Windows 2003/Windows XP security question

Hi

I have a question that's been bugging me a little...

Suppose I have a machine that needs to be on the internet, e.g. SMTP
Gateway, FTP server etc. The actual box would be a high spec desktop
machine rather than a dedicated HP server.

What OS would be the best to use? Windows 2003 Server or Windows XP
Pro? Is Windows 2003 Server actually more secure than Windows XP? Or is
XP recommended here because it is a desktop machine, although 2003 will
work fine on it.

Network wise, we are using a Cisco PIX 506E firewall that will assign
the box a NAT address.

Would be grateful for any advise...

Thanks
SJ

Debo
Sat Nov 18 12:25:35 CST 2006

you have to remember that XP can only accept 10 incoming connections at
any one time. Go with the server OS on the desktop.

smokejo@googlemail.com wrote:
> Hi
>
> I have a question that's been bugging me a little...
>
> Suppose I have a machine that needs to be on the internet, e.g. SMTP
> Gateway, FTP server etc. The actual box would be a high spec desktop
> machine rather than a dedicated HP server.
>
> What OS would be the best to use? Windows 2003 Server or Windows XP
> Pro? Is Windows 2003 Server actually more secure than Windows XP? Or is
> XP recommended here because it is a desktop machine, although 2003 will
> work fine on it.
>
> Network wise, we are using a Cisco PIX 506E firewall that will assign
> the box a NAT address.
>
> Would be grateful for any advise...
>
> Thanks
> SJ

Ian
Sun Nov 19 02:57:01 CST 2006

The ten-connection limit only applies to netbios (file and printer sharing)
connections.

Roger
Sun Nov 19 04:33:46 CST 2006

W2k3 is superior in terms of securability.


<smokejo@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:1163871281.475361.236980@h54g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Hi
>
> I have a question that's been bugging me a little...
>
> Suppose I have a machine that needs to be on the internet, e.g. SMTP
> Gateway, FTP server etc. The actual box would be a high spec desktop
> machine rather than a dedicated HP server.
>
> What OS would be the best to use? Windows 2003 Server or Windows XP
> Pro? Is Windows 2003 Server actually more secure than Windows XP? Or is
> XP recommended here because it is a desktop machine, although 2003 will
> work fine on it.
>
> Network wise, we are using a Cisco PIX 506E firewall that will assign
> the box a NAT address.
>
> Would be grateful for any advise...
>
> Thanks
> SJ
>

Roger
Sun Nov 19 04:33:09 CST 2006

"Ian" <Ian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:68061974-08B3-4B1E-8818-8AE2B95E1764@microsoft.com...
> The ten-connection limit only applies to netbios (file and printer
> sharing)
> connections.

Well, sort of . . .
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314882/en-us

Karl
Sun Nov 19 10:03:40 CST 2006


"Roger Abell [MVP]" <mvpNoSpam@asu.edu> wrote in message
news:%23JmgfY8CHHA.572@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "Ian" <Ian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:68061974-08B3-4B1E-8818-8AE2B95E1764@microsoft.com...
>> The ten-connection limit only applies to netbios (file and printer
>> sharing)
>> connections.
>
> Well, sort of . . .
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314882/en-us

... and then XP SP2 has a limit of 10 maximum concurrent outbound
connections as well.

smokejo
Sun Nov 19 15:55:27 CST 2006


Thanks everyone...yeah, the connections restriction may cause an issue.
We'll go with Windows Server 2003.