Server 2008 Setup Advise

[uniquegeek]

I am about to configure a new server (Server 2008 R2). Network has about 20-25 PCs and 3 Printers.

Server Spec is...
Xeon E5606 2.13 GHz Quad Core
8MB Cache Per Processor
16GB Ram
Raid 0,1,10
2 x Gigabit Ethernet Interface
2 x Hot Swap HDD

On this server I'd like to run AD, DNS, FILE SERVICES with shared folders on external drive and provide internet conenction to client machines on the network through this server. Also some kind of backup role.

1) Is this spec good enough to run these roles on the same server?
2) Shall I use HyperV or VM for each role on the same server?
2) Do I need to configure NAT to provide internet connection through this server or just need to enable internet sharing on the ethernet interface?]

ANYONE???

[jfish]

I am about to configure a new server (Server 2008 R2). Network has about 20-25 PCs and 3 Printers.

Server Spec is...
Xeon E5606 2.13 GHz Quad Core
8MB Cache Per Processor
16GB Ram
Raid 0,1,10
2 x Gigabit Ethernet Interface
2 x Hot Swap HDD

On this server I'd like to run AD, DNS, FILE SERVICES with shared folders on external drive and provide internet conenction to client machines on the network through this server. Also some kind of backup role.

1) Is this spec good enough to run these roles on the same server?
2) Shall I use HyperV or VM for each role on the same server?
2) Do I need to configure NAT to provide internet connection through this server or just need to enable internet sharing on the ethernet interface?]

ANYONE???

point 2 - will you install windows 2008r2 directly on the server or will you install vmware then virtual servers running windows 2008 r2 then each role in a virtual machine.

[deity46]

1) yes
2) why u need virtualization while you can turn on all the roles in the OS?
2) both the same. internet connection sharing is just a user friendly method

[Easty]

1) Is this spec good enough to run these roles on the same server?

In a nutshell yes, are you planning on running exchange at any point?

2) Shall I use HyperV or VM for each role on the same server?

No VM needed, just run the roles from inside the OS

2) Do I need to configure NAT to provide internet connection through this server or just need to enable internet sharing on the ethernet interface?

I set all of our servers on a single nic setup like this;

Turn DHCP Off on the router

Router - WAN Static IP - For e.g. (81.223.222.222) binded to the router provided by provider (BT, TalkTalk, etc)

Router Internal IP - for e.g. 192.168.2.254

Server Internal IP - for e.g. 192.168.2.1

Let the server run DNS for fowarders from your current broadband provider.

Have the server doing DHCP

4) USB drive to store the shared data

Use the servers internal drives to share the data, USB drives plugged into the server is not advised.

Use the external drive as a backup, and use Cobian to do this totally free.

You should be able to install and setup the above in a few hours.

The workstations will then get the internet via DNS on the server