[Macola]

I'm working with a small network that has a bunch of MDD 867s running 10.2.3, with a WinNT 4 fileserver (long story, my client listened to bad advice from their previous IT consultant). The server is set up with File Services for Mac, and the Macs connect through AFP. The reason they're not using SMB to connect is because of problems with illegal characters in file names.

On waking from sleep, the Macs lock up due to losing connection to the server. They also lock up any time someone opens a document on the server and then tries to save the file back on the server. I'm convinced this is due to the NT server, since I set up another Mac with file sharing and they had no problems at all connecting to it through AFP.

I'm trying to convince the client to trash the NT box and get a Mac with OS X Server, but they don't want to spend the cash right now. They also don't want to upgrade to Win2K for the same reason. Any suggestions?

[ghporter]

I think your client is in a bind. NT4 Server works great-for a Windows network. It is hard to ensure that multiple Macs can even access an established NT4 server, considering how many tweaks and sneaks tend to crop up. Aside from that, there is of course the problem with having your file server store files that aren't in its (the server's)native format. Just how does NTFS ensure the integrity of a Word for Mac file?

Anyway, tell me about the box that's running NT4 Server. How old is it, and what kind of processor is it running? How fast? If the server is over 18 months old, you can probably make a business case on speed and reliability. Besides, I don't believe that NT4 supports gigabit ethernet, while a new Mac running OS X will almost certainly come with built in gigabit ethernet-even more speed.

Finally, the client's prior IT consultant probably built on the "industry standard" bit to sell the NT4 server. Sure. Most offices use Windows products and OSs, so NT4 server was the "industry standard" by volume. But a client that has Macs on the desktop is obviously concerned with the various ways Macs beat out Wintel platforms in certain areas. They have hobbled themselves with a server that's more of an anchor than a foundation for their network, requiring more support because of the antiquated OS on the server (Win2K Server is the new "industry standard"), and the unnecessary cross platform hardware.

I live and work in a predominantly Windows world. As an IT manager or tech support boss, I wouldn't have any trouble okaying a Mac server in a Mac office anywhere.

[Macola]

The NT box is a cheap Compaq--don't know for sure what processor speed (nothing like Apple System Profiler here) but I'm guessing its something in the range of a PII-500 or so. Over 2 years old, and it's leased, which is part of the reason whey they don't want to replace it. However, all the employees are about ready to mutiny, so I may be able to convince the "check-signer" that a new server is essential to the sanity and productivity of her staff.

It just makes so much sense to go with OS X Server...

[ghporter]

A two year old Compaq server (or should that be 'server'-depends on the model, I guess) has no business being in a modern office, no matter what platform the users have on their desktops. In order to keep the users productive, a file server has to be able to find and pass those files very fast and an NT4 server running less than 1GHz simply can't keep up with a bunch of MDD 867s; it's just a drain on the users' systems. It's costing the company more in productivity alone to keep using that server than it will cost over a few months to buy a new "honest to God" Apple server.