Switching from Mac OSX Server to Windows-based Server?

Question

Our association currently uses a Mac OS X server. It's primarily used for running backups (using Retrospect) and as our shared drive. However, the entire staff uses Windows OS's (both Vista and XP) on their computers. While all the computers have access to the server, the Vista machines don't get backed up due to Retrospect's incompatibility with Vista.

Besides, the benefit of being able to backup the Vista PCs (as we MAY move everyone towards Vista), are there any other benefits that stem from the OSX to Windows server switch? Cons? What Windows server OS would you recommend?

Please provide straight and honest answers; I don't need Apple Fanboys telling me how stupid I am to think about a switch because Apple is just so awesome and Microsoft sucks. Thanks.

Answer 1

Ubuntu Linux is actually the best server OS. It's free and it's completely compatible with Vista.

Answer 2

Your biggest change will be cost. a better option is to use a Linux server, which has total Windows compatibility and ALL the server software you could ever want built in free. It would allow Windows domain services, file sharing, mail server, and has many alternative backup systems in place.

Answer 3

I was looking through the Retrospect site (link below) and it appears that they do support Vista 32 bit systems.  Are you running a recent version of the product?  If it is an older version, maybe it didn't support Vista?

Now for another topic, why are you backing up desktop clients?  In every environment that I've worked, only server disk are backed up and anything on the client is considered temporary and expendable.  If data is lost, we just grab it from the server and at most lose a few hours of work (unless you are running backups continuously, you can't do any better).  You really should evaluate where data exist in your network for protection and security as well (don't want someone walking off with a hard disk from a client, and hopefully your servers are in a secured room).