How large is your physician office? Do you have more than 10 computers? I've been asked by several people about the viability of running either XP or Vista on a "server" (I'm going to be using the term server loosely here). What about Windows Home Server? How secure are these operating systems?
XP, Vista, and Windows Home Server has a limit on how many computers can connect with your designated "server." The limit is 10. Only 10 PCs can connect to that shared folder on your server. Will that meet your needs? Also, consider the data security issues associated with running a server.
If you have more than 10 computers, then you'll have to either run Windows Server 2003 (good luck finding that now) or Windows Server 2008. These operating systems are much more expensive, so consider your needs before you immediately jump to Windows Server 2008. These sever operating systems are much more robust in terms of data security.
What many people may not realize is that Windows 7 allows you to connect up to 20 computers to that shared folder. Nice! Will Windows 7 offer the same level of data security as Windows Server 2008?
I think it's time for me to play around with Ubuntu Server Edition.
After determining the number of connections to the server, determine what functions you would like the server to perform. Microsoft SBS (Small Business Server) may be an option, although a little pricey. ClarkConnect Community Edition is incredibly compelling given its features.
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