I agree with Ed wholeheartedly. I would just add that I'd recommend for small businesses a small server hot-swappable raid system - both Compaq and Dell make them starting at 1500.00 and up-just slightly higher than the typical workstations. It is well worth the cost as it is still a time-consuming task to reconfigure a server even with the os already installed-especially if you are using active directory on a W2k system. If Raid is not an option (or even if it is), then definitely look at replication with W2k (or Vinca Standby Server with Novell) even if a user works on one of the w2k replication servers. Even with hot-swappable hard drives, nothing beats the backup of course-I typically use the same backup scheme that Ed recommends and I believe most server shops do the same (except they add the yearly backup as well). (I also break the rules and do a full copy everynight if possible using open server when necessary) I tend to lean towards command antivirus for the servers-I've had better luck with it than with McAffee or Norton and you can automate the updates to the servers and replicate it out to member servers/users as well. Oh yeah-make sure the UPS's on the servers are SMART and will cleanly shutdown the server during a power outage (especially necessary if doing tape backups at night so the server runs 24/7). Don't forget that if the hubs/routers/switches/etc are not on battery backup that even if a user has a UPS on their workstation, they will lose their connection to the server when the power goes out and the router is dead so they cannot save their work before shutting down. Some windows apps can be shut down cleanly with UPS software (both Tripplite and APC have versions that work well in most cases), but it will not save the data, only exit the app in most cases so if luckily the user is sitting at the pc when the power goes out, they can save their data because the router or hub has a ups on it also before exiting the app and shutting down their system before the battery life extends itself.
The printers can be connected to the UPS IF and only if they are connected to the 'straight-through' connections so they will be protected from power surges but are not on the battery backup line.

In essence, you just received some VERY comprehensive network advice (for small businesses) for free from Ed. If I had only been so lucky 5 years ago! :0) Most of us typically learn the tricks the hard way (rebuilding servers at 2am before the business opens after a crash!)

Tracy

>>
>>I've had very good results in the runtime environment, given adequate RAM and Win2K/WinXP as a workstation platform with Win2K Servers. I've had intermittent Ui problems on one of my development boxes (Compaq P4 1.6GHz, 512MB, Radeon 8500 DDE with dual monitors in a Win2K environment under AD - I can't rule out an intermittent connectivity issue when the Radeon is cranking both displays (one has the debugger and property Windows open, the other the app) while lots of network activity is happening - the station seems to get confusedand momentarily drop connectivity to the server - always accompanied by a failed attempt to reregister the DNS name to the DHCP address. Using a static IP address works around the registration issue; I'm convinced it's a DNS Server error on my part.
>
>Ed,
> thanks for the input. We have 30 customers. Each with 3 to 15 stations running our system. The system consists of 2 EXEs, 5.5MB and 4.5MB in size and using only native FoxPro tables and CDXs. A few are peer to peer with as many as 5 stations even though we tell them we won't support it past 3 stations peer to peer. We now have more customers comming on each month. If this were yours, would to feel comfortable making the switch?
>
>Thanks,
>John.