A client-server network is a central computer, also known as a server, which hosts data and other forms

of resources. Clients such as laptops and desktop computers contact the server and request to use data
or share its other resources with it.

What Is a Client-Server Network?

A client-server network is designed for end-users, called clients, to access resources such as files, songs,
video collections, or some other service from a central computer called a server. A server's sole purpose
is to do what its name implies - serve its clients! You may have been using this configuration and not
even have known it. Have you ever played Xbox Live or used the PlayStation Network? Your Xbox One is
the client, and when it logs into the network, it contacts the Xbox Live servers to retrieve gaming
resources like updates, video, and game demos.

How Does It Work?

Imagine a customer sitting at a restaurant. He is waiting for the server to come by and take his order. The
same rules apply in a client-server network; the client, which can be a laptop, desktop, a smartphone, or
pretty much any computerized device, can make a request from the server.

The client uses the network as a way to connect with and speak to the server. Just as the customer
speaks to his server, the client uses the network to send and receive communications about its order, or
request. The server will take the request and make sure that the request is valid. If everything checks out
okay, then the server will fetch the request and serve the client.

The server can make a request from the client as well. It may want to check up on the status of the
client, or ask if it has received any security patches, or if it still needs resources from the server. If not,
the server will close the connection in order to free up network traffic.

Can you imagine a server standing next to a customer who just stares at the menu without ordering
anything? After 15 minutes, it would be a good idea for the server to leave and check on other
customers. In both cases, the server moves on to other clients as needed.

What Are the Advantages of a Client-Server Network?

The biggest advantage to using this setup is central management of the server. Only one server is used to
host the resources that all the clients request and use. This is especially good for server administrators,
because they only have to be in one place and can solve all the problems in one place, as well. Having to
manually update several hundred servers would take much more time. One centrally managed server is
the key to ease of management, and it is cost effective, too.

How to Build a Client Server Network

Networks can come in all shapes and sizes, but the two basic categories are peer-to-peer networks and
client-server networks. Client-server networks are for over 15 users generally, and mostly used in small
to large business environments. In a client-server network the client is the user's computer, which can be
either a desktop or laptop. The composition of the server varies depending on the network, but the
basics will include a domain controller, DHCP, and DNS.

Step 1

Install the network operating system on the server, which will create your network. A predetermined
network name must be chosen in order to set up the server as a domain controller. Install the active
directory component, which will allow you to create the actual domain, user accounts, and computer
accounts. DHCP and DNS should also be installed on your domain controller at this time. DHCP produces
leases for each computer by assigning them an IP address that has a time controlled lease that can
expire at any time you choose. Typically, with a large network the lease expiration is set to eight hours.

Step 2

Install your client operating system on each of the laptops and desktops. Windows XP Pro is considered
to be a client operating system. Make sure to use Windows updates to update your client machines with
all of the important security updates, patches and hot fixes in order to help provide security in your
client-server network. Join your client machines to the domain, right-click "My Computer" and select
properties, and once the properties box comes up select the "Computer Name" tab at the top. Here you
will see the current domain or work group the computer is joined to. Select the "Change" button, which
will provide the option to change the computer name and domain.
Install the network operating system on your next server to create the makeup for the file server. Log in
to the server and select "Start," "Administrator Tools," and then select "Manage Your Server." When the
manage your server application starts up place your network operating system disk in the server and
select "Add a Component." Here you will have the option to install many different server roles just like
you did when you set up your active directory, DHCP, and DNS on your domain controller. Select "File
Server" and click "Next." Windows will automatically load the file-sharing component and start to create
a share wizard that will allow you to start creating your shared folders.

Tip

Make sure you put a lot of thought into the name of your domain. If you decide to change it you will
have to re-create your whole domain controller as well as modify any other servers you have created to
join them to the new domain, including setting up access with the old shared folders with the new
domain user accounts.

Warning

For the client-server networks make sure you have a firewall between your network and the Internet.
Hackers can get into your network and cause havoc if you're not careful.

How Do I Set Up a Server to Client Network?

By Dustin Lamb

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Server to client computer networks are common in businesses and can be useful in homes as well. This is
different than simply connecting computers to a router to use the Internet, because another type of
device or computer is set up as the server, which the other computers connect to. This type of network
allows you to centrally manage the computers in the network and share files and printers with each
computer. A server to client network works well in situations where you have more than three
computers and you want to be able to access a resource, such as files or a printer, on all of the
connecting computers. You should have at least a basic understanding of how computer networks work
to complete this project.
...

Multiple servers, like in this server room, are used in business environments for managing computers
and data.

Step

Connect all of the computers to be networked to a router. Attach one end of an Ethernet cable to a
computer's network card and the other end to the proper connection on the router. Do this for each
computer and the server to be networked. Power on the router and all of the computers.

Step

Open the server management program on your Windows Server. Do this by clicking "Manage Your
Server" from the start menu. Click "Add or Remove a Role." A new window will open with the configure
your server wizard. Click "Next." A list of the different functions functions your server can perform is
then displayed. Select "Domain Controller (Active Directory)" and press "Next." Click "Next" again to
begin the active directory installation.

Step

Click "Next" on the installation wizard until reaching the page where you can select the option to specify
that you are setting up a domain controller for a new domain. Press "Next" and then select "Domain in a
New Forest." Type a name for your domain. This will be the name of your network. Click "Next" and a
name will be displayed that will be used if your network contains a computer running an older version of
Windows.

Step

Click "Next" until reaching the step called "DNS Registration Diagnostics." Select the option to "Install
and configure the DNS server on this computer," and then set this computer to "Use this DNS server as
it's preferred server." Click "Next" until reaching the screen where you must enter a password for the
administrator. Click "Next" and run the installation. Insert the server installation disc if required. Restart
the computer to complete the installation when prompted to.
Step

Reopen the Manage your Server program. Click "Manage Users And Computers In Active Directory." Add
a computer object for each computer in the domain. Add user accounts for each user that will log on as
well.

Step

On each computer in the network, open the system properties from under control panel. Click
"Change..." on the computer name tab. Click "Domain" and then enter the name of the domain. Enter a
user name and password for the domain when prompted. Restart the computer. You can now access the
domain and log on to the server.

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How to Add a Computer to a Server

By Lysis

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Adding a computer to a server is accomplished through the Windows Active Directory Service. This
application allows network administrators to add users, computers, and print resources to the network.
Active Directory is the central console for a majority of the security on a Windows server. Adding a
computer to the network only takes a few steps in the application console on the server.

Step

Click the Windows "Start" button and select "All Programs." From the menu, select "Administrative
Tools" and choose "Active Directory Users and Computers."

Step

Right-click the "Computers" icon listed under the server's domain. Select "New" and then "Computer"
from the menu. A configuration window opens to add the new computer.

Step

Enter the name of the computer to add and click the "Next" button.

Step

Click the "Finish" button at the summary screen. Reboot the computer that was added to Active
Directory. The user of the computer can now log on to the domain server.

Server Installation

Necessary Hardware and Software

Server Machines

In Lesson 1, we saw that a server was another computer that could participate in a client/server
network, as opposed to a peer-to-peer network. A server is used to hold resources and items that other
computers would need:

A server is primarily a regular computer. For a small network, identify the computer that you will use as
the server. You can use an existing computer or purchase a new one. Before starting to acquire the
necessary hardware for your network, when planning a server, you may fit one or the following
descriptions:

If you haven't bought a server but are planning to purchase a computer for it, check our section below
on the subject.

If you plan to use one of your (existing) computers as the server, check its hardware and make sure it
meets the following requirements:

A processor with 133-MHz or higher speed; 550-MHz recommended; up to eight processors supported
on one server

128 MB of RAM minimum required; 256 MB or more recommended; 32 GB maximum

1.25 to 2 GB of available hard disk space

CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

VGA or hardware that supports console redirection required; Super VGA supporting 800 x 600 or higher-
resolution monitor recommended

If necessary, you can purchase additional items to meet these requirements.

You may have a computer with no operating system. Maybe you got/built it (“barebone”) without an
operating system or you mya have removed the operating system (for example, either you formatted the
hard drive or you created two or more partitions on the hard drive). If you have a computer that doesn't
have any operating system and you are planning to use it as the server of your network, make sure it
meets the following requirements:

A processor with 133-MHz or higher speed; 550-MHz recommended; up to eight processors supported
on one server

128 MB of RAM minimum required; 256 MB or more recommended; 32 GB maximum

1.25 to 2 GB of available hard disk space

CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

VGA or hardware that supports console redirection required; Super VGA supporting 800 x 600 or higher-
resolution monitor recommended

For these lessons, the computer will run Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

Monitor

You will also need a monitor attached to the server. If you will not work closely with the server, that is, if
you will not "watch" the server all day long, the type of monitor you connect to it may not be important.

Server Operating System

As its name implies, the role of a server is to serve. To perform this job, it must be loaded with a special
operating system. On this site, we cover a network that deals with a Microsoft-based network. The
company publishes a server operating system named Microsoft Windows Server 2003.
Before acquiring the operating system, you may fit one of the following descriptions:

Maybe you will purchase a brand new computer, to use as a server, from a web site. You can purchase a
server from a manufacturer on the Internet (HP, Dell, IBM, Gateway, etc). You can also purchase a
computer from an Internet-based store (http://www.tigerdirect.com, http://www.provantage.com,
http://www.cdw.com, etc).

The web sites of HP, Dell, IBM, Gateway, etc have a link (or a section) named (or labeled) Servers or
Small Business. You can shop from that section, based on your budget. If you are using this approach,
look for a machine called server. When choosing the machine, make sure it meets the following
hardware requirements:

133-MHz processor required; 550-MHz recommended; up to eight processors supported on one server

128 MB of RAM minimum required; 256 MB or more recommended; 32 GB maximum

1.25 to 2 GB of available hard disk space

CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

VGA or hardware that supports console redirection required; Super VGA supporting 800 x 600 or higher-
resolution monitor recommended

Besides these requirements, if your budget permits, change or add the following items:

Tape Backup and Tape Software: This can help to perform regular backup of files.

Floppy Drive: This drive cannot be completely ruled out yet. Get it just in case (you never know).

DVD Drive: The web site or company may suggest a CD drive. In most cases this can be enough. Still, try
to get a DVD drive instead of a simple CD drive.

Second Network Card: This can be valuable if you are building a small network and plan to give access to
your computers to the Internet. The second network card can help you with Internet connection and
security.

Extended Warranty: No matter what its price and what else, get it (even if you think you will never need
it).

Maybe you will purchase a brand new computer to use as a server from a web site. The previously
mentioned companies also have a telephone number. You can call the company and describe that you
want to purchase a server for a network. They will guide you with the requirements. They may (will) also
suggest that you purchase the operating system, which is fine. If you have Microsoft Windows Server
2003 (on CD), you can tell them that you have the operating system already. Most of the time, they will
sell you the server without the operating system. This is the standard way and it is just fine. You should
be able to install the server operating system yourself.

Maybe you will purchase the server operating system. If you buy (bought) a computer, as a server, from
one of those big companies (such as Dell, IBM, HP, Gateway, etc) on the Internet, you can ask (may have
asked) them to provide you with a server operating system. As mentioned previously, you could ask
(have asked) them to install the operating system for you. In some cases, depending on the arrangement
you make (or made) with the company, they may send (or might have sent) you the computer without
the operating system but with a CD (or DVD) that has the operating system. In this case, you can install
the OS yourself, which we will cover later on.

Maybe you have a computer you plan to use as a server and it has a non-server operating system
already. If you have a computer with another operating system such as Windows 9X, Windows XP Home
Edition or else, you would need to get the server operating system separately. To do this, you can access
one of the following links to purchase it:

http://www.microsoft.com

http://www.provantage.com

http://www.tigerdirect.com

http://www.cdw.com

http://www.amazon.com

etc

You can buy a computer from one of those small computer stores on major streets. When doing this, you
can tell them that you want a computer you plan to use as a server. They may offer to install, or not to
install, the server operating system. If you don't make arrangements with them to install it, make sure
that the computer meets the requirements and that the parts in the computer have been tested.
Somehow, you may have to take their word for it. Then, you will need to keep contact with them. If the
installation doesn't work, even if they claim it is not their fault, you will still need to check that the parts
are functional...

Installations and Connections

New Installation

After acquiring a computer, you may have one that is ready but doesn't have an operating system. You
may have a computer with an operating system but that OS cannot be upgraded into Microsoft Windows
Server 2003. In one of these cases, you would need to perform a new installation.

Practical Learning Practical Learning: Installing the Server Operating System

If the computer doesn't have an operating system but it meets all the requirements and it can boot from
the CD, start the computer. You may receive a message stating "Operating system missing" or something
like that. Open the CD drive, put the CD in the drive, and close it. Restart the computer. You should
receive a message stating Press Any Key To Boot From CD (or something like that)

Press any key to start the installation.

If your computer already has an operating system, start it. Open the CD drive, put the CD in it, and close
its door. If the operating system cannot be upgraded, a message box and display and let you know.
Accept to perform a new installation and click Next

When the installation starts, it will display a blue screen with Windows Setup on top and some messages
on the status bar (bottom of screen).

After a while, the screen will change and display a new title based on the version of operating system
you are installing. For example, if you are installing Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition,
the title would display

Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition Setup

The body of the screen will present options to you. To continue the installation, press Enter

The next screen will show the Windows Licensing Agreement. Read it. Since it is long, to navigate up and
down, you can press Page Up or Page Down. After reading it, if you accept the terms of the license, press
F8. If you don't like what it says, press ESC and stop the installation.

The next screen asks you to select the partition you want to use to install the operating system:

If you have only one partition and it looks small, such as less than 8 GB, simply select it
If you have only one partition and that, regardless of its size, you want to use it wholly to install the OS,
select it

If you have only one partition but it is large and you want to create various partitions, first make sure it is
selected it. Then, press C to partition it. The next screen would ask how much space you want to use for
the new partition. By default, it will propose the total space for it. To reduce it, first press Backspace a
few times to delete the numbers, then type the desired number of megabytes, and press Enter. Press the
down arrow key to select the Unpartitioned Space option and press C. Continue in the same way until
you have created the desired partitions

If you have many partitions already, to specify which one will be used to hold the operating system, use
the up and down arrow keys to select it

After selecting the partition you will use, press Enter to install the OS in it

The next screen will ask you to format the selected partition and specify the type of file system you want
to use. Select the Format The Partition Using The NTFS File System option and press Enter

In the next screen, the partition will get formatted. This may take a few minutes.

Once the formatting is over, the installation will continue by copying files.

After a while, a wizard, titled Windows Setup, will come up. Its first page presents you with two options.

The first choice consists of changing the Regional and Language Options. The default options will be
selected depending on your version of the CD. For example, if you bought the OS intended for a US use,
the US English would be selected. If you want to change the language, click the Customize button.
Another dialog box, titled Regional and Language Options, would come up with English (United States)
selected. You can then click the arrow of its combo box to change the language. After making your
selection, you can click OK. If you don't intend to change anything, you can click Cancel.

The second option consists of making changes to the way the keyboard will interpret text. Once again, if
you are installing the OS intended for a US audience, the US English is selected by default. If you want to
change it, click Details. This would open the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box. You can
change the language by clicking the arrow of the combo box. After making the change, you can click OK.
To ignore any change, you can click Cancel or press Esc.

After dealing with the Windows Setup dialog box, click Next

The next screen request that you enter your name or the name of the primary person who will be using
the computer. You must type a name other than Administrator or Guest

The other text box, Organization, expects the name of the company. Make sure that you provide this
information

After entering the name and the organization, click Next or press Enter
The next page of the wizard requests the Product Key, which you must enter

After typing the product key, click Next

The next page of the wizard shows the options available for licensing. You should accept the Per Server
option and click Next

The next page of the wizard, expects you to type the computer name. It also suggests a default, based on
the company name you would have entered previously as the Organization. You can accept the
suggested name, which you can still change later on, or you can type a new name

We haven't mentioned "user accounts" yet but during installation, a user object is created and it is
named Administrator. When setting up the operating system, you must give a password to this account.
Obviously the password should not be too easy. Fortunately you can give it temporary password and
change it later on as your network, skills, and concerned improve. You must enter the password in the
Administrator Password text box and type it again in the Confirm Password text box. Make sure you
remember this password because you will need it just after the installation

After specifying the password, click Next

The next page of the wizard allows you to set the date, the time, and the time zone that the server will
use. Most of the time, the computer finds out the right date and the right time and it selects them. On
the other hand, you should adjust the time zone if the default is not the right one. This page of the
wizard also allows you the let the computer adjust its clock when daylight time is switched during the
year. The option to change this is selected by default. If you don't want the computer to take care of that,
you can remove the check mark on the check box.

After changing the options or making sure that they are right, click Next

After clicking next, the wizard is closed and the installation continues copying files.

After a few minutes, a new wizard, titled Windows Setup, comes up. This time, it will ask you to accept
or change the network settings of the server. The first option allows you to let the installation take care
of networking details. The second option allows you to manually set them.

Because we will review the details of this wizard in later lessons, accept the Typical Settings option and
click Next

The next page of the wizard allows you to actually make this computer into a server.

Accept the first option not to "join" a domain.

The wizard suggests WORKGROUP as the name of the "domain". If you don't like that name, change it. If
you can't come up with a domain, you can use the one we will use. For our lessons, our domain will be
called Neptune. In this case, in the top text box, type NEPTUNE

After entering the name of the domain, click Next

After clicking Next, the wizard will start copying the files, again.

Once the installation has finished copying the files, the computer will start. When the computer comes
back, you will be asked to log in.

Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to log in

Accept the User Name as Administrator.

In the Password text box, type the password you entered during the installation

Click OK.

If you see a window titled Manage Your Server, congratulations: you have finished installed Microsoft
Windows Server 2003

The Role of a Server

After you have installed Microsoft Windows Server 2003 as we did above, it is primarily a regular
computer. To use it as a server, you must properly transform it. Fortunately, this is an easy process. When
the computer comes up and displays the desktop, the first window you see, titled Manage Your Server,
allows you define the "role" of the computer. A convenient link is available in the middle of the window.

Practical Learning Practical Learning: Configuring Active Directory

Read the text in the window and click Add Or Remove A Role

The first page of the wizard presents a summary of the actions you must have taken before continuing:

Read it and click Next

A dialog box will display briefly and then display a list of the roles you can assign to the server.

In the list, click Domain Controller (Active Directory)

Click Next

Click Next to Run The Active Directory Installation Wizard

Another wizard, titled Active Directory Installation Wizard, comes up. Read its text and click Next

In the second page of the wizard, read the text again, and click Next

In the third page of the wizard, you must specify whether this is the first or an additional domain
controller. As this is the first, accept the first radio button and click Next

In the fourth page of the wizard, accept the first radio button and click Next

In the fifth page, you must enter the name of the domain. The name should be followed by an Internet
domain name (.com, .net, .org, .us, etc). If you have a domain in mind, type it. If you don't have a domain
in mind, for our lessons, type netconsulting.com

Click Next
In the next page of the wizard, a suggested NetBIOS name displays, intended for earlier versions of
Windows":

Accept it and click Next

The next page allows you to specify where the Active Directory information would be stored:

Accept the default and click Next

The next page specifies where the domain's public files would be stored:

Accept the default and click Next

After a few seconds, the next page allows you to install DNS.

Read the options:

Accept the suggested second radio button and click Next

The next page allows you to set the default permissions:

Accept the suggested second radio button and click Next

The next page prompts you to create a password used to start the server in "Restore Mode". Enter a
password in both text boxes:

Click Next

The next page displays a summary of your selections:

Read the text and click Next

The wizard will start creating and configuring Active Directory:

After a while, if you don't have the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 CD in the drive, you may be be
prompted to supply it:

Do so

After a few seconds, you may receive a message box informing you that your computer has a static IP
address. Click OK

When the dialog box comes up, simply click OK

Another message box will come up. Click it and click OK. The wizard will continue copying files.

After a few seconds, the last page of the wizard will display. Read its summary and click Finish
You will be asked to restart the computer:

If you have a CD in the CD drive, remove it and click Restart New

When the computer comes up, click the Options button and make sure that the name of the domain is
selected in the Log On To text box.

Make sure that Administrator is specified in the User Name text box.

Enter your administrator's password

Click OK

After the computer displays the desktop, a dialog box titled Configure Your Server will let you know
whether the installation of Active Directory was successful:

Click Finish