Server for small local business, which one to get?

[d3v]

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)?

Hi, web surfing does not work, but I can ping the client desktops and still able to share files and active directory, ect.
The client desktops maintain web surfing ability whilst the server looses it frequently. Rebooting the server solves the issue more often than not, but is obviously not a solution and I do need to figure out why it's happening!

What do you mean by this? Doesn't make sense.

I logged in to the crappy Technicolour router firmware page and mad the servers IP address static, along with both client desktops, and also the office printer. Is this the correct thing to do?


Progress made today was installing Sage on one of the Dell workstations and importing all their current company data, then migrating the data folder to the server and pointing the company.txt file to the shared folder on the servers hard disk. All went well until I started getting "server is not running Sage desktop connectivity client" which I solved by updating Sage on the server, but then it caused imcompatibility with the version installed on the client workstation.... really annoying but will straighten it out next time I go on site.

The expensive Draytek Vigor2860n ADSL2+ modem/router arrives Monday and I'm praying it's going to solve these connectivity problems and stabalize the setup so I can focus on setting up the server proper.

 

[Moltuae]

Hi, web surfing does not work, but I can ping the client desktops and still able to share files and active directory, ect.
The client desktops maintain web surfing ability whilst the server looses it frequently. Rebooting the server solves the issue more often than not, but is obviously not a solution and I do need to figure out why it's happening!

But can you ping external (public) IP addresses when this happens? I'm trying to ascertain whether it's a DNS issue or a routing issue.
What are your server and workstation DNS configurations?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I logged in to the crappy Technicolour router firmware page and mad the servers IP address static, along with both client desktops, and also the office printer. Is this the correct thing to do?r.

Shouldn't have to do anything logging into the router that has to do with a servers IP address, except port forwarding section to forward 443 if you want to use the remote web portal. And port 25 if you run a mail server.

The server itself...what are its TCP/IP v4 properties..can you post a screenshot of the servers TCP/IP v4 props?

The server should run DHCP< not the router. Routers DHCP should be off. So dunno why you'd want to tell the router about a reservation for the server.

Did you pull the server out of the suicidal DMZ?

 

[d3v]

But can you ping external (public) IP addresses when this happens? I'm trying to ascertain whether it's a DNS issue or a routing issue.
What are your server and workstation DNS configurations?

argh this is frustrating as I can't test anything whilst away from site. I tried hard to get remote access going so I can manage the server remotely but didn't have a clue. Wish I could just log in to it and check from home!

I did not try pinging an external IP such as google, ect.

The servers IPv4 config is like this... (the Dell workstation is exactly the same except IP is 71. Is this correct?

 

[d3v]

Shouldn't have to do anything logging into the router that has to do with a servers IP address, except port forwarding section to forward 443 if you want to use the remote web portal. And port 25 if you run a mail server.

The server itself...what are its TCP/IP v4 properties..can you post a screenshot of the servers TCP/IP v4 props?

The server should run DHCP< not the router. Routers DHCP should be off. So dunno why you'd want to tell the router about a reservation for the server.

Did you pull the server out of the suicidal DMZ?

Thanks, you have refreshed my mind I had completely forgotten about the DHCP being dictated by the server and having to switch it off on the router. After some digging (i have remote access to their router) i found the setting to switch off DHCP! Only problem is won't it stop them from connecting to the wifi and force me to set them an IP address that will then have to be discarded once they go home so they can connect to other wifi?
p.s yep I have disabled the DMZ zone after what you said earlier!

 

[Mick]

You should be assigning IPs via the server itself, not the router - I'm assuming you're talking about internal IP (LAN) addresses? There's not a lot of point assigning statics to each workstation (except in particular cases) - you should let them obtain automatically from the server. This sounds as if you must have DHCP running on the router, unless I've misunderstood you?

Edit: Sorry - looks like the others have beaten me to it here...

 

[d3v]

You should be assigning IPs via the server itself, not the router - I'm assuming you're talking about internal IP (LAN) addresses? There's not a lot of point assigning statics to each workstation (except in particular cases) - you should let them obtain automatically from the server. This sounds as if you must have DHCP running on the router, unless I've misunderstood you?

Edit: Sorry - looks like the others have beaten me to it here...

Yep this monday I'll be changing the router over to the new Draytek and will disable it's DHCP and let the server do the DHCP instead.
My question is, three of the workers have a laptop that they connect to via wifi, would disabling DHCP on the router prevent them from connecting to the wifi? If so what would be a way to solve this?

 

[Mick]

I assume these ltops are not set up as domain clients? i.e. you have not joined them to the domain? If so, then they may struggle, but could do OK. But, if you join them, then they will deffo pick up from the server and should be OK. But - you must set them as 'automatically obtain'. When the users take their laptops home they will just be able to log-on using a local profile.

Afterthought: These laptops belong to the business? What I mean is, they aren't ones people are bringing in from home? Cos if they are, they will most likely have Windows Home editions as an OS and then you are in extra-deep porridge as regards domain-joining etc.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Server should run DHCP, as mentioned quite a few times above.
Disable the second NIC on the server.

 

[d3v]

I assume these ltops are not set up as domain clients? i.e. you have not joined them to the domain? If so, then they may struggle, but could do OK. But, if you join them, then they will deffo pick up from the server and should be OK. But - you must set them as 'automatically obtain'. When the users take their laptops home they will just be able to log-on using a local profile.

Afterthought: These laptops belong to the business? What I mean is, they aren't ones people are bringing in from home? Cos if they are, they will most likely have Windows Home editions as an OS and then you are in extra-deep porridge as regards domain-joining etc.

Thanks, great info here, just what I needed. Yes one is a Windows 7 Home laptop, the other is Win 7 Pro, and the the other two are Macbook Pro's! Talk about complicated!
It is something that will need to be sorted as they will not tolerate being unable to connect to the wifi!
I will be upgrading the Windows 7 Home laptop to a Samsung SSD and will install Win 7 Pro, so joining that to the domain will be simple, but have u any idea regarding OSX in regards to joining domains?

Server should run DHCP, as mentioned quite a few times above.
Disable the second NIC on the server.

On the Lenovo TS140 there are two NIC, meaning two physical ethernet ports? Do I just go the devmgr and right-click disable? Also what is the reason?

 

[Mick]

They will connect to the wi-fi - but they won't connect to the domain (home versions of windows). Connecting to the domain is important for all sorts of reasons, especially if you will be running a mail server. As far as the Macs are concerned, you can run the connector wizard on them just as you would with a windows PC. Personally, I've had mixed fortunes with it on Macs - but it is supposed to work. If it won't, you will need to do it manually, which, from memory, is a fairly simple process.

 

[d3v]

The Draytek 2860n modem/router arrived and I've set it up connected to the d-link smart switch, setup the ADSL ISP credentials, wifi SSID/password and everything is running great, I'm relieved!

Now I can proceed with the rest of the setup... many thanks to @Moltuae for telling me about this modem/router!

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

On the Lenovo TS140 there are two NIC, meaning two physical ethernet ports? Do I just go the devmgr and right-click disable? Also what is the reason?

I disable the connection in NCPA.CPL if the second NIC is not being used.
Less resources used, less to confuse networking and services, less to go wrong. Keep things lean and mean!

 

[Mick]

The Draytek 2860n modem/router arrived and I've set it up connected to the d-link smart switch, setup the ADSL ISP credentials, wifi SSID/password and everything is running great, I'm relieved!

Now I can proceed with the rest of the setup... many thanks to @Moltuae for telling me about this modem/router!

And...DHCP is definitely switched off on this Draytek? Did you install any AV on this server?

 

[d3v]

Hi YeOldeStonecat there is no second NIC on a TS140!
@Mick, I tried disabling DHCP on the draytek but I lost internet connection to the server, yet both client Dell desktops maintained their internet acess.
I made sure I got the IP/DNS settings correct on the server but still no net access so ended up leaving DHCP enabled on the router and everything is running fine... for now. I will eventually disable DHCP on the router and allow the server to take over DHCP at another point in time.

Priority right now is to make good use of the remote VPN feature of this router,
With regards to the settings, is the Jim + password that I set, combined with the public WAN ip address of the router itself, enough to gain remote access to the Lenovo TS140 server, or do I need to tick/configure any other options here... "specify remote node", maybe?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Oh I see...the screenshot is small, I saw the second network connection...but after I get a magnifying glass out, I see it's "hamachi"
(which I'd uninstall toute-de-suite)

 

[d3v]

Oh I see...the screenshot is small, I saw the second network connection...but after I get a magnifying glass out, I see it's "hamachi"
(which I'd uninstall toute-de-suite)

haha nice one, yes I uninstalled hamchi now that I know this super duper router has built-in VPN! I also agree about slim & fast, not installing anything uneeded... it's the foundation of our business really.

Regarding the server loosing net connectivity when I disable DHCP on the draytek router. I changed the settings in the servers DHCP & DNS management consoles to the new IP's and rebooted yet it did not make any difference, so there must be another setting I'm missing, or should I delete the DHCP and DNS forest and re-create from scratch?

edit: I just cracked it! Had to right-click "manage authorized servers" saw that top entry with a weird IP that I have no idea got there, then just added the correct IP, disabled DHCP on Draytek and net connectivity is fine!
Now going to test if the non-domain laptops can connect to the Draytek WIFI!

 

[d3v]

Draytek SmartVPNClient software does not work on Server2012 operating system, do I need this software or is there a way to setup remote access to thie lenovo ts140 server without it? I've installed and configured routing & remote access within Server 2012, and have set the router up for remote access (see picture above) is there anything else I need to do before I leave site as I want to be able to work on this server setup from home without having to go back and forth so often as it is quite far away from home!

 

[Mick]

You want remote access? Fire up the dashboard on the server itself (NOT the router) and find the link called something like 'Anywhere Access' then let the wizard do its stuff. It will - if you're lucky - make any necessary changes to the router config. See this walk-through for a better explanation: https://bennettbusinessconnections....012-server-essentials-anywhere-access-part-1/ The 'remote web access' option should be good enough for what you want.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

yup...remote portal that is built into Server Essentials. it rocks!