Domain setup

[Guest susan_brady@comporium.net]

Hi All - more questions about Domains vs. Workgroups

 

My husband plans to purchase a server-based database application for

his business. He currently has 6 users, each with XP Pro. They are

set up as a "Workgroup" and aren't sharing any resources except

printers. His router handles DNS & DHCP.

 

In addition to sharing the database application on-site, he also wants

his users to be able to acess this database application remotely,

which means, I presume, some kind of VPN solution and maybe Terminal

Services.

 

He has already purchased a server with Windows 2003 Server Standard -

being shipped as I write. It has 4GB of RAM and a RAID5 disk array.

 

I appreciate the centralized management available with Active

Directory and think that moving his network from a Workgroup to a

Domain environment would be a good thing. I feel pretty comfortable

working with Active Directory security as far as Security Groups and

file permissions.

 

I know that we might need multiple servers in the future, but d'you

think it would be OK to use a single server for a Domain Controller as

well as his file/application server, at least for starters?

 

And what about Terminal Services - Think it'b be OK for starters to

run that on this same machine as well?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice/opinions/input!

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Domain setup

 

susan_brady@comporium.net wrote:

> Hi All - more questions about Domains vs. Workgroups

>

> My husband plans to purchase a server-based database application for

> his business. He currently has 6 users, each with XP Pro. They are

> set up as a "Workgroup" and aren't sharing any resources except

> printers. His router handles DNS & DHCP.

 

That needs to change if he's moving to AD....

>

> In addition to sharing the database application on-site, he also wants

> his users to be able to acess this database application remotely,

> which means, I presume, some kind of VPN solution and maybe Terminal

> Services.

 

See below....

>

> He has already purchased a server with Windows 2003 Server Standard -

> being shipped as I write. It has 4GB of RAM and a RAID5 disk array.

>

> I appreciate the centralized management available with Active

> Directory and think that moving his network from a Workgroup to a

> Domain environment would be a good thing. I feel pretty comfortable

> working with Active Directory security as far as Security Groups and

> file permissions.

>

> I know that we might need multiple servers in the future, but d'you

> think it would be OK to use a single server for a Domain Controller as

> well as his file/application server, at least for starters?

 

I think that's just fine if the database software mfr. doesn't have issues

with it, but if it's not too late you ought to see whether you can switch to

SBS 2003. It would make the transition and admin a *lot* easier, and

includes Exchange - and other stuff such as Remote Web Workplace.

>

> And what about Terminal Services - Think it'b be OK for starters to

> run that on this same machine as well?

 

No - definitely not. Never use your domain controller as a terminal server -

don't let users log into it at the console or via RD; it's a huge security &

reliability risk. If you get SBS2003, you can use Remote Web Workplace, as

mentioned, for easy access to the XP Pro desktops via Remote Desktop (aka

"poor man's terminal server")

 

SBS is really a great fit for a small office without a full-time skilled

admin, honestly.

>

> Thanks in advance for any advice/opinions/input!

 

HTH.