Do i need seperate Sites?

[Sparks]

The configuration I have at the moment is as follows
(I have just inherited this system, I didn't set it up!)

Windows 2000 servers & Workstations

There are 4 offices, each connected with 256k links
each office has a different IP range

192.168.1.x
192.168.2.x
192.168.3.x
192.168.4.x

Office 1 has 2 domain controllers
The other offices have 1 each

Looking in Active Directory, Sites and Services there is only one site
defined, with everything in it.

Can I simply create new sites and move the servers and workstations to it?
Would this cause any issues with Exchange?
(Each office's server is an exchange 5.5 server)

The reason I want to split it all up is, I want to create some DFS shares
for roaming profiles.

I have also noticed login scripts are running from random servers across the
WAN - would splitting into sites resolve this?

Also, if there was a user with a laptop, would simply connecting to a
particular site's network tell the machine to use the local server when
accessing DFS shares?

Thanks for any help!

Sparks...

 

[Joe Richards [MVP]]

Yes you want separate sites and subnets defined. Note that if you don't define
the subnets, you won't get many of the benefits of the sites.

Exchange will probably be happier once you establish the sites.

joe

 

[Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]]

Sparks,

Looks like Joe beat me to the punch but you will really want to set up the
four separate Sites. It is very important to associate the correct Subnet
with the correct Site. I know that this is obvious but sometimes people get
ahead of themselves and do an "opps!". The Sites will really help with the
DFS shares.

You may also want to look at the Branch Office Guide that MS has put out.
There are two: one for WIN2000 and one for WIN2003. Additionally, you may
want to take a quick peak at the following:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=199174

HTH,

--
Cary W. Shultz
Roanoke, VA 24014
Microsoft Active Directory MVP

http://www.activedirectory-win2000.com
http://www.grouppolicy-win2000.com