>My company is about to buy a new server and upgrade our server software. Currently we are running Netware 3.12. It has worked flawlessly for the past 4 or 5 years running FoxPro 2.x and VFP3, VFP5, and now VFP6. However, our 486 server has no room for new hardware and we are out of server licenses. Thus we're about to buy a new Compaq Proliant 800/350e or HP E60 and upgrade our server software. We're contemplating either Netware for Small Business 4.2 or (gulp) Microsoft NT 4. For stability reasons, we're leaning towards choosing Netware.
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NetWare:
- more reliable than NT
- your people already know it (although system management under NDS is a bit different from 3.12 Bindery-based server)
- very limited in apps that can be run on the server

NT:
- less reliable than NetWare
- unfamiliar to your people
- lots of server-based apps available

If you crave reliability and are happy with server functionality a la 3.12 (i.e. basically file and print services) I'd be inclined to stick with NetWare. If you have a pressing need for additional server-based programs (e.g. back-end database, MS Exchange Server, etc.) you'll need to look hard at NT.

Bear in mind, the two will interoperate. You could go with NetWare now, then if you need MS Exchange or a SQL Server back-end later, you could simply add an NT box to your NetWare network later.

Regards. Al