I've searched the forums but nothing quite matches what we're looking for. I've read through enough forums, documentation, and other web resources, but I'm still a novice Windows Server 2008
potential user.
Setup right now with:
- About 20 workstations with 5 laptops, one Terastation RAID 5 (switchable from workgroups to AD), with one
Windows Server 2003
(not a DC) runningVisual SVN
standard. - The enterprise edition (which we are not running) is where users are able to access
VisualSVN
Server using theirActive Directory
domain credentials, but they don't want to upgrade to that version.
VisualSVN maintains its own internal user database. If we go to a Server 2008 R2 configuration, I understand all computers and storage devices will need to be added to AD
as well as the users.
My questions:
Would we be able to maintain workgroup access to those devices not added to AD? I read in another forum that you still have access to workgroup devices, but how is that done?
Could we just use
Windows Server 2008
to maintain a user database(create/delete users, change passwords)
without going full AD?Reason being is that my manager is constantly changing users passwords on their workstations because they either forget them and they don't expire out.
They also want to move the authentication from the VPN device to server 2008 to simplify management. I mentioned upgrading to AD would be the best solution, but they are adverse to the idea since they won't have a full time domain administrator.
They're also not interested in the security aspects of AD aside from the passwords for user accounts.
Would it still be wise to turn on scavenging for DNS (if we do upgrade to Server 2008 AD) if there are no more than 5 laptops that are connected and disconnected from the network?
I'm sure I'll come up with more questions later, but until then, any answers would be appreciated.