Do not know how to procced

[BIG-D514]

Hello

I am an IT so very new to all this server stuff but always willing to learn. I HAVE a BIG problem/question and I hope someone out there can help me. I have one server available (dont know the specs yet) and basically what they are asking me to do is the following:
Install windows server 2008 R2 on the server (not a problem)
The issue is in the following they want users from around the world to be able to connect to the server and work of it. As in have application lunch from the server and whatever changes are made to files stay in the server (meaning they dont want to download/upload every time so not FTP)
I have been looking into RDS and VPN and combining both of them but am not sure if I have to do that or chose one of them or if I'm even on the right path.
Any help would be greatly appreciated I dont mind you telling me what the right path is an I can find the info myself but plz someone help me

Ty in advance

p.s. my e-mail is daniel.arzouan atgmail.com

P.P.S.S i have not yet installed anything so please let me know if i need to install a DHCP and or a DNS and any other useful information

 

[ICTCity]

Hi,

It's hard to say because you haven't specified your network topology. Anyway, I can tell you that you can use REMOTE DESKTOP but pay attention to two things:
1) server perfomances (it needs RAM)
2) bandwidth (both, server and clients)

The best choice should be XenDestop, but it costs...

 

[BIG-D514]

i assume that by topology how it will be set up. it will be straight forward a server with WS 2008 nothing will be connected internally it will simply be there so that external users can connect. i assume i have to also put in a DSN and DHCP in order to use RDS and is there any special settings i need to set up in the server and the users computer?

oh one more thing the xendesktop is it straight forward as in install it on my server runing WS 2008 ( i assume once again it will need a dhcp and a dns)

thank you in advance for all your help

 

[ICTCity]

Actually you need to think about security first, so you may want to install a firewall and a router and not let your server do everything.

Now, first of all try to recover infos regarding your server (HW), and then tell us how many clients you will have, finally what they should do?

 

[BIG-D514]

yes i agree but the fire wall and router will probably be such a pain to configure that i almost feel like not putting any as for the HW ideally once i know what to do we will buy the right server (as in price not a object but cost efficient for sure) as you have already told me i need LOTS of Ram and a good internet provider (im thinking something with FIB). the number of clients will most probably be about 40 to 50 ppl (yes i know that means about 40 to 50 CALS). and finally what they should do is the following: be able to connect to the server remotely and work on files from the server on the server( as in no need to download a file work on it and upload it back to the server)

 

[ICTCity]

you can't live without a firewall... Your network will be down in 1-2 days or less...

You can estimate a 150-200 Mb for each user, assuming that "working with files" means office or something like this and not something with graphic.

If so you can easily install remote desktop service but honestly you must buy 2 servers. One will be the terminal server and the other will be license server (it must be dedicated) and domain controller. This second server can actually be a "workstation" with a raid 1 disk.

Redundant nics must be used and regarding the space you can set up via policy a redirection or simply store in your server (with terminal server each user has its own folder).

The best and securest scenario is with 4 servers: one DC and license, two identical server clustering terminal server and one gateway server to split connections.