Setting up a new network from scratch - does my plan have any issues?
We are setting up a new network, we have the following:
2 Servers XEON (1 8gb RAM and 1 32 G RAM), both have RAID and 3 x 4Tb drives.
2 NAS Boxes (both have 4 x 3Tb drives and RAID.
2 x 24port Gigabyte switches
Plan to use Windows server 2016 on both
There are 26 workstations that will be connected (all Windows 7 32 bit) due to the nature of the applications they will be running (the applications might work with Windows 10 32bit, but needs more testing to ensure everything would work. Yes they must be 32bit as most of the applications won't work on 64bit machines.
We have 4,000 cds (ISOs that will be stored and accessed by workstations as required, loading them (I expect they will be stored on server or NAS box, into virtual cd drives on workstations and 164 applications to be installed on each workstation (needed to access data from some of the ISOs.
Would like to use WSUS to provide windows updates to network.
Will use an intranet for in-house stuff and general info.
Would like to use one of the NAS boxes for daily backups storage.
Also like to setup VPN for staff to access there specific info from home.
Administration data to be kept separate from workstations application (ISOs).
Backups of all admin data to be placed on NAS Box.
Using AD and Group Policy on Server to manage user/admin logins and locking down workstations from users doing things they should not be doing (e.g. installing software, changing desktop setting, getting to control panel etc etc).
Will be setting up a Domain and DHCP.
Also setup 3 virtual machines for future testing.
So, would the hardware we have cope with all of that and I am looking for a rough guide on what the network should look like?
Any recommendations or suggestions are most welcome.
Have I left anything out?
AIGS.
2 Servers XEON (1 8gb RAM and 1 32 G RAM), both have RAID and 3 x 4Tb drives.
2 NAS Boxes (both have 4 x 3Tb drives and RAID.
2 x 24port Gigabyte switches
Plan to use Windows server 2016 on both
There are 26 workstations that will be connected (all Windows 7 32 bit) due to the nature of the applications they will be running (the applications might work with Windows 10 32bit, but needs more testing to ensure everything would work. Yes they must be 32bit as most of the applications won't work on 64bit machines.
We have 4,000 cds (ISOs that will be stored and accessed by workstations as required, loading them (I expect they will be stored on server or NAS box, into virtual cd drives on workstations and 164 applications to be installed on each workstation (needed to access data from some of the ISOs.
Would like to use WSUS to provide windows updates to network.
Will use an intranet for in-house stuff and general info.
Would like to use one of the NAS boxes for daily backups storage.
Also like to setup VPN for staff to access there specific info from home.
Administration data to be kept separate from workstations application (ISOs).
Backups of all admin data to be placed on NAS Box.
Using AD and Group Policy on Server to manage user/admin logins and locking down workstations from users doing things they should not be doing (e.g. installing software, changing desktop setting, getting to control panel etc etc).
Will be setting up a Domain and DHCP.
Also setup 3 virtual machines for future testing.
So, would the hardware we have cope with all of that and I am looking for a rough guide on what the network should look like?
Any recommendations or suggestions are most welcome.
Have I left anything out?
AIGS.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Steven
Thanks heaps. This gives me a better understanding of what I am trying to do.
Thanks heaps. This gives me a better understanding of what I am trying to do.
ASKER
As far as workstations loading the ISO from server - when one is to be chosen, the local storage drive is checked to see if copy of ISO is there, if it is - then no need to copy from server, if not iso is copied from server to local drive - once iso is on local drive it is loaded to virtual cd from there. This is to avoid getting isos from server time after time when they have been used before.
Both servers have dual NICs. Switches support link aggregation. I believe server 2016 supports link aggregation.
OS on separate disk from storage disks.
Would like to setup load balancing, in case one switch goes down.
Any advantage using one of the NAS Boxes to store isos instead of a drive in server? (I expect drive is server would be faster?)
Each iso is stored in shared folder (so 4,000 shared folders, a lot of shares) using the shares properties - why? - The only way I could detect if an iso is being used by a workstation, as copyright prevents most of them from being used at the same time.
Backing up OS system state or full cold metal for server recovery.
Thanks again
AIGS