Planning Question

[vince62s]

I have two branches: Paris and NY.

I would like to have file replication (DFS+FRS)between two windows 2003 storage servers.

is it possible to do so with servers configured as part of workgroups instead of domains ?

if only with domains, does it need to be the same domain ?
if yes, is there a need to have one PDC and one BDC ?

thanks for helping.

 

[Wishdiak]

vince62s,

These are both Windows Server 2003 servers?

In order to replicate data, they must be domain members, but Server 2003 does not differentiate between Primary and Backup Domain Controllers. Domain Controllers in Server 2003 are all peers.

Also, I believe that they only need to be in the same forest rather than the same domain for replication to occur.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[vince62s]

yes there are both 2003 servers.

then I have a licensing question.

you know that win 2003 storage server cannot be a domain controller, just a domain members.

Let say I have another win 2003 server (serv0) to be the domain controller. the 2003 storage servers (serv1 and serv2) are then domain members and act as file servers.

MSFT says there is no need for CAL with storage servers.
still I have to create clients on the DC to access the storage servers.

could it be that on serv0 I have to create 40 users (with only 5 CAL that actually need access to serv0) so that the 35 can access storage server ?

hope this is clear.

 

[Wishdiak]

vince62s,

I completely missed the word "storage" in your previous post. Thanks for correcting me, and yes, storage servers can only be domain members.

As to your licensing question, according to Microsoft, no CALs are required when users access storage servers. Thus if you have only 5 users that need to access the Domain Controller, then you should only need 5 CALs.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[vince62s]

Actually I did not want to install Active Directory since I dont know too much about it. But you are telling me I dont have any choice to install FRS, right ?


For the licensing stuff, it's a little weird. 40 people will be able to authenticate on the domain through the DC but only 5 CAL, just so that 35 others can go to the storage server.....

 

[Wishdiak]

vince62s,

I'm not advocating that you install Active Directory, but if you have a Windows Server 2003 Domain Controller, then that Domain Controller is using Active Directory.

Microsoft doesn't mention FRS having any Active Directory requirement, per se.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/storage/dfs/tshootfrs.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/interopmigration/unix/sfu/perfnfs.mspx

A good overview of CALs is at

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/howtobuy/licensing/caloverview.mspx

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com