Topic: Application Server - How good is SME?

[Scott McKeen]

In our business we run primarily a single application, but it runs from the server....  The .exe file, all data files are stored on the server.  How well does SME work for such a system? Others I know use a linux Samba server, and are very happy with it.  I assume you'd need faster drives, processor, memory for such an application compared to just a file server...  Ours is a windows XP network, with 10 workstations... Wondering if SME can handle it...
thank,scott

[Boris]

I assume you'd need faster drives, processor, memory for such an application compared to just a file server...

Wrong assumption. If your .exe file executed on the WindowsXP computer and just stored on the server SME IS just a file server. Fast drives? Sure, never hurt to have faster drives on the file server. More Memory? Will not hurt either. It will improve caching and server response.
Fast CPU? Not really. Modern chipset with fast IO to the hard drives and Network is good to have, but CPU itself after the certain level will not add anything.
Celeron 2 Ghz or similar is cheap and good enough for the job. Spend rest of the money on RAM, Backup devices or Hard Drives.  
10 workstations is not a lot. You may pefectly fit your server with IDE drives instead of SCSI if your budget require it. 256-512 Mb of RAM should be plenty for it as well.