ipendlebury
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Two SBS servers on same network?
My client has an SBS 2003 network, but also has link to the company next door who have an NT4 network. My client accesses a shared folder on that server. It was easy to establish the link. The NT4 server has an IP address of 192.168.0.100 the clients in there have fixed IP addresses. So I assigned the SBS box with an internal IP address of 192.168.0.2 and allowed the DHCP server to assigned addresses in that segment. Everything is working fine.
However, the next door people are shorlty upgrading to an SBS Box. I wondering about problems now. Is it possible to have two SBS domains on the same network segment? I can imagine problems with DHCP also. We could spilt things so that each server allocates addresses within a certain range, but how can you dicatate which server a client requests and address from.
Are there any other problems I am unaware of?
However, the next door people are shorlty upgrading to an SBS Box. I wondering about problems now. Is it possible to have two SBS domains on the same network segment? I can imagine problems with DHCP also. We could spilt things so that each server allocates addresses within a certain range, but how can you dicatate which server a client requests and address from.
Are there any other problems I am unaware of?
ASKER
One immediate problem here is that 'my' clients all use laptops which they take home and to other comapnies. It's going to get messy if I tell them that they are going to have to use Static IP addresses in the office. Static DNS frightens me also. It will all have to be undone when they switch on elsewhere.
Another problem is that I won't have access to administer the other server. It will be adminstered by a third party company of which I have no knowledge. No doubt they will add users etc. I'm unsure of how much cooperation I will get beyond that.
But in theory, it is possible then to have two SBS servers on the same network subject to the suggestions you made above? I remember in the days of SBS 4.5 I think, that an SBS PDC would not tolerate any other PDC on the network.
Another problem is that I won't have access to administer the other server. It will be adminstered by a third party company of which I have no knowledge. No doubt they will add users etc. I'm unsure of how much cooperation I will get beyond that.
But in theory, it is possible then to have two SBS servers on the same network subject to the suggestions you made above? I remember in the days of SBS 4.5 I think, that an SBS PDC would not tolerate any other PDC on the network.
If it is simply the one user you should be able to add him/her to the other companies AD and then configure your side accordingly.
Another idea, is to add a USB NIC to the laptop that plugs into the other companies network that way only the one user is tied to both networks.
Another idea, is to add a USB NIC to the laptop that plugs into the other companies network that way only the one user is tied to both networks.
ASKER
There are three users who access the other network. But I think you have given me the solution...
Currently the two networks are hard wired together. The laptop users users are all using wireless to connect via a wireless basestation to the entire network.
I could make it so that the wire coming in from the other company just goes to a 4 port switch without being connected to the main network. The 3 laptops concerned could contunue connecting to their 'main' network via wireless and use the laptop RJ45 port to connect to the 4 port switch from the other network.
This sounds like an excellent solution as it means there is no direct connection between the two networks. What do you think?
Currently the two networks are hard wired together. The laptop users users are all using wireless to connect via a wireless basestation to the entire network.
I could make it so that the wire coming in from the other company just goes to a 4 port switch without being connected to the main network. The 3 laptops concerned could contunue connecting to their 'main' network via wireless and use the laptop RJ45 port to connect to the 4 port switch from the other network.
This sounds like an excellent solution as it means there is no direct connection between the two networks. What do you think?
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ASKER
I don't have a router currently. Just a cheap switch. But if it solved the problem I would get one. Wouldn't it be the case that if I added a second router as you suggest, that the clients will still be able to see both servers and still be subject to the original problems?
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ASKER
I thought about a second NIC, but all the pci slots are full in my server. I remember now a problem I had on another network. The DHCP service did not start because it detected another DHCP server. It's critical the the laptop clients are configured to get IP and DNS automatically for when they are operated off-site.
All this routing terminology is new ground for me. I'm going to draw a line here and thank you both for your input. I need to find what level of cooperation I am going to get from the new server administrator before I decide my next step.
All this routing terminology is new ground for me. I'm going to draw a line here and thank you both for your input. I need to find what level of cooperation I am going to get from the new server administrator before I decide my next step.
1. Choose one of the SBS servers or a router to assisgn IP addresses. Hard Code the DNS Settings to point to their respective Domain Controllers (SBS)
or in a small network just hard code the IP settings.
2. Add the users that need access to both SBS Active Directory.