Hello all,
I am a new to the site adn I have a few questions about setting up a network at my house for a new business.
Here is the situation:
I will have a windows 2003 small business server with 2 500GB hard drives. I will be having data coming into the server through the internet. I want to build a network through a Patch panel>Switch>router>modem. I will have a business DSL line coming into the house through the garage. I will be running Cat5 cable through out the room(in the garage) to have 5 to 7 wall connections.

There will be the business server, a printer, laptop an one other desktop on the network. I will be having data coming into the house through the DSL line into the business server and at times it could be 10 to 15 differnet clients simultaneously.

I guess my question/s would be: To set up the network it goes DSL line into the modem>to router>to switch>then to Patch panel and then from the switch the various hookups throughout the room??

Thanks for your help!!

Terry

the scheme you described is quite right - dsl line>modem>router>switch>pcs.

I just wonder what kind of data will you be receiving? maybe an SBS server isn't right for you...

It is going to be customer files, the OS files etc. The files will compressed to about 90% of it original size, enscripted and then sent through the internet into my server.
The server is a Dell... Small Business one with 4GB of Ram 3.1 GHz and 2 500GB hard drives.

What would you suggest on the server and of it??

Thanks for your help!!!

Regards,
Terry

so the delivery will be by what? email/ftp/http/vpn/rdp? what is the size of the files?

thing is, I've had too many SBS servers, and I really do NOT like that product. 2003std costs the same, but isn't crippled like SBS, so SBS is needed only if you really need exchange, sql, sharepoint and all the other crippled goodies SBS offers. if it's a simple file server, running standard services like ftp, activedir and suchlike, I say take the 2003std version instead of SBS.

even more so - take linux. doesn't cost anything, and all the services are installable.

OK I see... No I will not (at this time) have exchange or SQL, etc. So I will just stick with the standard Windows server 2003. Yes I would like to do Linux but I don't know much about the software. I have some Unix knowledge but I don't think I have enough to be able to maintain the Linux system.

Thanks for your help!!

Regards,

Terry

well, linux these days is very easy to set up. get a simple server distro, like cent-os, yum install ftp (vsftpd/proftpd/wu-ftp) and you've got an ftp server.
instead of exchange I really love zimbra

I've installed lots of SBS systems for clients. SBS 2003 is a great product - it includes Exchange, SharePoint, a firewall, backup-restore wizards, and a sweet Remote Web Workplace - none of which are included with Server 2003. But it takes some experience to set it up right. At least get a book such as Windows Small Business Server 2003 Best Practices. We typically set it up with two NICs, one for inside and one for outside with a static IP address from the ISP. If you do that you don't need a router or firewall. Net > Dsl Modem > SBS outside NIC > SBS Firewall > SBS Inside NIC > Siwtch > PCs. Also see the Yahooo group named SBS2K. If you're in the Baltimore area, lemme know -Ray

Thanks Ray for you information, it is greatly appricated. See right now I am in the process of setting up this new business and want to have a smart and cost effective network set up. For right now it will be just me starting and running the business. I would like to however have some sort of remote access to the server for when I am not in the office. As far as exchange I don't think i need it right now (may in the future). I was looking at registering a domain name and using the E-Mail boxes provided by the DSL provider (Verizon).

Thanks,

Terry

you can set up your own email server, if you're getting a domain and a static IP. also, I don;t think any ISP provides you with an email box as large as gmail's

Thanks everyone for all your help on this topic.

I have one more question and it is about installing Widows server 2003? Is it a hard install to do?? I mean I have installe XP Pro, XPHome etc. Thanks.