Windows Server

**Quattro** · 04-15-2006, 12:10 AM

So, I setup a home server with windows server 2003 EE installed on it, but I really don't know what the hell I'm doing. I want it to be a file/print/web/etc server.

I've read, well actually really skimmed the "windows server for dummies" book, but it was no help. I want to know what I have to do to set this damn thing up properly. I've set up some of the server roles but I don't know if it was done right.
I wanna connect a few XP Pro desktop to the server and want the user to have the same desktop no matter what computer he's on.

Anyone have any recommendation on what to do? or any online tutorials to help me out or even a newbie guide? I know M$ site has alot of info on their site, but its boring and I can't read all that ****.

oh another question, do I need 2 newtwork cards or am I good with one? Right now I'm using the onboad connecter. I want all the computers to be able to access the internet and I want to be able to connect to the server when I'm away from home.

well, actually I'm asking to be spoonfed, so who wants to do the feeding?

**Matthew230** · 04-15-2006, 04:44 AM

Can't tell you everything you need to know, but you should look up some information on:

Active Directory and user accounts.

Security and permission settings

You need to know how to make PC's part of a domain.

You need to know about sharing drives.

Unless you want to run ISA Server, then one network card is fine. Recommend you have a modem router, otherwise you have to set up LAN proxy settings

If you want each person to have an account to login, access all their documents etc. You need to look at Roaming Profile, personal drive mapping, and probably group policy folder direction functions.

**DarquePervert** · 04-15-2006, 07:10 AM

With Windows2003 server, there's an option somewhere to Configure your Server or something like that.
You select the role(s) that the server is oging to play and it sets up the networking the way you want.

Requiring two network cards is all dependent on whether you want the server to connect to multiple networks (LAN and internet, for example). Usually, you don't need two network cards.

**xBrady** · 04-15-2006, 12:04 PM

Format C:

**xdjxklusivex** · 04-15-2006, 01:24 PM

wow man ur indian and u dont know how to network what a shame LOL jp!!!

**Tidder** · 04-15-2006, 01:44 PM

You'll also need roaming profiles set up if you want to see the same desktop after logging in on any computer with your user and pass. I have this set up at my office, and so far it works great. It's not that hard to set up server 2003 to be a file/print server. It's really no different than XP, you just have more control over permissions.

But, as far as roaming profiles goes, you will have to have active directory set up, and have all your XP systems joined to the domain.

Good luck! Haha.

**nadir_s** · 04-15-2006, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by xdjxklusivex

wow man ur indian and u dont know how to network what a shame LOL jp!!!

hahahahha

most of my indo friends are business majors and don't know **** about comps ...

but yeah back to topic..

**Quattro** · 04-16-2006, 01:25 AM

thanks for the advice guys, guess I'm gonna play around with thing and see if I can figure it out.

Originally Posted by xdjxklusivex

wow man ur indian and u dont know how to network what a shame LOL jp!!!

I know very little about networking but I can program if u want, we're good at that also.

**sebberry** · 04-16-2006, 02:02 AM

Setting it up: Plug the server into a router like your other computers. For web services, forward port 80 on the router to your Server's IP address. I would recommend setting a static IP address on the server rather than using a router assigned dynamic (DHCP) address

You will need to make it a domain controler. If you haven't done this during installation, you can run dcpromo from the run command in the start menu.

Web server: IIS (Internet information services) Here is where you configure your server to host websites. Not too hard to learn, can be a bit tricky to get it to do exactly what you want tho.

The roaming desktop thing: This can be a nightmare to setup, but yes, roaming profiles is how it is done.

I am not sure about the dummies books, but have a look at this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/073...Fencoding=UTF8 I had one of these for Server 2000 and it was a good little resource.

**Tidder** · 04-16-2006, 03:00 AM

I don't think you need dcpromo if its the only server, you can use the "Add server Roles" from the inital wizard. That would probably be easier. Add a Domain Controller role. Yes? Cause I think if you just dcpromo, AD and all that junk doesn't get installed. Correct? I dunno, I like wizards.

Roaming profiles is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. It's actually pretty simple. It's time consuming, esp if you want all your programs to roam with you, then you essentially have to load all your programs on every pc you want to roam to, in the same location. That's where it's a ***** if you're not starting from a fresh load.