I am helping a friend set up his home office and he needs access to his business office. He has to buy a system for his business office to work as server. Currently uses "Go to my PC" but he is looking for more of a file sharing than remote desktop (as users will be working on the "server" system and can't have their desktop taken over) Right now has 4 users with various hardware and software configurations) Win XP, Vista. He is willing to buy a small server for the business office, and willing to upgrade the remote users to Win 7 if need be. (I am not that familiar with Win 7)Trying to figure out weather to buy the server w/ raid and Server software 2003 or 2008 or set new system up with XP, or Vista or Win 7, use a VPN or remote access through pptp. All he is looking to do is share a drive for the remote users but it must be encrypted as it is a legal firm. He obviously is trying to do this as inexpensive as possible without sacrificing speed and security. I am talking him into the RAID. Did I mention he is computer illiterate so must be as simple as possible. Any suggestions would be great. Dave

I don't see why RAID is needed for a VPN or Remote Desktop. First you said that he's willing to buy server software & upgrade, then you said he wants inexpensive. Those two don't go together. How do you know when a politician is lying? His mouth is moving.

job requirements; firewall/router with vpn client support. This allows for a vpn client to be installed and used on the remote desktops for secure communication with your server. You don't need server to share a drive. Get a NAS unit. Mirrored gig drives should do you or go larger. Cheaper than server OS and its hardware. Office workstation should have a dvd dl burner so you can backup the data on the NAS unit.