Making a Windows network for my school

[Oberon.Smite]

I've been tasked to make a small school network for a private school that I don't go to but I'm tight with the people that run it. They need a storage space for each of the students, a central admin account that can manage all of the students' accounts, a single server for all programs to run off of, and individual logins for each of the students. They have maybe 40 kids so it's a pretty small school so i don't need to buy a large rack or anything. I was researching it and I've downloaded Windows Server 2016 180 trial on a bootable USB drive read to put on a PC... I'm currently watching Eli The Computer Guy's series on Server 2012 and hoping most of hte things are the some because I need to setup a domain (DNS), file server (storage spaces), and a server where all programs can be put on one system and deployed to other systems remotely. Is there any way I can make this happen without having to go to a networking class? I already know the basics and I'm in Cisco working on my CCNA right now.

[Donut417]

2 minutes ago, Oberon.Smite said:

I've been tasked to make a small school network for a private school that I don't go to but I'm tight with the people that run it. They need a storage space for each of the students, a central admin account that can manage all of the students' accounts, a single server for all programs to run off of, and individual logins for each of the students. They have maybe 40 kids so it's a pretty small school so i don't need to buy a large rack or anything. I was researching it and I've downloaded Windows Server 2016 180 trial on a bootable USB drive read to put on a PC... I'm currently watching Eli The Computer Guy's series on Server 2012 and hoping most of hte things are the some because I need to setup a domain (DNS), file server (storage spaces), and a server where all programs can be put on one system and deployed to other systems remotely. Is there any way I can make this happen without having to go to a networking class? I already know the basics and I'm in Cisco working on my CCNA right now.

Not an expert by any stretch. But as far as administering the Student accounts, you would use Active Directory for that. The little I have done with AD, it was fairly easy. The true issue is figuring out how many Domain Controllers you need. As I was told you should have more than one, in case one dies. Because if the PCs on the network have no access to the Active Directory database then your boned if you need to log in. Active directory from what I remember can help with most of this, Its a big database that contains all the users accounts, their permissions and access, such as where their data is stored on a file server. 

 

Networking class isnt really where you learn this stuff. There is a difference between networking and Windows Server. You might check out Lynda.com as well, Im sure they would have some material on it. Most of my experience with Windows Server was a class I had back in 09, with Windows Server 2003. 

[jnic]

so if your still in school you could get a free license for windows server 2016 here https://imagine.microsoft.com/en-us/catalog 

[Donut417]

Just now, jnic said:

so if your still in school you could get a free license for windows server 2016 here https://imagine.microsoft.com/en-us/catalog 

No the op is setting up a network for a school. The school would need to purchase a license from Microsoft. 

[Jack DeGregorio]

A VMWare host sounds like a good option to host virtual machines

 

You are going to need at least one Domain Controller running DNS, DHCP, Active Directory Services, Windows File Services which could be on Server 2012 R2 or Server 2016.

You can make cifs shares which is what the Windows File Services allow you set setup for sharing files and some programs. Those things can all be hosted on a single VM.

 

SCCM is Windows native way of installing programs remotely that has extra cost and would need its own server or VM.

 

 

This is systems task not a networking task you do not need a CCNA for this.  

[Sir Asvald]

9 hours ago, jnic said:

so if your still in school you could get a free license for windows server 2016 here https://imagine.microsoft.com/en-us/catalog 

Those are student use and personal use. You cannot use them for anything other than what is stated. The school would have to buy the licenses for Windows.

[Levisallanon]

 Make sure you have one machine (preferably virualized) being the domain controller with the ad ds role.

Have a second machine be the dhcp, dns and file server. For expand ability sake I suggest using dfs.

 

For the programs you need to see how to tackle it, you could package them and use sscm or something like that to manage it. Just booting them from a network drive often leads to problems.

You could also opt to use mdt or something like this to make a golden image and spool all devices over pxe with this image. So the applications are stored locally.