Hi
We are a small non-profit running a Dell Poweredge T110 (4GB memory, 2.53GHz) with Win Server Standard FE SP2, SBS 2008. We were running a n older serve with SBS 2003 that had been maintained by various people with various ideas about a network. We chose not to migrate but start fresh. We were careful to follow setup, during which we realized we bought a bulldozer to do a shovel’s job. All we need is a spot to share files, add users, add computers (14 currently) and have each worker access their client machine remotely. We use google apps for email.
I’ve researched the problems we’re having and no clear answer has come forth. Here’s what’s happening. We have a linksys router, at 192~.1 DHCP turned off, ports 443, 987, 3389 (we didn’t install Exchange) forwarded to our SBS server at 192~.2. The router is in gateway mode and it’s set for a static IP address.
To get the clients to connect to the new domain we had to add (ourdomain).local to the dns in the TCP/IP properties and they connected no problem. None of the clients were able to get internet access until we added the router address 192~.1 to their list of DNS servers in the TCP/IP properties. There are times when the interenet zooms along, other times pages time out and won’t load. One worker brought in her laptop and it connects just fine.
Also, the clients lose their connection to the shared folder. I’ve also noticed when I log into the server using Remote Desktop, each 30 minute session the connection drops at least once if not twice but only for a few seconds.
I suspect we have DNS issues at hand. Should the client DNS servers in the TCP/IP properties only point to the server at 192~.2? When I do that I can ping the server, and the router, but not the web. What about the server TCP/IP properties? We’ve done nothing to config DHCP other than to turn it on. The DNS properties tab is… difficult to understand. We did try to add OpenDNS server to the Name Servers window using resolver1.opendns.com. I’m also reading an article on linking DNS and DHCP, and somehow, WINS (whew!).
I can’t figure out what we are missing. Some websites go over this but I find the jargon impenetrable.
Also, if someone can throw me some links on setting up staff to access their client desktops remotely that would be incredible. Using Remote Desktop is fine. We’re not worried about security as far as someone intercepting our event flyers. The accounting machine is a stand alone.
Thanks for even reading this.
cheers
-Rudy