Need Advice On Rolling Out A W2K Server on Point-to-Point Network
We have a point-to-point network from our central location to 5 remote locations. Each location has it's own set of network addresses. We have about 80 total clients spread fairly evenly across the 6 locations. We are planning to roll out a Windows 2000 Server with Exchange Server on it. We want to allow each user the ability to have access to a common drive area as well as have a personal drive area on the server. We have no existing file servers of any kind at this time and the only other server we have is a Linux email server - so there is no existing PDC.
Here is what I need to know.
1) How do I setup the PDC to work across my existing LAN/WAN? The PCs at all remote locations can ping into the central location with no problems and the central location can ping out to the remote PCs with no problems. Do I have to run DHCP? Right now all IPs are static and I would prefer to stay static. I know I'll have to setup Active Directory (or at least think I should). Can the remote PCs login to the central PDC by using the IP address only?
2) If you think I need to know something that I have not mentioned here - please let me know!!!
I have setup a PDC on a LAN before, so I know the basics of doing that and I am not looking for specific advice on how to accomplish that. What I am looking for here is the BEST way to set this up across a WAN. I am just in the planning stage now and looking for "gotchas" before they happen.
One last thing (and I don't think this will matter) - I have full T1 connections to each of my remote locations - so there is plenty of bandwidth.
Thank you in advance for any help or advice.
dmcoop
Here is what I need to know.
1) How do I setup the PDC to work across my existing LAN/WAN? The PCs at all remote locations can ping into the central location with no problems and the central location can ping out to the remote PCs with no problems. Do I have to run DHCP? Right now all IPs are static and I would prefer to stay static. I know I'll have to setup Active Directory (or at least think I should). Can the remote PCs login to the central PDC by using the IP address only?
2) If you think I need to know something that I have not mentioned here - please let me know!!!
I have setup a PDC on a LAN before, so I know the basics of doing that and I am not looking for specific advice on how to accomplish that. What I am looking for here is the BEST way to set this up across a WAN. I am just in the planning stage now and looking for "gotchas" before they happen.
One last thing (and I don't think this will matter) - I have full T1 connections to each of my remote locations - so there is plenty of bandwidth.
Thank you in advance for any help or advice.
dmcoop
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ASKER
One more thing I need to add.
We want everyone to have access to a common folder on the server (PDC) and everyone to have a "personal" folder on the server (PDC). I plan on mapping these drives as P: for the personal and S: for the shared/common drive.
We want everyone to have access to a common folder on the server (PDC) and everyone to have a "personal" folder on the server (PDC). I plan on mapping these drives as P: for the personal and S: for the shared/common drive.
That is a tiny environmect but you should look into getting a consultant for build AD/Exchange. It is easy to setup but equally easy to screw up.
Here is a good Whitepaper. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/exchange2000/deploy/depovg/sixsteps.asp
PS you Should use DHCP.
Here is a good Whitepaper. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/exchange2000/deploy/depovg/sixsteps.asp
PS you Should use DHCP.
ASKER
matthew jones -
I get 5ms average ping times from the branches back to the main and the same going out from the main. The ping times from branch to branch are 10ms average.
dmcoop
I get 5ms average ping times from the branches back to the main and the same going out from the main. The ping times from branch to branch are 10ms average.
dmcoop
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ASKER
Answers to questions:
1) Is there going to be a server at each location (BDC)? No.
2) What type of response times do you get with the pings? I'll check this and get back to you.
3) Will the Exchange Server be accessible for OWA (Outlook Web Access)? Good question. At this time no, but we hope to do it one day. It's not a priority.
4) Is the Exchange Server going to run on the PDC? Yes.
I plan on doing a test domain first - thank you for confirming that idea. I have installed AD before and DNS, but not Exchange. It has also been awhile since I setup AD.
Thank you,
dmcoop