Decomissioning a sole Domain Controller (small business server) and turning it in to just a file server.
I have a small client who was running a Small Business Server domain controller in his home office. It was also running Exchange (but he is not using the mailbox he had setup in there)
We have decided that there is no point in having DHCP, DNS and Active directory services running in a home, when a simple home router is more than enough to handle those roles on such a small scale. On top of this, the server is 7 years old (It is a very old machine (Pentium - 4) so it is at the end of its life.
The only thing we want at this point is to retain the file shares on the server, and then to map them directly on the client's laptop.
What is best practices for doing this, and are there any good articles and resources that I can look at to guide me?
I understand that running DCPROMO will remove the AD services, however I was hoping for some more advice on this.
Thanks for your help!
We have decided that there is no point in having DHCP, DNS and Active directory services running in a home, when a simple home router is more than enough to handle those roles on such a small scale. On top of this, the server is 7 years old (It is a very old machine (Pentium - 4) so it is at the end of its life.
The only thing we want at this point is to retain the file shares on the server, and then to map them directly on the client's laptop.
What is best practices for doing this, and are there any good articles and resources that I can look at to guide me?
I understand that running DCPROMO will remove the AD services, however I was hoping for some more advice on this.
Thanks for your help!
ASKER
Hi sushil - if this is the only domain controller on the network, would you suggest that simply rebuilding the server is the best option?
I ask this because at the end of the article, that is what is suggested to do anyway
The client machine is a brand new build, so there will be very little impact to it if the domain is gone
Regards,
I ask this because at the end of the article, that is what is suggested to do anyway
The client machine is a brand new build, so there will be very little impact to it if the domain is gone
Regards,
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In addition to RobWill's comment. I suggest retiring the server and replacing it with a NAS. The best solution if the only thing you want to do is share files on a network. You will also gain real estate when you swap the server out for a NAS, the room's noise pollution should drop, your electrical bill should go greener, and file access will likely be faster. I would move the DHCP services to the router.
ASKER
thank you RobWill for your indepth and clear response, it is exactly what I needed to know in this situation.
jekautz - your suggestion of a NAS is definitely something I agree with. I was discussing with the client the option of a NAS today.
An alternative to that would be that even a simple Drop Box account can do a better job of hosting his files - with the added benefit of being accessible from anywhere. After 7 years, he only has amassed 700MB worth of files that he needs, which is well under the 2GB limit for a free account.
Anyway, both your responses have helped me be much better prepared to offer solutions/options to the client. Thanks again!
jekautz - your suggestion of a NAS is definitely something I agree with. I was discussing with the client the option of a NAS today.
An alternative to that would be that even a simple Drop Box account can do a better job of hosting his files - with the added benefit of being accessible from anywhere. After 7 years, he only has amassed 700MB worth of files that he needs, which is well under the 2GB limit for a free account.
Anyway, both your responses have helped me be much better prepared to offer solutions/options to the client. Thanks again!
(http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee523227(v=ws.10).aspx)