ISA in SBS 2003

[jakess]

As some of you have realised by now i'm new to SBS forum.
Is ISA like a proxy server for users....something like squid in SuseLinux
Right now all users in our site connect directly to the internet and i want to implement ISA to monitor/restrict and get reports on bandwith, sites visited etc.
Will ISA do this for me on SBS?It seems like it;s complicated to configure.

 

[wahnula]

jakess,

I am relatively new to SBS also (going on my second year ). Have had my share of config issues, but it is a much more forgiving and easy-to-use OS than SuSeLinux. Your users should always go through the SBS box whether ISA is used or not. Here is a good article that explains ISA server:

http://www.smallbizserver.net/Artic...ArticleView/articleId/94/ISA-for-Dummies.aspx

http://www.isaserver.org

is also good, with an excellent forum. After holding off installation of ISA on my production server my tech recommended a SonicWALL TZ-170 appliance in lieu of ISA. It has worked extremely well, but many seasoned SBS user recommended using it as an adjunct to ISA, with ISA watching the inside LAN and SonicWALL watching the gateway.

I must say that on my test box ISA went in smoothly and easily and, once configured, ran without a hitch. I am still toying with the idea of installing it as another layer of security. I am sure more experienced SBS'ers will jump in here with their opinions forthwith. Best of luck.

Tony

 

[ShackDaddy]

ISA setup on SBS includes some pretty good Wizards for the initial deploy, and that includes publishing the key SBS resources (OWA, RWW, SMTP, etc), but when you move beyond those into customization, you have to get to know the documentation well.

I tend to like to deploy a hardware appliance instead of OWA because of my history in a larger environment; I like each piece of the puzzle to be separated out when troubleshooting time comes. I like to be able to insert a sniffer between any two layers, and I can't capture packets between the ISA filter and the web services on a single box. But for the small business environment, a well-managed ISA server is a secure and economically sound practice.

ShackDaddy
Shackelford Consulting

 

[jakess]

For starters i just need to get everyone working through a proxy on site. At this point we have a ADSL router and everyone have direct access to internet. No proxy settings in IExplorer.
At my previous employer we used Squid proxy which send all requests to proxy at ISP.
No one here knows how things were setup before and i have never worked in a small business environment.
So my question: How does this direct internet connection work for all users and is their somewhere a proxy with a ISP?

 

[ShackDaddy]

Here's a general how-to for setting up some basic stuff, including proxy on ISA.

http://www.isaserver.org/tutorials/...al_ISA_Server_Configuration.html?printversion

ShackDaddy
Shackelford Consulting