I have, for long and complicated reasons, just acquired a sbs 2003 box. I esentially want to use it as a development box on my existing peer to peer network. The existing network is made up of Windows XP pro boxes sharing an internet connection, files and printers etc. through a workgroup. Sbs seems to want to take over the network, DNS serving etc. (my server has no modem so I want all computers to connect through the one that does - I believe this means that the pc with with the internet connection needs to do the dns stuff) and I think (I'm not even sure how to check this) wants everything to run on a domain. How can I make it bend to my wishes? Thanks in advance,

Short answer is that you cant. SBS is a domain controller, the apps that come with it are server side apps, like Exchange, SQL ISA (if it is a premium version) all require a Domain not workgroup. How many PC's do you have? as with a small amount of config, your network could be run as a domain, I run this at home, with 6 PC's & a Server, the Server has the mail delivered, & acts as a firewall (not as good as a Hardware firewall, but good, all this on one box, as I cant run this like at work, where there is a different server per job (Enterprise). Hope some of this helps PS other places you may wish to look for info on this is the SBS site at Microsoft. Some good info there.

Thanks for that. It is one of those jobs that are a lot more complex than thought on undertaking. All I wanted was a new workstation - too long a story. I am now coming round to having the box as a proper server with domain etc. and am, indeed "engrossed" in the SBS site. Thanks for the confirmation that I am on the right track.

make sure you set all your xp boxes on the domain (with user and pass of course), otherwise aint SHEIT that is gonna work :) Complete Computer Service, Inc. NW Indiana