Checklist: Setting up a home or small office network

  • Article

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

Checklist: Setting up a home or small office network

Step Reference

Decide whether to use home and small office networking or Routing and Remote Access for your home or small office network.

Home and small office networking compared to Routing and Remote Access

If you decide to use home and small office networking, review home and small office networking concepts.

Home and Small Office Networking; Using Home and Small Office Networking Features

Decide how you want to save your Internet connection credentials (you will be prompted to select credential settings when you fist attempt to activate your Internet connection or when you run the New Connection Wizard).

Dial-up credentials

Familiarize yourself with the icons that indicate that Internet Connection Firewall (ICF), Windows Firewall, Network Bridge, or Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) have been enabled on a network connection.

Network connection icons

Enable ICF or Windows Firewall to protect your home or small office network.

Enable or disable ICF

Set up Network Bridge to connect network segments.

Set up Network Bridge

Enable ICS to provide a shared Internet connection.

Enable ICS

Notes

  • Windows Firewall is not included in the original release of the Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

  • Internet Connection Sharing and Network Bridge are not included in Windows Server 2003, Web Edition; Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition; and the Itanium-based versions of the original release of the Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

  • Internet Connection Firewall is included only in the original releases of Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, and Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition.