ICENI Newsletter December 2007

This is the night when you all bring along your favourite gadgets

to talk about and demonstrate. They don't have to be computer related or even battery driven. They can range from Cookery,

to DIY

to Gardening

I'm just wondering what I can dig out because I think you've seen all my gadgets before so some may make a repeat performance.

It is also our Christmas party evening with some festive refreshments. Perhaps everyone could bring a little something foodwise to share.

Just a light hearted evening which I hope you will be able to come to. I hope to see you there.

Our last meeting: Wednesday 7th November
" What is a server?"- Microsoft based talk by Michael

Many thanks to Gareth for this very comprehensive report on the last meeting.(Ed.)

Michael presented an evening on Windows Servers, including Windows 2000 Server, 2003 Server, the soon to be released 2008 Server, and Windows Home Server.

The main purpose of a server is to be a centralised point where information is stored, and service is provided from, whereas a home computer is typically for applications local to the machine, for example office and productivity applications, web browsers and DTP.

The Internet is made up of millions of servers, web, mail, ftp, instant messaging, etc.

For this talk we will look at the Microsoft family of Server products, which began in earnest with NT 3.51 in the 90s which still looked similar to Windows 3.1 but abandoned DOS for the more stable NT kernel. Later on came NT 4 which embraced the Windows 95 style interface and was a major improvement.
During this time Microsoft also developed services to run on their server operating system, e.g. Email which began as Microsoft Mail and grew into Exchange, providing calenders and public folders in addition to email.
Windows 2000 Server became more feature rich, and stable, and added Active Directory, enhanced file and print services and backups.

The latest released OS is Windows Server 2003, which has been out for quite a while, and so has quite modest system requirements if only supporting a small number of users. In reality you need something significantly faster to provide servers in a business environment.

Standard Edition
Small Business Server - bundling Exchange
Web Server
Enterprise Edition
Datacenter edition

and additionally in both 32 and 64 bit, all supporting differing numbers of CPU and max memory.

Typical uses of a 2003 Server include DHCP (for giving out IP addresses to network clients), DNS (IP address to names and vice versa), Email/Calendaring (using Exchange) and the typical File and Print services for windows PCs using NetBIOS/SMB.

Michael demonstrated the various server products running under Virtual PC on his windows Vista desktop machine.

In the demo of Windows 2000 we looked at creating an Active Directory and a domain controller which would be useful for identifying users and machines on a windows network. We also looked at the configuration options for using Windows 2000 Server for a number of services, including DHCP/DNS, file and print. Windows 2000 Server is also capable of providing terminal services i.e. remote desktops to other windows PCs and thin clients.

Our second demo was of the Release Candidate of the forthcoming Windows 2008 Server product, based on Vista technology, with an almost hybrid XP/Vista desktop feel. Again 2008 will provide the typical services, Active Directory/DNS/DHCP/File/Print/Terminal Services etc. , although they are now referred to as "Roles". We used a new Wizard to create a DHCP server which looked quite simple to setup. The final step, creating all the information and setting up DHCP took a while to install/process, but these are "do once" activities typically.

Minimum System requirements for 2008 Server are a 1.4Ghz CPU, 512MB RAM, 10GB Hard Disk space, although in practice as with 2003 server significantly more would be required for a business deployment.

Michael also demo'd the file permissions, and how to share folders and files with every, or specific users.

Our 3rd and final demo of the evening was of Microsoft's new Windows Home Server, aimed at home users with a small network. Based on Windows 2003 technology with the look and feel of the Windows 2000 user interface on the console. Home Server is designed as an appliance rather than an everyday machine, while you can hook up a monitor and log in, this is not recommended, in fact you get warnings that this may corrupt the system. The "appliance" is designed to be configured via the web/client software installed on a PC. Support for upto 10 client PC connections suitable for even a large home network.

Home Server is available as an OEM licence only for new PCs, and a number of hardware vendors are already interested in selling the product. PCs that are backed up to the home server can be restored including the whole operating system from a boot CD and network connection to the server.

Additional hard drives can be added to the storage pool, like a large Logical Volume, but not RAID or disk mirroring currently, so subject to failure if 1 disk goes down.

Home Server provides a central point for:-
Backing up home windows PCs
Media sharing photos/music/videos to a Media Centre, or Xbox 360

Remote Access - Web access to server
Add-ins - extra applications and services (endorsed by Microsoft) can be installed
onto the server via the web GUI.

A very interesting evening introducing the Microsoft Server products to those of us using RISC OS, Linux and MacOS X.

Editorial

I once more don't have a lot to say. I'm sorry I missed the last meeting ... but I did have an enjoyable holiday in the South of France!

We have yet to arrange our New Year Social evening out, has anyone any ideas or preferences that you could pass on to the Committee.

ICENI Future programme

2007
December 5th	Gadgets and party evening	All
2008
January	Social evening TBA	All
February 6th	"Vector Artware and Artworks"	Frank
March 5th	"iLife08 Managing your digital world"	Gareth
April 2nd	AGM + TBA	All

Talks with Visiting speakers are shown in Red. We will give more details as soon as they are confirmed. We are having a committee meeting this month to revise our programme so the above topics will probably change.

The first visit is free and subsequent visits for non - members is £2·50. The membership fee is £20 due from the AGM date in April, but may be reduced for those joining late in the year.

EAUG News

Continuing our publicity for EAUG events - please see their Website for details of their next meeting.

11th December 2007	"Xmas Special"
14th January 2008	"What I got for Xmas"
12th February 2008	"Sat Nav Loaded"

Meetings are at the Great Baddow Village Hall, on the second Tuesday of the month

Special Notice - Insurance

"ICENI does not have any Insurance cover for computers or other equipment so please be advised that you bring machines to the club at your own risk."

P.S. My insurance company have added my computer cover away from home with no extra premium required, yours might do the same.(Ed.)

Our Website and Email

If anyone would like a copy of the CD of our old newsletters this could be arranged.

I am open to suggestions on what people would like to have included in the website.

Our Next Meeting:Wednesday 5th December 2007 Gadgets evening and Party.