Server 2003 X64 or not?

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clucas009

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I have never worked with the x64 version of Server 2003 so I am not sure if
there are any major differences in the installation or management of it.
From what I have read there isn't but there may be some application support
issues.

The server is:
Windows 2003 R2 x32 standard server
2x dual core Xeon (5130 - 2Ghz)
4GB ram

Currently we are running Virtual PC on the server and several (3) clients
connect to it via a thin client solution (PC Expanion devices). The VPC has
been allocated 2GB of ram which leaves 2GB for the Host OS. Now we are
looking at adding another VPC for a different group of users (3-5) that will
also connect via the thin client boxes as well as installing a database app
on the server. As I want to make sure that the applications\VPCs have enough
memory to run smoothly I would like to add more memory to the server but is
capped at 4GB because it is 2003 standard x32.

The database app that we are using runs with SQL express but we will have to
move to the full version of SQL in a year as we add more users. to this app.

Is there issues running x32 apps on a x64 server?

Just wondering if I should go to x64 as a cost effective solution or do I
bite the bullet and jump to x32 enterprise so that I can add more ram? Is
there issues running x32 apps on a x64 server?
 
Re: Server 2003 X64 or not?

Assuming you have drivers for x64 for your server (VERIFY THIS! It's your
due dilligence), then x64 is a far better solution. Also, just to be clear,
VPC is really only a client level solution. Virtual Server will usually be a
better bet for a production system running on Windows Server. Both have
versions that run fine on x64 Editions of Windows Server 2003. (But to be
clear - they support only 32-bit guests. To support 64bit guests, you need
Server 2008 and Hyper-V, or a third party solution.)

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel


"clucas009" <clucas009@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6CFC88B6-9824-40B9-B0D0-D833EE422D6A@microsoft.com...
>I have never worked with the x64 version of Server 2003 so I am not sure if
> there are any major differences in the installation or management of it.
> From what I have read there isn't but there may be some application
> support
> issues.
>
> The server is:
> Windows 2003 R2 x32 standard server
> 2x dual core Xeon (5130 - 2Ghz)
> 4GB ram
>
> Currently we are running Virtual PC on the server and several (3) clients
> connect to it via a thin client solution (PC Expanion devices). The VPC
> has
> been allocated 2GB of ram which leaves 2GB for the Host OS. Now we are
> looking at adding another VPC for a different group of users (3-5) that
> will
> also connect via the thin client boxes as well as installing a database
> app
> on the server. As I want to make sure that the applications\VPCs have
> enough
> memory to run smoothly I would like to add more memory to the server but
> is
> capped at 4GB because it is 2003 standard x32.
>
> The database app that we are using runs with SQL express but we will have
> to
> move to the full version of SQL in a year as we add more users. to this
> app.
>
> Is there issues running x32 apps on a x64 server?
>
> Just wondering if I should go to x64 as a cost effective solution or do I
> bite the bullet and jump to x32 enterprise so that I can add more ram? Is
> there issues running x32 apps on a x64 server?
>
 
Re: Server 2003 X64 or not?


"clucas009" <clucas009@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6CFC88B6-9824-40B9-B0D0-D833EE422D6A@microsoft.com...
>I have never worked with the x64 version of Server 2003 so I am not sure if
> there are any major differences in the installation or management of it.
> From what I have read there isn't but there may be some application
> support
> issues.

You'll have to get a big bucket to load with drivers, that is, if you'll
find what you'd need. Good luck! Time is not ripe yet for 64 bit. Maybe 2
more years...
 
Re: Server 2003 X64 or not?

On Feb 15, 12:53 pm, "Mr. Clemens" <ster...@net.net> wrote:
> You'll have to get a big bucket to load with drivers, that is, if you'll
> find what you'd need. Good luck! Time is not ripe yet for 64 bit. Maybe 2
> more years...

The desktop side of 64-bit Windows is getting stronger all the time.

That said, the 64-bit Windows server side is VERY strong, and it's
hard to find a piece of server hardware these days that doesn't have a
Server 2003 64-bit driver. With RAM so cheap and things like
Virtualization and efforts to consolidate server loads driving up the
amount of RAM in servers, it's practically a requirement to have a 64-
bit driver ready to go. This is going to be compounded with Server
2008, where certain features such as the Hyper-V virtualization role
will only be available with the 64-bit version of the OS. Not to
mention server apps like Exchange Server 2007 which is only 64-bit as
well.

For servers it's best to visit the website of whoever makes your
specific hardware and see what they have. Seeing as you're on 65nm
Xeons I assume the hardware you are using is not more than a year or
so old, and in this case unless the hardware maker is living under a
rock they will have a healthy supply of 64-bit drivers for your
hardware.
 
Re: Server 2003 X64 or not?

I agree completely.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel


"S.SubZero" <ssubzero@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f5741726-3ed3-4613-b3f3-4bb55ad53636@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
> On Feb 15, 12:53 pm, "Mr. Clemens" <ster...@net.net> wrote:
>> You'll have to get a big bucket to load with drivers, that is, if you'll
>> find what you'd need. Good luck! Time is not ripe yet for 64 bit. Maybe 2
>> more years...
>
> The desktop side of 64-bit Windows is getting stronger all the time.
>
> That said, the 64-bit Windows server side is VERY strong, and it's
> hard to find a piece of server hardware these days that doesn't have a
> Server 2003 64-bit driver. With RAM so cheap and things like
> Virtualization and efforts to consolidate server loads driving up the
> amount of RAM in servers, it's practically a requirement to have a 64-
> bit driver ready to go. This is going to be compounded with Server
> 2008, where certain features such as the Hyper-V virtualization role
> will only be available with the 64-bit version of the OS. Not to
> mention server apps like Exchange Server 2007 which is only 64-bit as
> well.
>
> For servers it's best to visit the website of whoever makes your
> specific hardware and see what they have. Seeing as you're on 65nm
> Xeons I assume the hardware you are using is not more than a year or
> so old, and in this case unless the hardware maker is living under a
> rock they will have a healthy supply of 64-bit drivers for your
> hardware.
 
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