is this a more reliable solution? OD on OSX Server vs AD on MS SBS 2003?? HELP

zynizen · #1 April 23rd, 2007, 06:04 PM

Hello,

I have a few slight problems I need clarification from..

I manage a small network of 15 users, and they all currently have PC's running windows XP Pro SP2. There is 1 accounting server running server 2003 SBS, and a File Server for the Lab running SBS 2003 SP2. There is 1 user who uses RRAS setup via VPN to connect to the files and work from home on weekends etc..

Problem:

the laptop he has is brand new, setup and managed all his settings so that the environment will be easily manageable. Now, the problem is, intermittenly he cannot connect to the shares, the network goes down, the server hickups, it needs rebooting, its setup properly, everything is ok, it runs good, I upgraded the ram, to 4GB.

this happens waaay to much, and I spend way to much time fixing these issues over and over, from possible firewall issues on his laptop, that have been corrected, to just no connection getting through from him, when clearly most of the time the thing works. The server has not been tampered with at all, neither has his laptop, both systems are 100% virus/spyware/bot free.

Question:

Would it be easier/more reliable to get a new OSX Server and setup vpn and file service with OD, and have all PC clients log into the Mac OD Server? OR should I just charge them more for spending so much time on fixing these windows unexplainable issues over and over?

The network is so finicky all the time, there are issues that pop up randomly that dont make ANY sense, and I check event logs, system tools run to check for errors, file permissions, corrupt registry's, spyware etc.. I do this on a regular basis weekly.

I need to know if going to Mac OSX Server will aleviate a lot of the issues that have been going on.?

I hate PC stuff, and really want to push this company to switch to Apple.

Thanks

zynizen · #2 April 29th, 2007, 06:52 PM

Does anyone know the answer ? Just curious to see which is a better solution! thanks!

Kees Buijs · #3 May 1st, 2007, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zynizen

Does anyone know the answer ? Just curious to see which is a better solution! thanks!

If the servers (hardware) are the problem, replacing the servers will solve your problem. If the server (software) is the problem, using mac os x server should solve (most of) the problems. If a machine and/or the network itself is not stable, another server will not help in general.

So the biggest question is, what is causing the problem, servers (hardware or software) or network or clients. Does only 1 client / server has the issue or more. What is the function of the machine and why does happen when it happens when the machine fails.

So try pinning down what is really wrong. Otherwise make a test setup (if possible ofcourse) and verify if connected to that machine, the problems still occur (use the test machine only for the suspected client (at least initially).

Good luck, Kees

zynizen · #4 May 1st, 2007, 09:00 AM

well, like any windows environment, the current server is a SBS, and is locked down pretty tight with 1 remote user right now. I rebooted the server a number of times, cleaned up some files, and cleaned the registry, removed temp files, and now I myself can connect, but cannot browse the network share folder, same with the 1 remote user.

previous to all this, you couldn't even connect to the vpn.
The problem i've narrowed it down to now is the remote user's laptop, and the networking settings on his xp machine.

Now, for OSX server, I know that through all my training thus far, once its running, its running, no changing things and tweaking here and there to keep a "unstable vpn, a stable one"

The network is going to be gigabit once the company comes in and rewires the place, but for now its obv. 100mbit, networking hardware is fine, routers are fine, switches are fine, all connections are intel pro gigabit cards, and the one mac is fine thats on the network too.

I'm sure its the software, it just doesnt run as stable as it should, so the need for a mac server and stability and better /more secure vpn/file server is a sound choice..

thanks

Satcomer · #5 May 1st, 2007, 09:16 AM

I would say the server has a VPN timeout function the maybe wacky or the laptop VPN maybe wacky. What you the servers say in the Event Viewer when it fails?

zynizen · #6 May 1st, 2007, 09:26 AM

thats the thing, it doesnt say it fails, just sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. I've checked all logs, checked everything possible, and it just seems to be unstable for no reason. the server is clean.

Kees Buijs · #7 May 2nd, 2007, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zynizen

thats the thing, it doesnt say it fails, just sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. I've checked all logs, checked everything possible, and it just seems to be unstable for no reason. the server is clean.

Might be hard to test, but can you try the same stuff with a different machine. Maybe something else is wrong, which is not obvious enough to be recognised easily. I do not expect changing to a mac os x server will solve the problem (although apple solves any windows problem ...).

Good luck, Kees

zynizen · #8 May 2nd, 2007, 02:27 PM

Well, for many reasons this company needs to switch to apple for the R&D they do. It just seems to work better for the one engineer and getting everyone else onboard is a proposal away, but its the fear of nothing working the same, which I've explained over and over...

I am going to see if just a regular maintenance on the one laptop will solve any problems, reg scan, virus scan/spyw scans, temp dump, etc.. will check event viewer etc, but if I have any major concerns, I will post.

Thanks