Setting Up My First Network From Scratch (2008 R2)

[timez]

Hello,

 

Ok, so I have never set up a network before - never even seen any server os before - and yet - I am designing and deploying a network at my house (that will actually do a hell of a lot when its finished) Which means I have to learn all this stuff from scratch!

 

However - after playing around on it for about a week - plus google (dont you just love google haha) I am starting to get an ok grasp on it now.

 

But no doubt I am going to need to help as this progresses - plus I thought it would be helpful to others who are in the same situation as me (i.e. want a network thats controlled by a server or servers but never even seen a server operating system before) as no doubt they will run into simular problems as I did/will and then at least alot of this info is in one place :)

 

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Ok so onto the first question...

 

 

At the moment I only have a router (its a very configurable one though including port forwarding and triggering vpn passthrough etc)

 

and what i want to do is this...

 

 

 

 

Have a main server running Active Directory Domain Services - plus maybe a few other lightweight or 24/7 critical roles

 

(this server is up and running atm with AD DS + DNS + AD Recycle Bin) - its server 2008 R2.

 

it has only one network card though which is connected to the router

 

the router is connected to the internet

 

 

 

Then...

 

 

 

Have another server (2008 R2) connected to the router - that can also act normally on the lan (act as a server on the domain etc) but also have it connect to the internet through the first main server but not connected to the internet through the router - basiclly i want it to be on the lan only but still have net access through the server.

 

 

Then....

 

 

Have a client (windows 7) - same deal - connected to the router - not inet like that - only inet through the 1st server.

 

is this possible?

 

also would that be the fastest option and/or most secure? or would it be better to just let all computers connect to the internet through the router - but they also MUST be able to act normally on the lan be able to comunicate with eachother plus the servers and vice versa- remembering the server only has 1 network card...?

 

 

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And dont worry people who are still setting up the network and didnt see anything helpful here - This post was already long enough - plus theres so much to put even for the first stages of it all that it would have really cluttered it - I will be making a new thread evenetually (sooner than you think!) that says it all :) my advice would to be keep checking this thread too though - because im still really early in this network - and will be asking Q's that you might need to ask too one day.

 

with all the writing its the end of the post - finally :)

 

I look forward to your resposes - and thank you in advance.

 

Timez

[CircularSaw]

Hi,

 

Unless you have a specific reason to have all internet traffic going through your main server (I can;t think of one right now) then I would recommend that all servers and clients use your router as their default gateway just like your main server does.

 

Set the default gateway as your router and all machines should get internet access. This will be as secure as your physical network is so as long as no-one can get onto a wireless connection or physically plug a cable into your network then you'll be fine.