New server

Hi All

I hope this is the right place to post this and look forward to your answers.

Okay here we go.

I currently have a server running Windows Server 2003 ( that is about 7 years old ). The server runs the emails, office, sage and a (custom program that is supported externally).

I have 20 computers ( ranging from Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 ) that are setup to remote login.

First problem is that I have nothing to do with setting this up in the first place but now have to manage it.

I am now having a problem in that it now takes 20 minutes plus for one person to logon to the custom program.

Can you explain to me why it has been setup as remote login and not as logon to the machine and then pull the info from the server ?

I've been told that we need a new server virtualisation ? I have also been told several other things, like to keep the old server to run the emails and have the new server run the custom software.

So here is the question is..


Can I run a server with Windows 2008 / 2012 and the old one with 2003 side-by-side ? And what is the best way to do this ?

Do the 20 computers need to be remote login ? or can i have them a login ?

It was also suggested to me that we run the old server as a backup server would this be possible?

Sorry for all the questions but there are so many things I need answering and so many people giving me different advice???

Thank you so much for your help

W Bowser

 

You can have a WIn2003 and Win2008 server in the same domain. Not sure about 2003/2012. I'm also presuming you are NOT talking about the SBS of Windows. There is a program to run that preps the Active Directory database, but no big deal. You didn't mention what you are using for e-mail. It seems to me that you have this one server pretty busy. Adding a server and moving some of the services makes sense. It also makes sense to start virtualizing. There's a new player in town on that front called Scale computing. Their product looks very cost effective.

Regarding the remote desktop, you'll need to take that up with the vendor that supports it. There's not enough information here to me to give any advice.