Setting up a Home Domain (Win 2k3)

Mooga · 11-30-2008, 07:58 AM

First off, before I get bitched at:
1) All the computers are old computers and hand-me-downs.
2) As a student, I get a free Windows 2k3 EE license.

I plan on turning an older box into a windows 2k3 box and configure a domain to better manage the family computer (and my own). Any recommendations would be appreciated since this will be my first time setting up a domain.

SERVER HARDWARE
3.0GHz P4 (Hyperthread)
512MB RAM
40GB Internal HDD
(2 larger external HDDs)

CLIENTS
Windows XP Pro SP3
Windows XP Pro SP2
Windows XP Pro x64 SP2

I think there might also be a box with Windows XP Home and Windows Vista Home Premium... but I don't think those has domain support, right?

I also might want to add some VMs to the domain. Some of the VMs might have Kubuntu.

I'm looking for discussion and recommendation, NOT a walk through. I want to figure it out myself

Mulchman MM · 11-30-2008, 04:06 PM

for something on this small of a scale i would say it isn't worth it.

at most i would turn the 2k3 box into a firewall/dhcp box (you would need 2 nics). but realistically, i would use ubuntu for the firewall/dhcp box.

Innoc · 11-30-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooga

First off, before I get bitched at:
1) All the computers are old computers and hand-me-downs.
2) As a student, I get a free Windows 2k3 EE license.

I plan on turning an older box into a windows 2k3 box and configure a domain to better manage the family computer (and my own). Any recommendations would be appreciated since this will be my first time setting up a domain.

SERVER HARDWARE
3.0GHz P4 (Hyperthread)
512MB RAM
40GB Internal HDD
(2 larger external HDDs)

CLIENTS
Windows XP Pro SP3
Windows XP Pro SP2
Windows XP Pro x64 SP2

I think there might also be a box with Windows XP Home and Windows Vista Home Premium... but I don't think those has domain support, right?

I also might want to add some VMs to the domain. Some of the VMs might have Kubuntu.

I'm looking for discussion and recommendation, NOT a walk through. I want to figure it out myself

Neither XP Home nor Vista Home has the ability to join or log on to Active Directory. Unless you're doing this as an exercise or something I would not join the family computers to a domain. Easier to run something Linux and run Samba on that server for file sharing. Run DHCP on the Linux server if you must. As far as firewalling goes I use a modified Smoothwall Express server for that. It's purpose built and works well out of the box....plus it's free.

**mervaka** · 11-30-2008, 10:57 PM

i hereby nominate this thread for the facepalm of the year award.

Mooga · 12-01-2008, 03:41 AM

The scale is over 10 computers. It's mostly for the EXP.
Most computers are running pro.

Innoc · 12-01-2008, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooga

The scale is over 10 computers. It's mostly for the EXP.
Most computers are running pro.

Really building a Domain isn't that hard. Once you get 2K3 built and patched with SP1 (if it's not already slipstreamed in) and all other patches you can then use the Configure Your Server, Admin Tools or DCPROMO to kick off the process. If you haven't read through the process or done it before you should chase up a reference so that you have a handle on what's supposed to happen.

Mooga · 12-01-2008, 08:02 AM

The one thing I'm worried about, is that the main family computer often has multiple users loged in at the same time. Can this be done while on a domain? I'm going to test it before rolling it out over the network

Innoc · 12-01-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooga

The one thing I'm worried about, is that the main family computer often has multiple users loged in at the same time. Can this be done while on a domain? I'm going to test it before rolling it out over the network

IIRC there is no Fast User Switching while logged into a Domain.

Mad_Clog · 12-01-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innoc

IIRC there is no Fast User Switching while logged into a Domain.

You're quite correct sir.

SkullBash · 12-01-2008, 11:48 PM

Since you get a free license I say go for it. You can always leave the domain and go back onto a work group. File shares that are setup on the domain can be accessed via xp home by sending domain credentials anyway. Or you can just open them up to anonymous. So you are only missing the group policy part and security. You don't have to be a member of the domain to access the Internet or use internal dns from your domain controller.

Mooga · 12-02-2008, 12:18 AM

the no fast user switch will be a problem...

11-30-2008, 07:58 AM	#1
Mooga Colorless FTW D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A Small Box Affiliations: SRCDS.com Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	Setting up a Home Domain (Win 2k3) First off, before I get bitched at: 1) All the computers are old computers and hand-me-downs. 2) As a student, I get a free Windows 2k3 EE license. I plan on turning an older box into a windows 2k3 box and configure a domain to better manage the family computer (and my own). Any recommendations would be appreciated since this will be my first time setting up a domain. SERVER HARDWARE 3.0GHz P4 (Hyperthread) 512MB RAM 40GB Internal HDD (2 larger external HDDs) CLIENTS Windows XP Pro SP3 Windows XP Pro SP2 Windows XP Pro x64 SP2 I think there might also be a box with Windows XP Home and Windows Vista Home Premium... but I don't think those has domain support, right? I also might want to add some VMs to the domain. Some of the VMs might have Kubuntu. I'm looking for discussion and recommendation, NOT a walk through. I want to figure it out myself __________________ ~ Mooga ...w00t? SRCDS.com \| Twitter

11-30-2008, 04:06 PM	#2
Mulchman MM Retired FF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lacey, WA Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	for something on this small of a scale i would say it isn't worth it. at most i would turn the 2k3 box into a firewall/dhcp box (you would need 2 nics). but realistically, i would use ubuntu for the firewall/dhcp box. __________________ Head of the Orca Revolution (TM)

12-01-2008, 03:41 AM	#5
Mooga Colorless FTW D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A Small Box Affiliations: SRCDS.com Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	The scale is over 10 computers. It's mostly for the EXP. Most computers are running pro. __________________ ~ Mooga ...w00t? SRCDS.com \| Twitter

12-01-2008, 08:02 AM	#7
Mooga Colorless FTW D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A Small Box Affiliations: SRCDS.com Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	The one thing I'm worried about, is that the main family computer often has multiple users loged in at the same time. Can this be done while on a domain? I'm going to test it before rolling it out over the network __________________ ~ Mooga ...w00t? SRCDS.com \| Twitter

12-02-2008, 12:18 AM	#11
Mooga Colorless FTW D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A Small Box Affiliations: SRCDS.com Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	the no fast user switch will be a problem... __________________ ~ Mooga ...w00t? SRCDS.com \| Twitter

11-30-2008, 10:57 PM	#4
mervaka A Very Sound Guy! Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: May 2005 Location: UK Posts Rated Helpful 15 Times	i hereby nominate this thread for the facepalm of the year award.

12-01-2008, 11:48 PM	#10
SkullBash 333 (only half evil) Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Since you get a free license I say go for it. You can always leave the domain and go back onto a work group. File shares that are setup on the domain can be accessed via xp home by sending domain credentials anyway. Or you can just open them up to anonymous. So you are only missing the group policy part and security. You don't have to be a member of the domain to access the Internet or use internal dns from your domain controller.

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