Branch Offices - 2003 Server

[firthm]

Hi Everyone,

Just a general query here, not a problem as such.

I am looking for people opinion on the best way to go about adding a server to my branch offices, here is the scenario:

One company (domain) which is spread across three sites:

Head Office - Server located here
Branch Off1 - 10 users max, using terminal services, vpn 1.5mb.
Branch Off2 - 5 users max, using terminal services, vpn 2mb.

Basically the speed of the links and reliability of the links has made the terminal services sessions useless, users get horrendous slowdown and maintaining the server isn't worth it for the speeds they get.

What I have proposed is installing a 2003 R2 server (I am running SBS 2003 plus a 2003 R1 server at HQ) at each site, preferrably providing DNS, AD, DHCP, GPO's and most importantly, file shares. I would like to replicate my existing file shares down to each site and let DFS sync those shares using the VPN link throughout the day.

I am just slightly unsure of where exactly to start, and would appreciate any input, opinions or idea's, critical or not!

Thanks & Rrgards,
Mike

P.s. Yes I would love to dump SBS and go for 2003 R2 all round at head office, but not sure if I can really justify that.

Michael Firth
Network Infrastructure Officer

~If it's not broke, break it and LEARN~

 

[bran2235]

There might be an easier way to fix your 'pain' of slow WTS... (BTW, are you using RDP or Citrix/ICA?)... Just wondering if you benefit from tweaking your environment a bit (WTS Servers, WAN, etc.) to circumvent having to install servers at your branches and then having to use DFS. I have a Citrix farm (27 servers) supporting 34 branches (hub and spoke- with a full T (dedicated) to each branch. Can you give me some more info on your setup?

Thanks,
Brandon

 

[firthm]

Hi Brandon,

SOrry for the lack of info, the clients connect simply via RDP to a 2003 Standard TermServer.

Much of the problem lies with our CRM type system, it is absolutely disgraceful, it JUST manages to run with lots of tweaks and hours of pain on terminal services.

I'm a big fac of TS deployed in the right environment, but with our regional offices there are various fat client functions that staff need to perform, so what they end up with is a bunch of thin clients and a "fat client" PC they use for things that can't take TS...very silly...

Any suggestions at all welcome!

Mike

Michael Firth
Network Infrastructure Officer

~If it's not broke, break it and LEARN~

 

[PaulGillespie]

Didn't think sbs2003 would allow AD replication over multiple sites.

 

[firthm]

I believe it does....this shouldn't be an issue.

Michael Firth
Network Infrastructure Officer

~If it's not broke, break it and LEARN~