hi,
we had 5 windows 2003 servers location in different area..each has an internet connections. now,using the internet and the windows server..i want all 5s winserver will communicate each others as well as the clients. i know this is possible but i dont know how..i need your advise and howtos manual..tnx

Sure its possible but you have a lot to think about first.

What topology are you going to use? Hub and spoke? Star hybrid?

Once you figure that out then you know what needs to connect to what.

For example a hybrid star is all sites connected to all sites. Very expensive to implement and maintain. Hub and spoke is easier but it leans toward server centralization.

Start with how you want to use the connected systems. For example will each have its own email server? I am sure you can think of a few questions like this one you need to answer.

Are you ready for where Microsoft wants you to go today?

recommed you to set up OpenVPN (for WIN) links, yes it comes from linux world where you need to spend hours to configure something :-) but it's really powerfull, secure and stable thing. OpenVPN emulated a network interface so it's easy to setup any routings between Win2003s -- it even can pass thru the UDP broadcasts (if any) that WinVPN cannot; so you do not need to set the WINS server, and for example any serverless LAN messaging software can work in such WAN

Love folks that can make recommendations without gathering any facts. It's profitable for many of us cleaning up the messes.

Imagine the power if you knew how to internet search

@wanderer;
what topology could you suggest? these 5s servers see each other and also the clients and if one server fails the remaining 4 would not be affected.

@jd:
sounds interesting, can you tell me what kind of linux or any opensource linux based software t for me to try ..i dont know where/how to start.tnx

hakunamatata you really need to hire a consultant for this project.

You have to define what you want from your system. One server going down not effecting the others is a given and doesn't, at this stage, contribute anything to the determination of the project.

I would suggest you sit down with some paper and write down what you want to accomplish with this computer system. Part of this list is what each site has now in both hardware and software.

You can't put the cart before the horse.

In other words you are asking about vpn solutions without knowing what topology is going to work for you. You can't know what topology is going to work for you until you define your usage and objectives.

Make sense?

For example, are you going to run apps just off the local servers? Do you want centralized management of users and email? What propriety apps are you running?
That's a start on determinine what you want to accomplish.

Then you move on to what topology design meets these defined goals cost effectively. Just because you have internet at each site doesn't mean you have the bandwidth to accomplish the topology changes.

Do you start to get an idea of the complexity and what needs to be addressed?

If you desire I can send you a contract to sign, pay a deposit fee and I will send you a questionaire that will help me make a recommendation for your setup.

Imagine the power if you knew how to internet search