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Thread: Looking to set up a network

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    Looking to set up a network

    I'm currently looking to set up a network where I'll have a server and a small number of computers connecting to that server with username/passwords and I would like the users documents to be located on the server too and available on any computer they log onto.

    Is there a guide I can get to help me set this up?

    I've got Windows Server 2008 ready to install.

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    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
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    Re: Looking to set up a network

    For what I think you're describing you'll need Windows Server to run as a domain/active directory controller but the PCs you wish to connect will also need to be a Windows ... Professional operating system, home editions don't support connecting to domains.

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    Re: Looking to set up a network

    Have a look over at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...06(WS.10).aspx edit/ posted wrong link.
    Last edited by chinny; 18-09-2010 at 05:15 PM.

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    Re: Looking to set up a network

    Have you got a plan for your network in place?

    What services do you intend your server to do?
    What server hardware do you have?
    How many PCs are you going to serve - will the hardware you have cope with this?
    Do you need to do email?
    Do you have enough CALs to cover all the machines connecting to your server?

    These are only a couple of questions you should think of before you even start a project like this. I'd sit with some paper and plan out your implementation before you even think of putting that DVD anywhere near a DVD drive!

    Places to look for install documents that I can think off the top of my head are - these are sites for Windows Small Business server, but should have documents for Vanilla Server 2008.

    * Smallbizserver.net - http://bit.ly/cvBnfR
    * SBS Diva - http://bit.ly/a098Gt

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    Re: Looking to set up a network

    Quote Originally Posted by gss03 View Post
    Have you got a plan for your network in place?

    What services do you intend your server to do?
    What server hardware do you have?
    How many PCs are you going to serve - will the hardware you have cope with this?
    Do you need to do email?
    Do you have enough CALs to cover all the machines connecting to your server?

    These are only a couple of questions you should think of before you even start a project like this. I'd sit with some paper and plan out your implementation before you even think of putting that DVD anywhere near a DVD drive!

    Places to look for install documents that I can think off the top of my head are - these are sites for Windows Small Business server, but should have documents for Vanilla Server 2008.

    * Smallbizserver.net - http://bit.ly/cvBnfR
    * SBS Diva - http://bit.ly/a098Gt
    Thanks for your advice. I shall take it on board before diving into anything

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    Re: Looking to set up a network

    Quote Originally Posted by macfanuk View Post
    I'm currently looking to set up a network where I'll have a server and a small number of computers connecting to that server with username/passwords and I would like the users documents to be located on the server too and available on any computer they log onto.

    Is there a guide I can get to help me set this up?

    I've got Windows Server 2008 ready to install.
    You might want to consider an alternative before diving into setting up a Windows server environment with Active Directory, Roaming Profiles and all the capability (and complexity) that goes with it.

    If you are relatively inexperienced with networking, and just need a simple setup, a decent Network Attached Storage (NAS) device might do most of what you need, at low cost and with much less setup work.

    There's no doubt the dedicated server route has more headroom, if you have the time, budget and the knowledge to support it, but for straightforward centralised file storage a NAS is a simple solution to set up, and the more advanced NAS boxes can do more than just share files if that's what you need.

    Regards: colin_e

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