Server // PC

[Markeh]

I have to ask here, what are the main differences between Windows 7 and Server 2008?

Can Server 2008 be used for everyday usage as a standard OS?

[Recursion]

I have to ask here, what are the main differences between Windows 7 and Server 2008?

Can Server 2008 be used for everyday usage as a standard OS?

There are guides to using Server 2008 R2 as a desktop OS, but the main differences are that it's full of the server features and roles and misses some key user features that Windows 7 has. I know some people use it, but I myself just stick to desktop OSs.

[Firehorse]

There are guides to using Server 2008 R2 as a desktop OS, but the main differences are that it's full of the server features and roles and misses some key user features that Windows 7 has. I know some people use it, but I myself just stick to desktop OSs.

you can use server 2008 to link computers together right? like logon with the same account on any connected pc... and would the OS matter for that?

[Tomm]

The login is called Active Directory (Does more than login though ) and is available as a server role on Windows Server operating systems only. You can't run a active directory domain controller (or any other kind of active directory server) on any other version of Windows. Also computers the join that you want to join active directory domain must support it. I.e Windows XP Professional (Not home), Windows 7 Professional/Ultimate/Enterprise, Vista Business/Ultimate/Enterprise.

you can use server 2008 to link computers together right? like logon with the same account on any connected pc... and would the OS matter for that?

[Recursion]

you can use server 2008 to link computers together right? like logon with the same account on any connected pc... and would the OS matter for that?

Expanding on Tom's post, with the use of Active Directory, you can enable roaming/mandatory profiles and set the user's home directories to shared folders on the network. Schools generally use Mandatory profiles to load the same desktop for each student (which im guessing is where you've seen it be used?)

Active Directory doesn't just manage users though, it also manages the domain client computers too.

Doesn't necessarily have to be the Windows version Tom listed above, you can nearly always connect to the domain using Mac and Linux clients (bloody fustrating getting Ubuntu to authenticate with AD though)