Question : HOw to make a Windows 2003 server a default gateway of an internal network?

Hi:

We currently have a machine with windows 2003 server. On this server, we have 3 NIC cards. One NIC, say NIC1 is connected to the outside network, 2 other NICs cards are  connected to 2 other PCs (XP). We want to build all these three as a small internal network with the Windows 2003 server plays the role of the default gateway.

If you know how to make the Windows 2003 server machine a default gateway, please give some help.

Thanks a lot.

Somits

Answer : HOw to make a Windows 2003 server a default gateway of an internal network?

On the surface, your configuration seems awfully odd to me... and I immediately suspect a much less expensive/easier to manage and more reliable solution could be provided with an inexpensive piece of hardware... That said, I realize that wasn't your question...


I think your answer lies in the the "Administrative Tools" folder.  Routing and Remote Access can do this for you.

This component is fairly straight forward... the route tables can be defined from within the management console or command line.
you can run a DHCP server from this device as well that pushes out the correct routing and connectivity parameters to devices connected to all three network interfaces.
  The DHCP server would provide routing information to your clients, defining your 2003 server as the "DEFAULT gateway"

That said...  Is this a closed network, or is it an Internet connected network?  If it's an Internet connected network, please tell me the 2003 isn't directly connected to the Interenet... There is a hardware firewall between the 2003 server and the Internet router, right?