First time colocating an IIS server, suggestions?

[PulsaMatt]

I am going to be colocating a server for the first time and was looking for any ideas someone might have to help me make life as easy as possible. I have been trying to find info on google but I guess I am not using the right search words.

I will be colocating a Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition server in approximately 1-2 months.

I am debating if I should use the colo company's firewall service or purchase my own unit and colo it as well. The colo company offers a Cisco PIX based solution for $99 a month, but I noticed I could buy a PIX for $500 ... any suggestions?

How should I remotely admin the machine? The colo company is going to be in Orlando and I will be in Fort Myers (about a 2-3 hour drive) so going there wont be horrible, but it will be a pain. I was looking at a product tonight that would allow me to use terminal services over SSH. I dont want to use something like RealVNC as I dont think its secure enough for this application.

Is there a document or site someone knows of someplace that will help me to best configure the server? I will need web and ftp servers of course, and I think using SMTP may be necessary as well, so I would like to lock those down properly so I dont end up with an open relay, etc.

Finally, any overall suggestions? I know there will be something that will come up that I never considered, but I would like to try and think of as much as possible ahead of time.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions that you may have.


Matt Laski
Network Administrator
Pulsafeeder SPO

 

[ChrisHirst]

basically whatever you would do for hosting the server yourself is the roughly same for a co-location.

$99 a month vs $500 one time sounds good, But add to that the time you would need to spend checking firewall logs, reacting to problems, updating, configuring etc etc and of course learning how to speak PIX if you don't already.

Remote Admin is a must, having to do a 6 hour round trip just because IIS has hung (again) and needs "iisreset" typing into a command prompt window would very rapidly become a real PITA. TS is fine for this.

Mail Servers, I personally use MailEnable. But there are lots around. Take a look at Kerio both have good anti spam features and need much less TLC than MS Exchange does.


Chris.

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