[Server OS Suitability]

Can't someone post a link that confirms any of this?

[Server OS Suitability]

The point of questioning your statement before was simply to clear things up, as it led the reader to believe XP Pro couldn't do anything Active-Directory/ DNS/ SMPT related.

Regarding the dual-proc XP issue:

I would feel more confident in "taking your word for it", if I were sure that what you are describing isn't just a one-off scenario. I'm sure I would have found something regarding this matter in my google searches if others have experienced "XP dual-core under-utilisation", but I haven't. Which as you can tell, leaves me still in doubt. So, please if you can, find another occurence of this issue you are describing, because I can't.

[Server OS Suitability]

Thanks for pointing that out. I guess the "capabilities" descriptor we used (prathapml and I) is a bit vague to discern the difference between XP Pro being able to join a domain, as opposed to being able to host one.

As for Active-Directory, I believe all versions of XP have it.. hell, I thought XP was the first to introduce it, unless 2K did.. but I don't think so. Anyway, based upon the fact that their is oodles of stuff to configure in the GPO regarding Active-Directory, SMPT, and Domains, I thought it would be easily valid to criticize that quote.

[Server OS Suitability]

Hmmm....  For one, dual-processor utilization is better on Server 2000/2003, whereas XP wastes it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can you post where you learnt that from? The only thing I could find slightly similar to this, is that XP Home doesn't support Symmetric Multi-Processing (thus can't utilize multiple processors), whereas XP Pro does.

As for the rest, it boils down to capability factors - MS has deliberately made it such that only the Server OSes can provide Active-Directory, DNS, SMTP, etc...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Unless I'm mistaken, XP Pro has those capability factors..

[Convert to Sp2 from Sp1 or not?]

GPO and Router config.. come on.. we need to give better advice than that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's great advice, if you'd give it a chance. Anyways, I've added my 2c. If you want to hear more about it, then ask.. but otherwise, I'm done with this thread.

[Convert to Sp2 from Sp1 or not?]

Don't know whether I'm agreeing with albator for the reasons he stated, but I do know that SP2 totally convinced a copious amount of existing SP1 users that the upgrade was beneficial. I'm guessing that these users didn't know how to configure their router correctly . If your worried about security, configure your GPO, and your router. You'll have more protection than SP2 can provide.

[How to deploy QoS Packet Scheduler? (unattended)]

It's not automatically installed? I don't know of any way to install it unattended.

[Local Group Policy settings]

Thag or anyone else:

Please post any links or info regarding what files/ folders are edited or created during group policy editing. I would very much like to know all the happenings, as I prefer to work manually - ala thags method - rather than using programs.

Cheers.