Does this sound ok?

I am looking to build a home network with a domain controller. Does my plan
below sound fundamentally sound?

I am going to use a MS router as my gateway
2003 Server as my domain controller providing DNS and DHCP
I will install 2 NICs - 1 for internal traffic, 1 for external traffic

if you have a router, the 2003 server doesn't need to 2 NICs. However, if you want to have more security, you may enable the NAT on the server with 2 NICs.

Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services. Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

"kelly" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:9991A4EC-E39A-4CC8-807B-(E-Mail Removed)...
I am looking to build a home network with a domain controller. Does my plan
below sound fundamentally sound?

I am going to use a MS router as my gateway
2003 Server as my domain controller providing DNS and DHCP
I will install 2 NICs - 1 for internal traffic, 1 for external traffic

It will probably work but it is not a great idea. It is never a good
idea to put two NICs in a domain controller. It also means that you have two
routers, which complicates things. You would need to make the server the
default gateway for LAN machines, and put them in a different IP subnet from
the router.

The other problem is DNS. If you install a domain controller, the client
machines really need to use the local DNS service (because AD depends on DNS
to find services such as netlogon). You need to modify your local DNS to
forward to a public DNS service (such as your ISP) and configure your
clients to use the server for DNS, not the router or an external DNS.

You can leave the server with one NIC and still use the router as the
gateway for the LAN, as long as you modify DNS as above.

kelly wrote:
> I am looking to build a home network with a domain controller. Does
> my plan below sound fundamentally sound?
>
> I am going to use a MS router as my gateway
> 2003 Server as my domain controller providing DNS and DHCP
> I will install 2 NICs - 1 for internal traffic, 1 for external traffic