I am a power-user but definately not an IT professional trying to install Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS)2003 on a Dell PowerEdge 840 Server. We have about 13 PCs running Windows XP Pro on a peer-to-peer Network. Internet is through a dsl modem and a Belkin N1 Router which currently handles Assigning IP address3es. All the PC’s connect through a 24 port D-Link Switch.
1. I’ve read from several online forums and in the SBS manual that says the SBS server must be setup as the primary DNS controller( I didn’t do this and Dell people tell me the only way to switch this reliably is to reinstall). Does this mean that the existing router can be a secondary controller and hand out some IP adresses or does SBS have to handle it all? If so how can this be setup? I wanted to make the changeover a few clients at a time to make sure all the bugs were worked out but is this possible?
2. SBS 2003 allows 1 or 2 Nic card setup ( one for WAN one for LAN). After installing it with one Nic card I read online that two are best or DNS problems will sometimes occur? What is best practice ( pros and cons) and why?
3. I’ve heard that although VPN can be done through SBS 2003 it is a big security risk and that this is best handled by another appliance. What are your thoughts? What would a separate appliance that could do VPN look like? Will my existing Belkin router handle VPN traffic?