Minimum computer specifications for home network practice

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Ozguy, Nov 25, 2008.

  1. Ozguy

    Ozguy New Member

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    Hey guys,

    Just joined this site after following it for a couple of weeks. It's been very helpful.

    I'm at the very start of studying for MCP and am wanting to build a small home network to learn as I go. I've seen plenty of cheap PC's on Ebay and wanted to get some advice over the minimum specs I would need to operate a network using Windows Server 2003 / CCNA / Cisco / MCSE / MCDST. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!

    I was thinking a 2GB processor and 1/2GB Ram could be a good starting place. Would less do the trick?

    Thanks.
     
  2. Big_nath

    Big_nath Kilobyte Poster

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    That spec should be fine to run XP or server 2003. What MCP are you doing?
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCSA, MCSA:M, MCSE, MCTS
    WIP: A few
  3. grim

    grim Gigabyte Poster

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    you could run a network on a pc/server using server 2003 minimum spec

    if you're planning on creating a network you'll need more than one machine

    GRim
     
    Certifications: Bsc, 70-270, 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294, 70-298, 70-299, 70-620, 70-649, 70-680
    WIP: 70-646, 70-640
  4. Ozguy

    Ozguy New Member

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    Thanks for your responses.

    I'm planning on starting with the MCDST then moving on to MCSA/MCSE and CCNA courses, all using Windows Server 2003.

    What's a good number of pc's to start with? 2 or 3? Also, I've read others on this forum talking about VMWare and Virtual Networks. I have been given VMWare 6 though not sure if that means I can make a virtual network all on the one pc or I need another pc as well. Thoughts?
     
  5. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    it'll work as virtual network but you'll probably need to up your ram.

    MY pc has a virtual network on it. I am running server 2003 with 3 copies of xp pro. works like a treat.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  6. MLP

    MLP Kilobyte Poster

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    Hi

    If your going to be using virtual machines, I'd consider upping the RAM, as each virtual machine will get a chunk of that. If you want to go down the virtual machine route, Virtual PC from microsoft is free, and apparently pretty good.

    I'm running a Mac with 2GB RAM, and a 2Ghz processor, with VMware, and I can comfortably run two instances of Server 2003 as DC's, and an XP client. I've been told by a collegues that uses a similar spec Mac, running Vista, can handle the same setup with Virtual PC.

    Hope this helps


    Maria
     
    Certifications: HND Computing
  7. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    yep I am running vpc on mine but am going to go to vmware at some point so I can compare it to vpc.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?

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