Office: Pros and Cons of Run From Server Installations

   Microsoft Office 4.x   Microsoft Office 7.0      Microsoft Office 97
   --------------------   -----------------------   -----------------------
   Typical                Typical                   Typical
   Complete/Custom        Custom                    Custom
   Laptop (Minimum)       Compact                   Run From Network Server
   Workstation            Run From Network Server
				

MORE INFORMATION

Advantages

When you perform a Workstation or a Run From Network Server installation, you can take advantage of the following benefits:

• You can minimize the amount of hard disk space that is used on each computer. When you or other users perform this type of installation, the amount of disk space that Office requires is less than the amount that it requires when you perform a Typical, Custom/Complete, or a Compact/Laptop installation from the Office disks or compact discs. This is important if there is limited free hard disk space on your computer.
  
  
• You can run Microsoft Office on a diskless workstation. If you or other users have diskless workstations, you can still run Microsoft Office if you perform a Workstation or Run From Network Server installation of Office.

Disadvantages

When you perform a Workstation or a Run From Network Server installation, you should be aware of the following disadvantages:

• When you perform an administrative installation of Microsoft Office, more hard disk space is used on the server. The amount of disk space on the server that is required ranges from 100 MB to 325 MB (or more, depending on the version of Microsoft Office). If your network server is used by other programs or is used to store data files, the server may not have enough free disk space.
  
  
• When you perform a Workstation or a Run From Network Server installation, program performance may be slowed by high volumes of network traffic or by heavy use of the network server. In addition, if the server is not operating (for example, for maintenance or repairs), you and other users cannot use the Microsoft Office programs.
  
  
• When you perform a Workstation or a Run From Network Server installation, you must be connected to the network server in to run any of the Office programs.
  
  For example, if you have a laptop computer you should not perform a Workstation or a Run From Network Server installation of Office if you plan to use the computer outside of the office.
  
  NOTE: Although it may be possible to connect to your network by modem and remote network access, Microsoft recommends that you do NOT use this method to run Office. The amount of time that is required to download all of the files to run a single program is significant (10 to 20 minutes or more).

Note that the last two disadvantages (slower performance and a network connection) are not problematic if you perform Typical, Custom/Complete, or Compact/Laptop installations of Office from the network server. In each of these types of installations, all files that are required are copied to the local hard disk. A connection to the network server is required only if additional files must be installed, or if you want to properly remove Office from the computer by running the Microsoft Office Setup program.