Help Needed: Any Network Administrator willing to answer some questions??

[Mission01]

I would really really appreciate if any network administrator or any networking professional answer these few questions... I need it to complete some part of my report and hopefully gain a better understanding. Thanks a million!!!!~


1) What network operating system and workstation operating system do you use?

2)Has the operating system helped to make the job easier?

3)What operating system would you recommend? and Why?

4)Whta hardware configurations are you using?

[twwabw]

I work on several systems, but here's some info.- my opinions.

1) What network operating system and workstation operating system do you use?

NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 server (s), as well as Small Business Server systems ( ver 4.5- NT; and SBS2000 )

Win95, 98, NT 4.0, and Windows 2000 pro workstations. (notice I intentionally left out Windows ME !!)

2)Has the operating system helped to make the job easier?

Windows2000 (server and Pro) have indeed made my life easier. I was weened with NT, and it is stable as a rock, but NT 4 workstation is very outdated now, and was always kind of a bear as far as hardware configurations.

2000 plug and play has been great, as well as everything else with the OS. All the stability of NT, with the added benefits of an updated, modern interface. 2000 Pro is simply the best thing you could ever do for a laptop as well. Its built-in support for docking station profiles; multiple NICs; and Hibernation are real bonuses.

98 was a good OS for home users, but I have never liked it in a networked environment. No control over users messing with the OS, settings, software configurations, downloads, etc. You spend your life dealing with what users have done to their PCs. NT and 2000? You can lock 'em down tight.


3)What operating system would you recommend? and Why?

See above... here is my preferred list of Operating Systems:

Windows 2000
-or-
Windows 2000
-or-
Windows 2000

And, my 4th choice is-
Windows 2000

:D :D

4)Whta hardware configurations are you using?

Everything you could imagine, especially on workstations.

[master7]

Originally posted by Mission01

1) What network operating system and workstation operating system do you use?

2)Has the operating system helped to make the job easier?

3)What operating system would you recommend? and Why?

4)Whta hardware configurations are you using?

1. For the server, a Red Hat Linux and for workstations, Windows XP and 98

2. Yes, DHCP, mail, web gateway, built in firewall

3. Got promote the penguin :D , Linux (a server edition, such as Red Hat) because it has everything built into it (DHCP, httpd, ftpd, mysql, gateway, smtp, all that good stuff), and everything is free.

4. For the server, 950mhz Athlon, 384mb RAM (upgrading to 512 soon), workstations are all different.

[YeOldeStonecat]

I do small to medium networks for offices. Cut my teeth on Windows 95 setup on LANTastic networks. Yuck.

Next job, got more Windows NT experience. The VAR I work for mostly does Compaq Proliant servers, and some Dells. As well as Compaq Deskpro workstations, and Dell workstations. Mostly the business line machines.

Windows 2000 has made some things easier, especially Small Business Server, like TWW mentioned. But with it I've also found it hard to keep running perfectly. NT 4 would pretty much run without hitches once setup, Event View, which logs problems, errors, was quite clean. I've found Windows 2000 fills the Event Viewer with little hiccups, not show stoppers, but I'm anal about things, and not up on the higher end maintenance of Win2K yet.

I've found Win2K to be a great workstation OS, again, especially for laptops.

I prefer Compaq for business networks. Their support on the warranty end is great, pretty much overnight the parts all the time. That's what is key to supporting a network.