70-216 - First challenge please help!!!!

Author

First challenge please help!!!!

adam salam

2004-08-07, 6:14 am

I am starting my first IT job

Well, it's the first challenge

It's General trading company with Head office in Dubai-UAE and a branch office in China; I am the only IT professional.
The Head office is now still small (which "God willing" will expand in future, which give me more responsibility and I hope more money)

: 20 Windows 2000/XP workstations and just one Server 2003, they are still in a Workgroup environment, connected to the Internet using 56 kbps dialup connection.

The owner needs an internal e-mail system and database software, the Internet connection will be changed to a broadband Internet connection something like 256 kbps or 512 kbps DSL, and (my suggestion) VPN connection to the Branch office in China and later to other branch offices when applicable, group policy will be applied.

They also need a suitable firewall.

Please your opinion and how to start.

Thank you

aznluvsmc

2004-08-08, 8:25 pm

It's too much of a project to post on a forum. If you're not sure what you're doing, hire a consultant. That's the best advice I can give you.

razor0690

2004-08-08, 8:33 pm

Sound to me like a good start. You get to start you career on a fresh slab. I would say its a small network so far if you build your Infrastructure with a good foundation you should have a easier job in the future. Always look ahead as an admin you should start learning some basic programming scripting and always do testing and research. One of the most important thing when you have trouble with a vendor is to email or call there tech support. As for email exchange server is an add-on for windows server that is great for mail. also you should set up a sus server and a virus server if you dont already have them. If you' main server cant handle these extra services the can be run them from a good pc w/ windows 2000 server or later. this will decrease the amount of managabilty and effort you have to put into the desktops security is always an issue. For a database a very common one is access as long as you set it up to meet the company need and make it secure id recommend xp or later, or another user friendly database is sesame q&a. The best advice i can give is set up ghost images of the pc's hopefully there isnt to many different model's. Set up and active directory enviroment lock down all unnessecary function that are not needed and can do harm to the pc/os you dont need the extra headache. Set up a sus server for sending down updates learn kixtart scripting very nice tool. Deside your databasing and sit back and watch your company and wallet grow. Hope of was of some help remember research in IT it isnt just a 9-5 job its a 9-whenever job the network comes first. Get ready for some long hours...

adam salam

2004-08-09, 4:06 am

quote:
Originally posted by razor0690
Sound to me like a good start. You get to start you career on a fresh slab. I would say its a small network so far if you build your Infrastructure with a good foundation you should have a easier job in the future. Always look ahead as an admin you should start learning some basic programming scripting and always do testing and research. One of the most important thing when you have trouble with a vendor is to email or call there tech support. As for email exchange server is an add-on for windows server that is great for mail. also you should set up a sus server and a virus server if you dont already have them. If you' main server cant handle these extra services the can be run them from a good pc w/ windows 2000 server or later. this will decrease the amount of managabilty and effort you have to put into the desktops security is always an issue. For a database a very common one is access as long as you set it up to meet the company need and make it secure id recommend xp or later, or another user friendly database is sesame q&a. The best advice i can give is set up ghost images of the pc's hopefully there isnt to many different model's. Set up and active directory enviroment lock down all unnessecary function that are not needed and can do harm to the pc/os you dont need the extra headache. Set up a sus server for sending down updates learn kixtart scripting very nice tool. Deside your databasing and sit back and watch your company and wallet grow. Hope of was of some help remember research in IT it isnt just a 9-5 job its a 9-whenever job the network comes first. Get ready for some long hours...

Thank you

that was good suggestions

Please more....

curiousgeorge

2004-08-09, 2:09 pm

I used to work for a small company with two sites.

We set up Active Directory and Exchange. Our internet connection was DSL and we set up NAT with a basic BlackICE firewall.

We also set up a VPN on both sites and Terminal Server.

I'm not a fan of SUS. At my current job, I set a group policy to autmatically install critical updates on a schedule.

Also, be aware that XP SP2 is coming out in the next few days. One of the changes it makes is it enables the firewall.

You might have to watch your network to make sure the firewall isn't blocking anything they currently have set up.

Hope that helps.

Congrats on the new job.

jocampo

2004-08-09, 4:41 pm

quote:
Originally posted by adam salam
I am starting my first IT job

Well, it's the first challenge

It's General trading company with Head office in Dubai-UAE and a branch office in China; I am the only IT professional.
The Head office is now still small (which "God willing" will expand in future, which give me more responsibility and I hope more money) : 20 Windows 2000/XP workstations and just one Server 2003, they are still in a Workgroup environment, connected to the Internet using 56 kbps dialup connection.

The owner needs an internal e-mail system and database software, the Internet connection will be changed to a broadband Internet connection something like 256 kbps or 512 kbps DSL, and (my suggestion) VPN connection to the Branch office in China and later to other branch offices when applicable, group policy will be applied.

They also need a suitable firewall.

Please your opinion and how to start.

Thank you

Hi Adam.

Its a long time since i "saw" you last time. BTW, congrats in your new job.

Well, i've been following you since your 1st posting, so i'm sure you can do a good work; you do not need to hire an external consultant, i think, 'cause you are not an MCSE paper guy. Hey, you're a real MCSE and CCNA professional!

My advices:

1.SetUp main office's LAN as usual. Choose IP in privates ranges (of course). Draw on paper your DNS and AD design (BEFORE install or configure servers. This will save you a lot of time)
2.If you have just 1 server, install NAT on it. You must install a firewall also. If you have not enought money at 1st, you could use software firewall, like Black Ice or Zone Alarm (i prefer the last one)
3. You should create 2 sites with 1 domain. This will help AD replication. Remember your 70-217 studies,

4.Put your database on RAID5. This is something that still nobody have said and its a very important topic. Create and design a good BackUp strategy.

Mmmm, what else...ahh, of course, use IPsec for the VPN if you can. Its better and more secure.

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