Lion as a server for a Windows network

[InfoTime]

In my business I provide IT support for residential and very small business customers. I don't handle any clients who are big enough to require a real Windows server like Windows Server 2003 or 2008.

However, I have installed a couple of Windows Home Server appliances for customers - mainly for backup purposes. I love the backup feature of Windows Home Server. It's the closest thing I've found to Time Machine on Windows. The problem is that Windows Home Server looks like a dead-end. HP (who had the best boxes) is getting out of the business. The new version of WHS doesn't look that great.

So, I recalled that Server will be included in Lion. A few questions:
- is there or will there be a limit on the number of client PCs that can connect
- can anyone recommend a free or near-free backup program for Windows that will work as well as WHS's? (automatic daily backups that are both file and image backups, and work with most recent flavors of Windows XP Home, Vista Home Premium or 7 Home Premium)
- anything else I should consider?

 

[logandzwon]

In my business I provide IT support for residential and very small business customers. I don't handle any clients who are big enough to require a real Windows server like Windows Server 2003 or 2008.

However, I have installed a couple of Windows Home Server appliances for customers - mainly for backup purposes. I love the backup feature of Windows Home Server. It's the closest thing I've found to Time Machine on Windows. The problem is that Windows Home Server looks like a dead-end. HP (who had the best boxes) is getting out of the business. The new version of WHS doesn't look that great.

So, I recalled that Server will be included in Lion. A few questions:
- is there or will there be a limit on the number of client PCs that can connect
- can anyone recommend a free or near-free backup program for Windows that will work as well as WHS's? (automatic daily backups that are both file and image backups, and work with most recent flavors of Windows XP Home, Vista Home Premium or 7 Home Premium)
- anything else I should consider?

As your question is really a question about windows desktop software I think you are probably asking the wrong group here...

Anyway, Your windows clients will the apple server as windows NT4 CIFS/smb server. Windows home will not to domain log-ons, which is fine because widows 7 will not auth against a samba server anyway, (which is the core of apple server's auth system for windows clients.) I'd suggest either just getting the machines your trying to back up external USB harddrives, (which will include backup software, if you shop correctly,) or getting your group of computers on MS SBS. There really isn't any product that would work well, yet be cost effective that is between those two options.

Hard drivers would be $50-$100 each
MS SBS for a very small group would be $800ish +$100 for a USB external HD to do your backups, (of the server.)