[drucey]

Do I have to have Windows server with CALs to get a nice professional network with user profiles etc?

[Graham]

To be honest chap I wouldn't know.

Ours is already in place.

Every test environment I've built I've just clicked next next next at the setup and profiles/home drives etc have been fine.

Neil's probably your best bet, he builds new environments.

[Lanny]

no, you may only need User CALs if you are having everyone RDP on for terminal server style?

you should be able to have profiles attached on to the network anyway with a standard setup... what are you being prompted for? I, like graham, just next next next for test enviroments and ours is already set up but we have new servers building with MDT so its automated... we've only ever had to stick on Processor licenses for SQL or User CALS for the terminal server...

[drucey]

Not prompted for anything yet, in the planning and purchasing stage.

So if each client PC had Windows 7 Professional, and the server had Windows SBS 2008, that's all I should need? No CALs etc, if all i'm after is central user storage and restricted user profiles

[Graham]

What's the server actually for?

Just a DC with DNS and a couple of home drives/roaming profiles?

You ptobably don't even need SBS, unless you're planning on putting in more than 4gb memory.

Are you running it off a PC or investing in proper server hardware?

[Graham]

Incidentally, off subject, I dreamt of Tresco last night.

Someone had lost a ring with blue diamonds in, it fell near a pipe.

I then woke up for a pee, as i always do, and once again dreamt of Tresco, only this time I found the ring. I was so happy because I thought I was awake, I figured by finding this mega important exclusive ring Mr Bob might let me live on the island.
Then I woke up again.

[Hobbes]

are you using the profiles purely for group policy controls or do you want to be able to get the same files/app settings no matter where you log on?

[drucey]

Hardware will be a server
DC and DNS, some shared drives and user profiles.
Central database for the Hotel software, although it's not intensive at all

Not planning any more than 4gb

more user control - i can't imagine they'll be swapping computers.

[drucey]

i like your dreams Graham. Even if that particular one wasn't filled with women. And you are welcome on the rock anytime. Even if you didn't have a job, i'd still let you live in my attic

[Graham]

You don't need Small Business server then, you could just use standard.

One of our fileservers has 122 active client connections with some 200+ files open right now. It's only Standard Edition.

Also if the users aren't switching PC's you won't need roaming profiles either, just home drives which'll help with conserving network load.