windows server2003 question

[SAlatina]

Hello,
I recently took over a Windows Server 2003 environment - not my choice of OS to work on but I was asked by a very good friend.

The previous administrator set up the environment weird to me. This may be common practice in the Windows server world but not to me, maybe you guys can tell me different.

So the current issue is that he has users setup on a domain and they login into their workstations via XP. Once on the workstations he has the users login to the server via remote desktop. The problem I am having is that when they are logged into the desktop via XP only they have intermittent problems with accessing the internet. On the desktop I can ping out and they have valid IP addresses. To get on the internet, they can connect to the server via remote desktop and use the internet on the server.

Is this common practice and why can't the users access the internet from the desktop without remote connection to the server?

 

[itsp1965]

Well no it's not common practice to do so and there could be many reasons why it was setup like this mainly the previous admin prob thought that this was more secure (not entirely smart if this is the only server supporting users) than having all client machines going out to the internet or only wanted to limit certain users access.
Not knowing how the network is setup I can't tell you why your local users can't access the internet directly, but if you are able to use the server to go out on the internet than in theory you should be able to do the same on your client workstations.

 

[dberg35]

A better breakdown of the network would be more helpful but if internet is intermittent on the desktop sounds like an DNS issue. How many servers, what is infrastructure and how many sites do you manage?

 

[SAlatina]

TO: itsp1965
Okay, thanks for the replies! I can access the internet via the server. As a matter of fact, because the users have intermittent access to the internet via the desktop I have them remote to the server and use the internet on the server. There is only one server, two workgroups. There is one internet connection coming in via Time warner cable. There is one 12 port switch, 1 linksys router that the internet cable is connected two with two cables connected to the router. Cable one connects to the 12 port switch where all the desktops and network printers are connected and cable two goes to another wireless router! I do think the previous admin was a bit paranoid and only allowed the users access the server for extra security. The think is there is only 4 users in the office! Very small doctor's office. I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for your response.

TO: dberg35. I only manage one windows site. I manage another site that has linux, apple and Novell servers! This is my first windows site to take on. Thanks for your response.