SBS2003 R2 & satellite office

[SOHO-NZ]

Hi All,

I've been trying to find a answer to this on some of the SBS sites, but a lot of the information seems to conflict. If someone has worked on a similar situation, I'd be very happy for your opinion.

The main site (in Wellington) runs an SBS 2003 R2 (Standard) server, and has around 7 XP Pro PC's. A second XP Pro server is running XP Unlimted (converts XP Pro to terminal server, cheaply). Internet connection is ADSL on fastest available plan.

The satellite site in Auckland has 3 PC's. The users up there are fed up with having to start the VPN connection on their PC's to get a connection to the server. When the VPN is up, they can access shared files on the SBS, but it's quite slow. When the VPN is connected, they they have problem connecting to local shared resources.

My thoughts are that they should have a permanent site to site VPN connection (using VPN routers), and a second server in Auckland, perhaps runnning Windows 2003 R2, acting as a BDC (backup domain controller). What would be really nice would be a way for network folders to be synchronised between the 2 servers. I can't find definitive information about whether SBS2003 R2 can do this using DFS (Distributed File System).

If anyone has done something similar, I'd love to hear!

 

[seedubya]

AFAIK, SBS cannot do this. My understanding is that you would have to use 2 Server Standard or Premium machines in the same domain. SBS MUST be the domain controller and, like Highlander, there can be only one ( in an SBS network).

Sorry this is as much info as I can give you off the top of my head

 

[TimeCode]

This might help, it might not...
SBS VPN: http://www.lan-2-wan.com/SBS-VPN-instr.htm

 

[SOHO-NZ]

Thanks Tim, but they are already using the client to server VPN, what I'm looking for is adding a second Windows server, & runing it as a Backup Domain Controller. I know that part is possible, but the file replication between the 2 servers is the real tricky question.

This might help, it might not...
SBS VPN: http://www.lan-2-wan.com/SBS-VPN-instr.htm

 

[TimeCode]

Yeah, upon rereading it, I understand... Sorry. Maybe I should wait until after 9:00 am before posting.

 

[TimeCode]

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Business-Specialist-Primer-Brelsfords/dp/0977094960

On pages 9-1 through 9-11 you will find your answer.

VERY Basic instructions for adding 2nd domain controller for remote office to larger SBS network...

1. Build server at main office site.
2. Join to SBS Domain.
3. Configure Domain Controller server role.
4. Synchronize Active Directory.
5. Move files and folders.
6. Load applications.
7. Ship server to remote office.

 

[frostbyte5014]

Setup a Sonicwall firewall at each location. Use the VPN wizard and you will have a bulletproof rock solid VPN that you will never have to worry with. Sonicguard.com can get you what you need.

 

[SOHO-NZ]

Thanks again Tim, I have this book already. I just re-read the chapter, and it seems as if I missed the important part on page 9-8, halfway down, where it talks about File Replication Services (FRS). It seesm what I want to IS possible, it doesn't say HOW, but I guess I can find that out with some more research and some playing in my test setups.

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Business-Specialist-Primer-Brelsfords/dp/0977094960

On pages 9-1 through 9-11 you will find your answer.

VERY Basic instructions for adding 2nd domain controller for remote office to larger SBS network...

1. Build server at main office site.
2. Join to SBS Domain.
3. Configure Domain Controller server role.
4. Synchronize Active Directory.
5. Move files and folders.
6. Load applications.
7. Ship server to remote office.

 

[SOHO-NZ]

Okay, so I 've had a good play on my internal network today.

Using SBS 2003 (not R2) as the main DC, I then installed a Win 2003 R2 server as a virtual machine (Virtualbox).

Joined the new server to the domain.
Used Administrative Tools / Distributed File System to configure a replicated share on the SBS, then on the Win 2k3. (this wan't entirely trivial..) A few minutes later, all the files were magically on the new server. Nice!

I didn't manage to promote the new server to being a BDC (Backup Domain Controller), as it fails when I try. It seems the AD schema of 2003 R2 is different, so I have to "adprep" the SBS using the second install CD of 2k3 R2. I won't be doing this, as it's just a test, and the customer already has SBS 2k3 R2.

 

[SOHO-NZ]

One final query - what should I use....

a) connect the 2k3 server to the SBS using the Microsoft VPN,
or
b) use VPN routers to establish the VPN.

I'm leaning towards the router VPN solution.

 

[TimeCode]

Sorry, I've never done this so I can't give any wisdom. Hopefully somebody else can.

 

[SOHO-NZ]

Thanks for all your contributions - especially Tim.

I'll be proposing this solution to my customer, and will update this thread on how it goes. - I would quite like a little jaunt up to Auckland!