Windows Server 2003

[wobbles]

i just built a machine and loaded WinServer2003, i have all my machines on the router set up. but how do you add A computer to the server if there not on your local network (basicly over the internet.) i have 2 stores i want to add to the network. but there working off a VPN router too. so how do i set it up so i dont screw up the routers

[panboy]

It would probably be best to add the two new stores Computers to your existing VPN , along as you allow the Ports for the VPN tunneling protocol on your router/firewall you should be able to do this

[Rob Pomeroy]

You say a "VPN router".  Is this at the server end or the remote end?  Are you using the Routing and Remote Access features of Server 03 or a hardware-based solution?

O/T: Haven't seen you around for a while, panboy!

[wobbles]

The stores are using VPN routers  (one is on Cable and the other DSL if that makes a difference) and there running Windows XP Pro, they are on the remote side. I have the win2003 on my site.. also does anyone know if there is any FREE Anti-Virus software that runs on Win2003? i use AVG for my computers but Too Expensive for the Server machine.

thanks
Wobbles

[Rob Pomeroy]

Is this for a business?  Don't economise - you'll only come to regret it.  You could try Spyware Terminator + ClamWin but I think it would degrade the server's performance too much.

You should be fine to connect those VPN routers to your server.  Use IPSec if possible.

[wobbles]

i am IT for both the stores,  i figured it would be easy to tap into the store to do Backups on there machines insted of building another 2 machine's.  but how do i connect them that is what i am trying to find out. all the research i am doing is not helping me out. can you give step by step?? wouldn't i have to go thru there router to get to their machines. i know if i look for the ip i wouldn't get it not over the internet.

[Rob Pomeroy]

Once the VPN connection is established, two-way communication is possible.  But as for backup - how much data are we talking?  You need to size that aspect first.  Your total speed over the VPN will be throttled by the broadband (?) connections on the upstream side.  Maybe 700Kbps if you're lucky?  If you achieved 700Kbps, the maximum theoretical data transfer upstream would be about 7GB, and that's hammering the connection 24 hours.

To get back to your question - how to do this - what backup software are you intending to use?

[wobbles]

i use the software that came with Win2003, and just talking about documents.. not big files at all.

[Rob Pomeroy]

Are you going to "drag and drop" them across the network, or use an automated backup program such as Windows Backup or Cobian Backup?

[wobbles]

I was gonna use the backup system that is in Windows Server 2003, but that backs up the whole computer, i will probably "Drag and Drop" or i could use Nero Backup. i never used Windows backup. i DONT want to backup the entire computer. i never heard of Cobian Backup. But still how do i make the connection to the VPN router.? sorry i don't know how to do that.   

[Rob Pomeroy]

It's complicated!

>Read<
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>This too<

[wobbles]

OK thanks, but buy setting this up and having a tunnel to both stores, will this set off a conflict where they wouldn't be able to connect to there web sites that they have to connect to, to do there work. that is what i am concerned with. if i have to config the VPN routers on there end i really don't want to do that. it sounds like building another server and placing it in the store may be easy-er. i really don't want to do that either as i don't have the money for it. at least right now. i will try to do what you gave me and see if it works. i hope i don't screw up anything.     

[Rob Pomeroy]

A VPN connection doesn't lock the client machines to the private network.  They can access the VPN as well as the internet, usually.