SBS 2003 DHCP or Router DHCP

[ghosking]

Is there any preference where the DHCP server is placed in a new SBS installation. Is it generally better to have SBS 2003 providing DHCP services or allow the router to do it (for example 3com wireless ADSL or Linksys etc)?

Or does it make no difference, my only thought is that if the router does it and the SBS server fails then at least intranet & internet access can be maintained for connecting clients, albeit SBS is down and services it provides.

Many thanks

G Hosking

 

[Beowulf005]

I find the SBS as DHCP is better because when your client computers look for companyweb you would have to tell the router to foward all DNS requests to the server then the server sends the requests to your ISP. Downside you have to know the address of the ISP DNS and if they ever change it you loose connection. When the server is DHCP it points all DNS requests to itself then fowards unknowns to the router which get the ISP DNS dymaticly evert time it connects.

HTH

When frustrated remember, in the computer world there is almost always a backdoor.

 

[58sniper]

It doesn't necessarily point to the router. It points to whatever you configure in your DNS forwarders. That should be your ISP DNS servers - not your router.

Use the DHCP in the server as it also handles registering those clients in DNS.

If the server goes down (which it shouldn't if it's properly configured and running on stable hardware), you've got far more serious concerns than just getting to ebay!

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[TechSoEasyMVP]

If you want your server and network to operate as it was designed, and with few problems, then DHCP needs to be on the SBS.

I agree with 58sniper that a properly provisioned and maintained SBS will rarely have a problem. But even if it did, DHCP has very little impact on the ability to "get out to the Internet", and much more to do with how your workstations communicate with the rest of the network for things such as file sharing, email, maintenance, etc.


Jeffrey B. Kane
TechSoEasy

http://www.techsoeasy.com