Windows Server 2003 Network - ideas needed

[toastyman]

Greetings all!

I'm looking to build a Windows based network for employees in my company. There's currently 5 of us, all of whom need to be able to share documents, backup things etc, in a central location. We have a dual xeon server with Windows Server 2003 ready to go, but i'm not sure how to go about this, because i've never built a network before, so have little knowledge of the capabilities of Server 2003 etc...

A few details:

• The server will be based at the company headquarters
• The server will have a printer attached, which users are able to print to across the Internet
• The server will act as a storage/backup solution for all the company documents
• Users need to be able to access the server and it's facilities from across the Internet
• Some users are using computers which are already connected to other domains, and from what i've researched, a pc can only join one domain at a time...
• Client PCs are all running XP and Vista

If anyone has any ideas on how to structure this network, i'd appreciate it

 

[toastyman]

So you already have a domain and this server will be an "extra" server available on the domain.

Sorry, that was my poor explanation on my part... we don't have a domain, and I don't think we can as some of the client PCs are already connected to other domains (other companies).

Hi - Have a look at my suggestions - hope it helps!

* The server will be based at the company headquarters
OK, thats fine, guess your at that location?
* The server will have a printer attached, which users are able to print to across the Internet
Users will be able to use this printer via a VPN connection.
* The server will act as a storage/backup solution for all the company documents
Yeap, not a problem - this is done via document redirection
* Users need to be able to access the server and it's facilities from across the Internet
This is all done via remote access / VPN
* Some users are using computers which are already connected to other domains, and from what i've researched, a pc can only join one domain at a time...
Yeap - no can do - PC's can only be a member of one domain - if the other domain is under your control, you could set up a trust relationship
* Client PCs are all running XP and Vista
No problem, Win2K3 Loves XP and plays nicely with Vista! ;o)


Hope this helps

TTFN
Rob

Excellent, definetely given me some food for thought! I'm not located at the company HQ where the server will be... my PC will just be another client PC connecting to it.


Right then, where to start!

 

[toastyman]

• The server will act as a storage/backup solution for all the company documents
  Yeap, not a problem - this is done via document redirection

Ok I might as start somewhere, so here we go! I've tidied the server up and removed Active Directory etc..

I've created a folder called 'users' on the D:\ drive, with a seperate folder for each user within it. Any suggestions on what to do next? Is it a simple matter of sharing each individual user's folder and mapping a network drive on the client pc? Is there any way to stop other users accessing each others folders?

Cheers

 

[toastyman]

Woo there!!

Hold on! Are you trying to set up a NEW domain or just a fileserver?

If your wanting a new domain, you'd better put Active Directory (AD) back on! (DCPROMO.exe).
Then create your domain users and their relevant directories - with AD on create a Group Policy for document redirection (ie \\{yourservername}\Users\%username%) this will direct your users "MY Documents" folders to a share on your Server call "Users" and the subdirectory will be their username (ie JoeBloggs)

What exatly are you wanting to achive? You say your not a the main company site? Is there not a IT bod there who's job is to set your companies servers up??

ttfn
Rob

I was experimenting with a domain, but then found out half the client PCs are connected to other domains, so having a domain isn't possible. This is why I produced this thread... to try and get some ideas of workarounds.

Nope i'm not located at the company HQ, but have been tasked to set up the network. I'm a web developer really, so this is all out of my field, but i'm also the most IT competant person in the company, so this is my task!