when I say number of sites, I'm talking 100 or more. IF you're going to use it for just a few sites, it may not matter.

In addition, I don't believe you can run DNS on the Web Edition as it doesn't have DNS services.

Have you taken a look here for their comparison: http*//www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/features/compareeditions.mspx

[wingslevel]

Thanks hasbeen - I did check out that page and the ram limit seemed like the biggest issue for me as one of the boxes will be running sql and it will start off w/ 2gb of ram, so we'll be immediately maxed...

The price is attractive, though, so I'm going to stick it on a box this week and see how it goes.

[hasbeen]

You may want to check on the SQL. That's another limitation one of our staff members mentioned to me: he doesn't believe Web Server will run SQL.

<added>
Trawling through some newsgroups, that appears to be the case. You can use MSDE, but that may be too limited. Web Server is basically for serving web pages, and that's about it. To use SQL, you'd want to either use Standard or Enterprise, or bring up a separate SQL server. I have found out, however, that mySQL works on Web Server.

Search for this in Google Groups: "windows 2003 web server SQL 2000" to get an idea of what I was looking at.
</added>

[ogletree]

I don't know how it is now but when I called my reseller they said that MS will not sell a box version of it. The only way to buy it is OEM installed on a new machine.

[plumsauce]

what problems did you see in W2K/AS?
was it sp4 that did you in?