An example of a Microsoft Windows NTâ Installation for a 50 User Environment

Introduction

This article discusses the steps required to install a windows NT environment into a new 50 user organisation.

The requirements:

• 1 x NT server is to act as the main data server for the user community, thus allowing a PC centric organisation to regain control of the data stored by the users.
• 1 x NT server to act as the main mail and GroupWare server. This must allow for secure e-mail transfer to and from the Internet.
• Virus protection to be installed on both the servers and the workstations.

The products:

Main File Server

• Compaq Proliant 1600 Single Pentium II @ 400Mhz, 256MB RAM, Compaq 12-24 Gb DDS Drive
• RAID Controller with 5 x 9 GByte Hard Disks
• RAID Format – 4 x 9 GB HDDs in a RAID 5 arrangement + 1 Hot Standby HDD

The GroupWare Server

Dell Server Single Pentium II 233Mhz, 128MB RAM, HP Surestore 6000, SCSI Controller, 2 x 4Gbyte Hard Disks

Software

• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
• Microsoft Exchange 5.5
• MimeSweeper
• Veritas Backup Exec
• Network Associates Total Virus Defence

Client Workstation Configurations

The majority of the workstations operated Windows 95 and Windows NT. In the past most data stored locally on the workstation drives and perceived as the individuals property and not that of the organisation.

Printing Environment

Most printers connected to either printer servers of PCs acting as printer servers located around the network.

Description of the environment proposed

The main file server will act as:

• PDC
• Master Browser
• WINS

Other Service issues:

• No DHCP is to be installed
• SNMP is to be installed
• Compaq Insight Manager Agents
• Seagate Backup Exec
• Virus Protection

Volumes and Sizes

Note: All drives are to be NTFS formatted and no compression is to be applied so that statistics per drive can be accurately tracked.

The GroupWare server will act as:

• BDC
• Secondary Browser

Other Service issues:

• No DHCP is to be installed
• SNMP is to be installed
• Microsoft Exchange 5.5
• Seagate Backup Exec
• Content Technologies' MimeSweeper
• Virus Software

Figure 1 Proposed NT Environment

Outline of Tasks to be done.

1. File Server Physical Configuration
2. Install Operating System
3. Install Service Packs
4. Install Backup Server Software
5. Configure additional services - WINS, SNMP, LPR, etc.
6. Install Virus Protection Software
7. File Server Physical Configuration for Exchange Server
8. Install Operating System for Exchange Server
9. Install Service Packs for Exchange Server
10. Install Backup Server Software
11. Install Exchange and configure
12. Install Exchange Service Packs
13. Test Internet Access & Mail
14. Install Virus Protection Software
15. Install MailSweeper
16. Test MailSweeper
17. Configure User profiles, Group profiles and directory structures
18. Create Groups
19. Create Users and associated directories
20. Install Initial Printers
21. Final Test