Hi all, I'm looking for advice on the best way to design my network. We have and adsl connection and one server. The server will run Active Dir and have upto 15 work stations connecting to it. We also have an additional 5 computers that use our network for internet access and don't connect to our server. I am wondering whether the workstations should all go thru' the server for internet access or directly. ie. Adsl is only connected to server and server has second NIC connected to a switch that all the workstations connect to. or ADSL router is connected to a switch and both the server and the workstations connect to that switch. I also need to know what the simplest solution for VPN is. We have a couple of people who want to be able to connect in to the network from home and work from there. Thanks and regards Brendan

here's my personal opinion, which is by no means authoritative....I would leave all the users and the server plugged into the switch. I would configure the server for AD, DNS, and DHCP. As for the VPN solution, it depends. You can use the servers built in Routing and Remote access feature to create a traditional vpn connection, or you can install terminal services and get a few Terminal server application licenses for remote desktop, or you can use free services like team viewer, or showmypc.com..they may be all you need for just a few users, or you can enable remote desktop on the users workstations and have them remote into their workstation, that way you don't have to install any software on their home pc's.