Ensuring Network Connectivity

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Remote administration requires a stable, unrestricted connection between the management computer and the server being managed. In some cases, you also might need a high-speed connection. The tools you select and the location of the management computer in relation to the server being managed determine the network connectivity issues you need to address. Issues you need to address include available network bandwidth, the type of connection you plan to use, firewalls that might prevent access, and routers that might prevent access due to IP packet filtering.

Network bandwidth

Because remote administration tools can increase network traffic, you need to assess your current traffic levels and the capacity of your network to handle additional traffic that might result from the tools you decide to use. Typically, remote administration tools increase traffic only by a small amount, but some tools can increase traffic significantly. Remote Desktop for Administration, for example, is resource intensive and can create a significant amount of traffic.

Type of connection

If you select resource intensive remote management tools, you also need to assess the type of connection you plan to use with the tool. Typically, high-speed connections available on a LAN or WAN can, depending on your current traffic level, accommodate resource intensive tools. Dial-up, digital subscriber line (DSL), or broadband digital cable connections across a VPN, however, are relatively slow compared to LAN and WAN connections and might result in poor performance for some remote management tools.

If you plan to perform remote management tasks across a VPN, you need to configure the networking settings for the connection. For information about specifying these settings, see "VPN remote access for employees" in Help and Support Center for Windows Server 2003.

Firewalls

Because firewalls restrict network traffic, they can prevent you from remotely managing computers from outside the firewall. If you plan to use a management computer outside the firewall to manage servers inside the firewall, ensure that you can connect to them remotely through the firewall and that the firewall supports the network protocols and ports used by your tools. You might need to reconfigure firewall settings to permit remote management through the firewall.

For more information about the impact of firewall settings on remote management, see the Storage Technologies Collection of the Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference (or see the Storage Technologies Collection on the Web at https://www.microsoft.com/reskit).

IP packet filtering

If you use routers that filter IP packets based on source and destination IP addresses and TCP ports, ensure that you can remotely access the servers you need to manage remotely. You might need to reconfigure IP packet filtering settings on your routers to permit remote management from your management computer.

For more details about configuring your network for remote management, see the Storage Technologies Collection of the Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference (or see the Storage Technologies Collection on the Web at https://www.microsoft.com/reskit).