Windows Server 2008

Abstract

The Windows Server 2008 Foundation Network Guide provides instructions on how to plan and deploy the core components required for a fully functioning network and a new Active Directory domain in a new forest. Using this guide, you can deploy computers configured with the following Windows server components:

·         The Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) server role

·         The Domain Name System (DNS) server role

·         The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server role

·         The Network Policy Server (NPS) role service of the Network Policy and Access Services server role

·         The Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) feature

·         Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IP) connections on individual servers

This guide also serves as a foundation for companion guides that show you how to deploy additional network technologies in Windows Server 2008.

Network hardware requirements

To successfully deploy a foundation network, you must deploy network hardware, including the following:

·      Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabyte Ethernet cabling

·      A hub, Layer 2 or 3 switch, router, or other device that performs the function of relaying network traffic between computers and devices.

·      Computers that meet the minimum hardware requirements for their respective client and server operating systems.

Technology Overviews

The following sections provide brief overviews of the required and optional technologies used to create a foundation network.

Active Directory Domain Services

A directory is a hierarchical structure that stores information about objects on the network. A directory service, such as AD DS, provides the methods for storing directory data and making this data available to network users and administrators. For example, AD DS stores information about user accounts, such as names, passwords, phone numbers, and so on, and enables other authorized users on the same network to access this information.

DNS

DNS is a name resolution protocol for TCP/IP networks, such as the Internet or an organization network. A DNS server hosts the information that enables client computers to resolve easily recognized, alphanumeric DNS names to the IP addresses that computers use to communicate with each other.

DHCP

DHCP is an IP standard for simplifying management of host IP configuration. The DHCP standard provides for the use of DHCP servers as a way to manage dynamic allocation of IP addresses and other related configuration details for DHCP-enabled clients on your network.

Every computer on a TCP/IP network must have an unique IP address. The IP address (together with its related subnet mask) identifies both the host computer and the subnet to which it is attached. When you move a computer to a different subnet, the IP address must be changed. DHCP allows you to dynamically assign an IP address to a client from a DHCP server IP address database on your local network.

For TCP/IP-based networks, DHCP reduces the complexity and amount of administrative work involved in reconfiguring computers.

WINS (optional)

While DNS is a required component of a foundation network, WINS is optional because, like DNS, it is a naming service. In some cases, you might not need both DNS and WINS, but older operating systems and applications might require WINS. For medium to small networks, WINS is extremely easy to install and manage, and it is not resource-intensive. If you are in doubt about whether you need WINS, you can test your network functionality without it and install it if needed.

WINS provides a distributed database for registering and querying dynamic mappings of NetBIOS names for computers and groups used on your network. WINS maps NetBIOS names to IP addresses and was designed to solve the problems arising from NetBIOS name resolution in routed environments. WINS is the best choice for NetBIOS name resolution in routed networks that use NetBIOS over TCP/IP.

NetBIOS names are used by earlier versions of Windows operating systems to identify and locate computers and other shared or grouped resources required to register or resolve names for use on the network.

NetBIOS names are a requirement for establishing networking services in earlier versions of Windows operating systems. Although the NetBIOS naming protocol can be used with network protocols other than TCP/IP (such as NetBEUI or IPX/SPX), WINS was designed specifically to support NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT).

WINS simplifies the management of the NetBIOS namespace in TCP/IP-based networks.

NPS (optional)

Network Policy Server (NPS) allows you to centrally configure and manage network policies with the following three features: Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server, RADIUS proxy, and Network Access Protection (NAP) policy server.

NPS is an optional component of a foundation network, but you should install NPS if any of the following are true:

·      You are planning to expand your network to include any remote access servers that are compatible with the RADIUS protocol, such as a computer running Windows Server 2008 and Routing and Remote Access service.

·      You plan to deploy NAP.

·      You plan to deploy 802.1X wired or wireless access.

TCP/IP

TCP/IP in Windows Server 2008 is the following:

·      Networking software based on industry-standard networking protocols.

·      A routable, enterprise networking protocol that supports the connection of your Windows-based computer to both local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) environments.

·      Core technologies and utilities for connecting your Windows-based computer with dissimilar systems for the purpose of sharing information.

·      A foundation for gaining access to global Internet services, such as the World Wide Web and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) servers.

·      A robust, scalable, cross-platform, client/server framework.

TCP/IP provides basic TCP/IP utilities that enable Windows-based computers to connect and share information with other Microsoft and non-Microsoft systems, including:

·      Windows Vista

·      Windows Server 2003 operating systems

·      Windows XP

·      Internet hosts

·      Apple Macintosh systems

·      IBM mainframes

·      UNIX systems

·      Open VMS systems

·      Network-ready printers, such as HP LaserJet series printers that use HP JetDirect cards