Hi all,

I am using a Dell on Linux platform. And I would like to change the OS to Windows 2000, because I want to to install Windows Media Services for streaming video.

But my ISP told me that the Win2000 from Dell is not a Advanced version. And Dell has made certain configuration and modification to their hardware that might prevent your server from operating at optimal level if I change from Linux to Win2000.

So I would like to know if I install the Win2000 from Dell, can I install Windows Media Services as well?

Is it really true that the Dell has made certain configuration and modification to their hardware in order to have the best performance for differnt OS? If that's the case, should I still change the OS?

Any comments are welcome.

You will have no problems!

I think what your host is thinking is that the Dell PowerApp that includes the Embedded version of W2K is a custom version that does not inlude all the features of server (like DHCP Server, etc). Not to worry because you will not be using this version.

If you install a retail/OEM version of W2K on your server, you will not have a problem with performance. We have many Dell 350s, 1550s, 2450s, 2550s and 1400 running both Red Hat & Windows Server without issues.

Hope that helps!

Thanks a lot RackMy.com. You are so nice.

But can the Win2000 from Dell allow me to install Windows Media Services?

Are you just buying the OEM version of W2K? How are you getting it?

I don't know whether it's OEM. My ISP said it's a version of Win2000 from Dell and it's a modified version of Windows 2000
only, not Advanced Version.

I would ask them if it's an OEM. Dell has 2 versions (and you have to buy a server to get one of them) of W2K Server.

OEM/Retail - Plain W2K Server that comes w/ the all servers but the PowerApp.120.
W2K Embedded- It's a stripped down version of W2K Advanced Server & you can only get this with the Dell PowerApp.120

I would guess your ISP has the OEM version, but they should be able to tell you exactly what version (and I don't think they legally can install the W2K Embedded on anything but a PowerApp.120)

Here is some info on the W2K Embeded from Dell's site for an FYI:

PowerApp.web 120 - Microsoft® Windows® Powered - As with most Microsoft products, the Windows 2000 Advanced Server-based solution stack on PowerApp.web has certain licensing restrictions. The easiest way to summarize the licensing restrictions is to say that they restrict installation of an application that changes the software's primary function. For example, the installation of an application that transforms PowerApp.web into a Messaging or Email server (like MS Exchange, SendMail or Lotus Notes) is restricted by the End User License agreement. If the customer wishes to create such a server, Dell recommends a PowerEdge server as the platform of choice. Below is a complete list of implementations that are NOT supported by PowerApp.web:

Unsupported applications under PowerApp.web (Microsoft Windows only):

Microsoft Exchange
Novell® GroupWise®
Lotus Notes® 4.6a
Lotus Notes® R5
SendMail®
Documentum® 4i
FileNet® PanagonTM 2000
JD Edwards® OneWorld® B733.1
Oracle8iTM
IBM® DB6.2®

Unsupported services under PowerApp.web (Microsoft Windows only):

DHCP Server
WINS Server
DNS Server
Primary/Backup Domain Controller
Active Directory Server

Hope that helps!

Thanks Rackmy.com

I think my server is PowerEdge 1550.

Is it mean there is a great chance that it come with OEM/Retail version and it support WMS?

If it's a 1550 and you got the W2K CD from Dell, it will have WMS on it :)