Boot between different network configurations?

[murrayw]

Hi,

Here is a bit of background and what I want to achieve:

I am going to have a DR suite shared by two companies using a switch that will have 2 virtual LANs - 1 for each company.

I dont want to buy 2 sets of PCs to put on the desks.

I would like to be able to boot between the different network configurations -

e.g. 1. each company will have a different domain name
2. each company will be on a different IP subnet
etc

i know i will need 2 nics at the very least how do i achieve the rest - what software is there? if any

thanks

 

[jrbarnett]

On the assumption that you won't be using the two suites simultaneously (otherwise you would need two sets of PC's)

Rather than 2 NICs, I'd do the following:
One network with switch and one server image per client, configured with their domain, TCP/IP (via DHCP), DNS settings etc.
You then apply the image to the server as appropriate and update it as needed.
Add extra images for more servers - web, database, DCs, application, mail etc plus a RIS image (or ghost) of workstation PC's.

If you need to run multiple servers on one hardware box, consider something like VMWare ESX and different images within it.

John

 

[murrayw]

hi,

there is only 1 DR suite and it will only be occupied by 1 company at a time.

ok the ris idea is ok but what i ideally want is to walk into the DR suite boot the PC get an option to go to config 1 (network1) or config 2 (network2).

i used to have software that would allow me to dual boot between 2 different OS i just need the same thing here but with 2 XP partitions?

 

[bcastner]

Excuse me, what is a "DR suite"?
I keep thinking two companies are sharing a dining room.

Questions:

[li]Are there really two Domain servers involved, or is this in fact a Workgroup?[/li]

[li]Dual booting XP is as complicated as installing it twice. Install it to a second partition or a second hard disk drive. XP will automaticly offer you the choice of overwriting the existing XP Installation or Adding the parallel installation.[/li]

To install Windows XP to a new folder (to perform a parallel installation):

1. Start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM. To do this, insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
2. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears on the screen, press any key to start the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.
3. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to begin Windows XP Setup.
4. Read the End-User License Agreement, and then press F8.
5. Select the partition in which you want to install Windows XP, and then press ENTER.
6. Select the Leave the current file system intact (no changes) option, and then press ENTER to continue.
7. Press ESC to install to a different folder.

If the Setup program detects another operating system folder, it prompts you to type the name for the new folder after the back slash (\), for example, \WINXP. If there are no other operating systems detected, the Setup program automatically names the folder \Windows.

8. Press ENTER to continue.
9. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Windows XP Setup.

For additional information about how to change the folder name on new installations, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
How to designate the original folder name for a reinstallation of Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315242/

[li]TCP/IP configurations would be specific to each versioin of XP installed. If all that is needed is to change the TCP/IP settings on the adapter, this can be done from .CMD files or from a desktop shortcut. The key to this is using NETSH.EXE:

http://www.asp101.com/articles/stanley/nicsettings/default.asp

[/li]
There are several third-party utilities for switching TCP/IP settings as well. Examples:

NetSwitcher:

http://www.netswitcher.com

Mobile Net Switch:

http://www.mobilenetswitch.com/

____________________________
Users Helping Users

 

[linney]

HOW TO: Set Up Hardware Profiles for Laptop Computers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308577/en-us?FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

See also "hardware profile" in the Help and Support Center program.

 

[bcastner]

Network interface configurations are made in HKLM portions of the registry.

While you could disable an interface using Hardware Profiles, you could not configure it.


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Users Helping Users

 

[jrbarnett]

Bill

DR Suite = Disaster Recovery Suite.

Its basically a set of PC's, servers, printers and the kit to link them together and the software that get used by organisations in the event of needing to temporarily move out of their main buildings in event of an emergency.

They just restore their latest backups to the DR server and away they go.

John