Multiple Networks

Toms88 · 11 Jul 2012 at 20:28

Im looking to create a second completely isolated network at home. Id like to setup a virtual office environment with a few pc's some VM machines and Windows 2008 Server. The reason for this is i want to get better aquainted with Active Directory, Domain Controllers and DNS etc. I'd rather create a completely virtual and isolated environment so i dont ruin anything on my main network and starting dragging my PC into AD.

Just want to check that using a switch and then plugging two routers into that would work? Then i can keep them apart, but have the possibility to bridge connections later if i change the subnet?

Toms88 · 11 Jul 2012 at 21:15

I still want it connected to the internet and running AD. I wont be able to configure all of this while its running on my PC without my PC being part of that network. Of this i am sure.

Well i am assuming that it will split the internet connection and send it to two separate routers. Then each network is behind its own firewall and not wired into the other network.

Toms88 · 12 Jul 2012 at 18:43

Im the same dude, ive drawn it all out on a notepad!

I think il try and come up with a visual of what im doing otherwise il confuse myself as well!

Toms88 · 12 Jul 2012 at 22:43

OK so this is how its running at the moment. Excuse the crude MSPaint diagram

Blue lines represent the VM side of things, black are physical connections (laptop wireless)

And this is what im proposing to do. The VM PC will run a somewhere around 15-20 VMs so i can experiment with AD properly. If needed i can always add another physical machine to the D-Link network for a variety of reasons.

This way anything i do on the D-Link network with DHCP, DNS etc wont touch my main Virgin Superhub network. I could be going completely arse about face in this but this is how i imagine it could work.

Toms88 · 12 Jul 2012 at 23:20

Well actually since that setup i now have my router setup with DHCP.

Turned off the DHCP Server on Server 2008 and statically assigned IP's to the VM Clients. So Server is running the DNS. Cant provide the server with a default gateway because the IP of the server is in a different subnet from my router to keep them apart, so no internet but i can still utilize it for my needs.

Im sure as you say Orcvader, it is possible but its beyond my abilities at the moment.

Toms88 · 12 Jul 2012 at 23:32

I know, its what i was trying to do but for the sake of learning the basics in GP and OU's in AD then i dont really need to set that up yet.

I haven't got the knowledge to figure that out for myself, and id rather spend the time getting familiar with the systems im using on a daily basis than spending hours on google trying to figure this out! Unless someone is willing to take me through it, but i think there are way too many ifs and buts to setting it up on someone elses network it would be a right pain to do over forums.

It is annoying though *frown*

Toms88 · 12 Jul 2012 at 23:35

ecksmen said:
With your servers being behind a firewall how do you see managing each of the servers over the network, port forwarding would be a chore?

Personally, I'd put a second nic in my desktop and bridge the networks and have the desktop / management machine in both networks but default route via superhub. This way you have full IP connectivity to each machine on the server subnet, they all have internet access for windows updates / publishing etc... and you can double nat as you need to.

I get the logic and principles of what your saying, i just don't posses the skills to carry it out unfortunately. Last friday was the first time ive ever logged onto a Windows Server OS, and what ive learnt since then is from google, a copy of Microsoft Active Directory R2 and trial and error. Pleased that i have a DC and AD setup and a few VM's connected to my domain now.