Is there any recommendation so far as what OS to load the kaspersky admin console onto ?

Im going to be using a dedicated virtual machine.

Are there any technical benefits or downsides to using XP sp3 vs a 2003 r2 standard server ?

Ignoring windows cost. Just checking from a technical standpoint.

Hi Digian,

more important question is where to install administrationkit server service Console can be run from any os (xp/2003/vista/2008).
I suggest you to install Administrationkit Server on Win2003R2 (runs really smooth ) and Console onto same System or Windows XP.

It's also dependent from your hardware. I will not suggest you to install adminkit onto W2k8 with Intel P4 2,5GHZ I love using W2K3R2 & XP, really fast.

Just my 2 cents

Regards,
dawinci

Sorry I did mean the admin server service, not the console application.

So there are no issues running the admin service under XP ?

How many clients are planned to be managed with that administration kit?

If you're planning to administer <10 clients, XP will be ok for Admin server services.

For security purposes XP can only manage 10 simultan (netbios sessions: file-/printersharing) client connections. If you need more connections, it's possible to patch tcpip.sys - read this article and/or try google ;-)

Am planning on around 150 clients in total.

120 remote XP desktop clients via a WAN, which will connect at random times.
30 to 40 servers locally on the LAN.

If I use the Windows XP TCPIP patch, will XP be sufficient ?

Now from a cost perspective, XP does have some advantages, XP uses less virtual machine resources and costs less compared to 2003 server.

So if the patch is sufficient I might give XP a shot.

Well... if using XP for managing about 150 clients with that 'patch', it's probably not supported wether by KL nor by microsoft.
IMHO you shouldn't be mean with spending money on network infrastructe.

Cheers

Network Agents connect to the AdminKit (ports 14000/13000), they use their own “transport” and do not depend on (netbios sessions: file-/printersharing) mentioned in Phrenic’s letter.

This particular limitation may cause problems when administrator tries to deploy Network Agent through RPC over Named Pipes (= admin$ Windows Share) and the client already has 10 simultaneously opened file sharing connections: remote installation to this particular client fails.

Otherwise, you can use XP or 2003 at your whim.

If you'd have that many support cases where Administration Kit with more than about 15 to 20 clients on Windows XP w/ SP >1, you wouldn't suggest XP as a base for AK.

Unfortunately he is right!