Server for small local business, which one to get?

Also I'm trying to get remote desktop working so that I can manage the server remotely instead of having to travel back and forth to the site!

I was under the impression all that is required is the servers "fully qualified server name" and it's local Admin account username & password, however attempting to connect from my Windows laptop with these credentials alone is bringing up "server not found" type error. I suspect these credentials alone are not enough and some sort of permanent DNS registration is required? If so can you point me in the right direction as I really need remote Admin access to this server ASAP!
 
Would you recommend Hamachi?

About the router loosing it's wifi once connected in to the switch. Will buying a better router solve this or is the problem elsewhere? Here's some photos of the office...

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Just had a look at both products. About £160 in total.
I'd rather a single object serve both purposes! And ideally be under £100.
Would a decent Asus ADSL2+ router fix this issue with the wifi dropping as soon as it's plugged in to the D-Link switch box?

There's no point me buying a new router tomorrow only for the problem to remain!
 
d3v said:
Just had a look at both products. About £160 in total.
I'd rather a single object serve both purposes! And ideally be under £100.
Would a decent Asus ADSL2+ router fix this issue with the wifi dropping as soon as it's plugged in to the D-Link switch box?

There's no point me buying a new router tomorrow only for the problem to remain!
Click to expand...
Business grade hardware cost more than residential all in one box crap. You need to pick some hardware as your go to. Something you know inside and out and have confidence in recommending. The Ubiquiti products have very high reviews and many of us use them. I would not trust a $10 device to provide service to any of my business clients. You would need 3 devices as you would need a modem as well.
 
aww shite I was about to go in to town and buy a £80 Asus router from PCWorld, now not so sure.

The current router is still playing up even after it being stable last night. this morning i'm getting desperate phone calls from them asking why the wifi is gone!

So I need a modem, router and a wifi device? I know you recommended the latter two, can you also link to a suitable ADSL2+ modem when you've got a minute.

Thanks guys.

edit: I've decided to make do with the crappy router that we already have and going to buy the proper kit that was recommended here by @Slaters Kustom but want to be sure exactly which pieces of equipment to order!
So you recommend buying and using a modem that is separate to the router, then a wireless transmitter along side? So that's three pieces of kit in total? You've listed the edgerouter lite with uap AC lit as the router and wifi transmitter, so if you could finally recommend me a modem to go alongside these then I can get all three ordered ASAP!

Of course I'm open to any other suggestions on which bits of kit is the best way to setup this office network, ideally I would prefer the modem/router/wifi to be in a single box, or two at most, but I'm will go with three bits of kit if that is the best way to do things!
 
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Also to clarify the problem with the current router. When I link to router in to the d-link smart switch via a patch cable, the server and all client PC's work fine via the ethernet cables routed around the office however the wifi signal while it still transmits and able to see the SSID and connect & input the password from laptops and cellphones, does not connect to the internet "local only" status in the Windows network control panel.

I'm not sure if it is because the server has taken command of DHCP/DNS therefore any devices that try to connect via wifi have to have an IP and DNS address set manually, or what?

Would ideally like to solve this problems before today's end as it is stopping them from working whilst I setup the network!
I'm furiously googling but not finding anything useful!
 
d3v said:
aww shite I was about to go in to town and buy a £80 Asus router from PCWorld, now not so sure.

The current router is still playing up even after it being stable last night. this morning i'm getting desperate phone calls from them asking why the wifi is gone!

So I need a modem, router and a wifi device? I know you recommended the latter two, can you also link to a suitable ADSL2+ modem when you've got a minute.
Click to expand...
For a small business like that, I'd put a Draytek router in (probably a Vigor2860n) and configure the VPN (SSL) server features for remote network access.
 
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Moltuae said:
For a small business like that, I'd put a Draytek router in (probably a Vigor2860n) and configure the VPN (SSL) server features for remote network access.
Click to expand...

You are my saviour as that certainly looks like exactly what I need, it is an ADSL modem, router and wifi all in one! It's expensive, but if it does the job required then so be it!

Question is, would replacing the crappy Technicolour router that we currently have with this Vigor 2860n solve the issue with the wifi not working properly when patch cabled in to the d-link switch box?
 
d3v said:
You are my saviour as that certainly looks like exactly what I need, it is an ADSL modem, router and wifi all in one! It's expensive, but if it does the job required then so be it!

Question is, would replacing the crappy Technicolour router that we currently have with this Vigor 2860n solve the issue with the wifi not working properly when patch cabled in to the d-link switch box?
Click to expand...
Can't be certain if it would solve that particular problem, without further info/diagnosis, but the Draytek unit is certainly a lot more solid than what you have, so well worth replacing that router anyway. To be honest, a Draytek is the absolute minimum grade of router I would install for business use, and I would usually recommend separate WAPs (eg Unifi). But I have used the integral WiFi on Draytek units too and they usually perform pretty well. The VPN functionality is good too; for small businesses like that, it works very well for simple remote network administration or remote 'teleworker' use.

Just to add, the 2860n also supports VDSL (ie BT fibre), 'cable' broadband, and you can also plug a mobile broadband USB modem/'dongle' into it for use as a failover connection.
 
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I don't know why the wireless isn't working....have never worked with a unit that.."cheap". By default the "wireless" component of a wireless router should just be a bridge on the LAN side. Shouldn't matter what is running DHCP and DNS....as it's all "bridged". Now...for some wireless routers to run a "guest/client isolation mode"...yes many of them need to do the DHCP/DNS. But not for the default wireless SSID that is inclusive (non guest mode).

But as a rule of thumb...for "business networks"..try to stay away from the cheapo residential stuff. For businesses we usually do a dedicated router and a dedicated switch and dedicated access points....gives you greater flexibility, less single point of failure, better performance, etc. I understand there are often "super small" business networks (a server and 2 or 3 workstations)...and a budget, where really a single all in one model will suffice. In those cases, still shoot for a decent semi biz grade unit.
 
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+1 for Draytek in this situation. If the wi-fi on that also plays up, you have at least narrowed down the possible causes. Just out of interest: Since you've got all the clients connected by ethernet, why are the workers trying to use wi-fi? Smartphones etc?
 
Hi, just the two new Dell Vostro desktop PC's are using ethernet, the other workers are using their laptops via wifi. I'm trying to get the server/client setup running so they can migrate over from their laptops!
 
OK - understood. Would still be better if they connected by cable, assuming their laptops have a port. But it will be hard to convince them of that.
 
Hi all, I've been on site most of the day and the crappy router has been rather stable for the duration of the day. It's been connected to the switch and the wifi has been fine all day, but we are going to receive the draytech modem/router on Monday to replace it with.

I'm having a problem now where the server itself is loosing internet access yet both client PC's retain internet access perfectly! Rebooting the server solves this 90% of the time, but I'd obviously like some clues as to what could possibly be causing the server to loose net access every 30 mins or so.

Both the server and both workstations have a static IP set on the routers firmware.
 
When you say "losing internet access", do you mean DNS or routing/connectivity-wise? Can you ping external IP addresses (eg 8.8.8.8)?
 
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