Need some help... Setting up a W2000 server for Home Network

[Whitedog]

Hey guys... As bad as this sounds, I don't know how to setup a Windows 2000 server. I had been a PC tech for years. Now I've been a programmer for a few years... But I still don't know the steps involved in setting up a Home Server.

OK, Here's the skinny. I have 4 PC's up and running at home ATM. 3 XP machines and I am in the process of installing W2000 server.

The reason I need to do this is pretty simple. I need my computers to communicate and share resources. With all the hacks out now, Microsoft has patched our XP machines to the point where file sharing just doesn't work any more.

I have a router that serves as my firewall/dhcp server, so I won't need those services...

My BIG QUESTION is: Does anyone know of any Good website tutorials in "Setting up a home network using Windows 2000"?

I've googled myself to death and can't seem to find anything that will work for me...

I want to run AD which means I have to run DNS, which I'm not sure how to do on just a home setup.

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks! 😀

 

[Whitedog]

OK, I took a stab at it and installed DNS and AD. Working "OK" (not good). I setup a user account and can join other computers to it, but it is SLOOOOOOW to login.

It sits at the "Applying computer settings..." msg for like 10 minutes when I log in with the client.

Any idea what services or something I might not have going that could cause this?

I really need a Win2000 server expert here...

 

[Whitedog]

OK, all's resolved. (Edit: Not really.. Still having issues)

I had DHCP running on the server... DOH!:Q It was conflicting with the DHCP on the router. hehe.

Actually, there wasn't really much to setting this up.

Thanks for all the replies!! 😀

 

[Whitedog]

Hmmm... when I disabled DHCP on the server, it stopped getting IP address from the router. Funny thing is the router is saying the Server has an address, but when I run ipconfig, there's nothing there. DNS and Gateway are blank.

This is starting to get annoying.

Arrg!

 

[djdrastic]

Have you de-authorized and uninstalled the DHCP Service ?
What happens on the server if you say ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew

Ps do you have ICQ or AIM ? Id be able to help you interactively with that 🙂

 

[Sideswipe001]

Setting up a server isn't that bad. I'd suggest installing the OS, then applying all service packs/drivers/updates before messing with the rest. After that, this is how I'd suggest running it:

Disable DHCP from your router. Let your server handle it (in a momet). Then give your server a STATIC IP address (192.168.1.1 for example). Do NOT add a DNS server at this time; leave that blank ( This is very important. If you have a DNS server listed, windows can get very confused; sometimes including the need to completely reinstall AD ). The Gateway should be the IP address of your router.

After it's set up with a static IP, run 'dcpromo' from the command line to install AD. It will give you the option to insall DNS when it doesn't find it (you will want to tell setup to install DNS on your server). After AD is installed and the computer has been rebooted, go into DNS and set up forwarders, so that your new DNS server will forward requests to your ISP's DNS servers. Double check your server's IP address settings at this point and make sure the DNS server is now set to point to the server itself - either 127.0.0.1, or whatever the server's static IP is.

Now install DHCP and add all pertinent info to hand out to your other systems. Make sure your ip range doesn't hand out the IP of your server or your router - and make sure it is properly configured to let the other computers know your server is the DNS server, and your router is the gateway.

That should get the internet working on all your computers.

After that, add your users to "Active directory Users and Computers". Make yourself a domain admin (optional, but I always do). Then go to your XP boxes and add them to the domain. At that point you're set. Make your shares on the server, and everyone should be able to get to them and use them no problem. I'd also suggest adding any printers you have to the server, and sharing them out from there. It will allow any of your computers to print from that server now, and the servers will be easy to find by searching the directory.


Sorry if this is a repeat of stuff you already figured out how to do, but I run a setup very similar to what you're setting up, and so I've been around the block getting it to work. I *do* suggest using Windows 2003 server ahead of 2000 - you can get a 6 month free trial as a download from Microsoft.com. It's a bit nicer about setting up AD, and the internet is much easier to get working.