Hello to all & I have a genuine question

[devonps]

First I'd like to say hi to all members!

Second my question....

I'm currently thinking of setting up a home network that will consist of the following items:

1. A Fileserver
2. A Webserver
3. A database server
4. A desktop pc (will work as a client to the servers)
5. A printer, attached to the desktop pc.

I'm probably going to plump for MS Windows on these servers, the exact operating system is up for grabs. I currently use VISTA (64bit) on the desktopm which currently performs the roles of the above servers, but have decided that the risk of data loss is too great to confine to a single pc.

What I'd like to do is have the FS, WB & DS connected in such a way that they are not visible to the outside world, i.e. a private network. But I want my main PC (desktop) to be able to access the Internet and this private network.

Secondly I have a requirement that my laptop & the kids laptop can also connect to the Internet, but not see the private network.

I should add that I'm currently spec'iing up the various servers and my initial thoughts are that the File Server would be configured to support RAID (mirrored). Whereas for the database & web servers I would perform incremental backups of data/software etc.

How would I achieve this network, for example would Windows Home Server be the key?

Any help is appreciated.

[gss03]

Are you after 3 servers ?
Or 1 server to perform all tasks?


Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 R2 does all this :-)

[directhex]

windows server operating systems are expensive, and their desktop operating systems are not servers (e.g. limit on simultaneous file sharing connections)

why on earth do you want 3 separate pieces of server hardware, though?

[devonps]

Are you after 3 servers ?
Or 1 server to perform all tasks?


Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 R2 does all this :-)

My original thoughts was 3 different servers - or physical boxes as I thought of them. The reason was so that I could pick up some actual knowledge about networking and administration of servers.

[devonps]

windows server operating systems are expensive, and their desktop operating systems are not servers (e.g. limit on simultaneous file sharing connections)

why on earth do you want 3 separate pieces of server hardware, though?

I appreciate that server operating systems can be exepensive, and I'm looking towards windows as I know nothing about Linux or Unix.

I take your point about their o/s not being servers.

I want 3 seperate pieces of hardware so that I can start to understand, in depth, about networking and administration. Also there is the factor that my current setup does not allow me for any form of backup strategy.

[gss03]

If you are going to go down the route of 3 physical servers, each for a specific job you are going to have to fork out a shed load of cash, plus the cost of the hardware.

At least if you go for 3 physical servers you won't need your central heating system anymore!

[devonps]

If you are going to go down the route of 3 physical servers, each for a specific job you are going to have to fork out a shed load of cash, plus the cost of the hardware.

At least if you go for 3 physical servers you won't need your central heating system anymore!

Thanks, this is what I'm trying to understand and why I decided to post here.

Someone, on another forum, suggested I could go with "3 seperate base units and windows xp pro" as a start-up solution and see how things go from there.

[gss03]

Personally, I'd go with 1 Server and learn how Active Directory and stuff work before moving onto SQL Server stuff as thats a whole different ballgame.

And with 1 physical server you could then virtualise the others if you needed a 2nd box.

Windows XP Pro for all it is won't give you anything in depth about how a server environment works. Its just a client operating system.

You need a server with Active Directory to play with and learn from.

[devonps]

Ok, Thanks for the pointers - I appreciate it.

Your 1st message mentioned Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 R2, would you still recommend that - if I followed your advice?

[gss03]

SBS rocks...

Designed for 5 ->75 PCs and it all runs off the 1 box.

Includes:
Active Directory
Exchange
Sharepoint services 2 (upgradable to WSS 3.0)
Other stuff that I can't think of off the top of my head....but for the money its got all the toys you want to learn in one cheap(ish) package.

If you get the premium version you also get

SQL Server Worgroup Edition
ISA 2004 (maybe 2006, I can't remember)

Its good for getting your bearings with 1 server for the SMB market.

[nichomach]

Can I make a suggestion? You want to run Windows Server, SQL Server, IIS etc but seemingly in an evaluation/study role, not in a commercial production environment. I think a TechNet Plus Direct subscription would give you what you need - see Subscriptions Comparison - for £234 for a new subscription.

[devonps]

Can I make a suggestion? You want to run Windows Server, SQL Server, IIS etc but seemingly in an evaluation/study role, not in a commercial production environment. I think a TechNet Plus Direct subscription would give you what you need - see Subscriptions Comparison - for £234 for a new subscription.

You are correct in that this setup will not be in a commercial environment, it will be run at home for my purposes only.

[gss03]

I forgot about Technet there .

Whoops.
That would probably be your best source of software to go that route :-)

[devonps]

Thanks to all that replied in this thread. I'll do my research and take it from there.