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How do I Connect 2 offices using server 2012 at each location
I have one main office running server 2012 R2 as domain controller, file server, and print server. The DC is behind a firewall and has only one NIC. I have another branch office with the same setup however I would like the 2 servers to be able to replicate with each other and a shared drive at main office be available to users at branch office. I don't have a VPN appliances at either office just standard small business routers without VPN. Is it possible to and how can I use the built in RAS on the server2012 at each location to connect the 2 servers?
Please advise.
Please advise.
Windows Server 2012Remote AccessVPNWindows Networking
Last Comment
jbasiliere67
For security, performance, and overall efficiency - you'll want a VPN router as Wayne88 indicated above.
You have virtualized these, right? If not you realize you threw away a perfectly good Windows license? You also realize you could be doing DR between the two sites ENSURING that if one server dies, you have a copy of it on the other... but ONLY if you've virtualized it.
Now if you're running virtualized, you might need to add a second NIC if your servers are incredibly cheap and only have one NIC then you'll need to add a second NIC, but then you can create a VM running Untangle at each site and setup a Site-to-Site VPN link between the two. My office is connected to my home using a site-to-site VPN link run by two copies of the free version of Untangle.
You can also use other products but I've never had luck establishing connections via Windows RAS - Untangle has been far easier to setup.
Now if you're running virtualized, you might need to add a second NIC if your servers are incredibly cheap and only have one NIC then you'll need to add a second NIC, but then you can create a VM running Untangle at each site and setup a Site-to-Site VPN link between the two. My office is connected to my home using a site-to-site VPN link run by two copies of the free version of Untangle.
You can also use other products but I've never had luck establishing connections via Windows RAS - Untangle has been far easier to setup.
use a VPN router for site to site connection
Aside from the site to site VPN, I might throw in a WAN optimization solution to cut down on the bandwidth usage. Thats adds more money to the project but really improves performance if the sites are far apart.
ASKER
What about using LogMeIn Hamachi or Pertino to accomplish this task? Anyone have experience with this?
Never used or heard of Pertino, I client installed Hamachi and broke several things (I don't know and don't use it since LogMeIn is insanely expensive and Untangle is free.
ASKER
Any info on Untangle?
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Untangle uses a somewhat customized version of OpenVPN in the free version. Works fantastically well in my opinion.
ASKER
I looked into untangle and like it for being feature rich with the paid version - plus they have non-profit pricing which will work for me. I will reopen this as I get into the install if I need help.
I advise that it will be worthwhile to invest in a VPN router and have the router do the VPN instead of the Windows server. A VPN router normally does a better job of VPN/Envryption than a Windows server would and I find easier to manage.
If you still want to use Server 2012, have a look here