Question : Setting up Small Business Server and Active Directory - Step 1

I work at a small web design company where it's me (programmer) and two graphic designers. I have a new dell server and Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 SR2 Premium Edition.

Here is a brief overview of our network setup:
Office
- Comcast Broadband -> LinkSys WRT54G Router -> NetGear Firewall -> NetGear VPN Concentrator/firewall -> Dell 2724 Smart Switch
-- Dell Server with SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition
-- NAS 1.5Tb File Server ReadyNAS+
--- Programmer Workstation
--- Graphic Designer Workstation1
--- Graphic Designer Workstation2

Remote Web Server Provider (SoftLayer)
- WWW1 web Server
- WWW2 web Server

I currently access our web servers at Softlayer using a VPN connection.

What I would like to do is centralize our logins so that all of our servers office and at softalyer are connected.

Is implementing AD a pain?
Is it worth setting up for our small, but growing, team?
If so how complicated is it to setup active directory and connect all the servers together using VPN connections?

Answer : Setting up Small Business Server and Active Directory - Step 1

Brian,

I administer one company very similar to the one you have. Also 1 SBS server and 5-7 workstations. All of the PCs are onnected to one 3COM switch which is connected to ADSL router/firewall.
I installed AD there in it's great for me even when it's a very small network. Management is easier, you don't need to know TOO much to be able to keep things working.
Few recommendations:
1. Think where you will have your DHCP server. I would recommend placing it on the SBS server as it will be also AD Domain controller and I'm not sure, if you can authorize another devices in AD. Of course most non-MS ignore some authorization and they just provide the service, but AD is not very happy about that:-)
2. Implementing AD is very simple. On your SBS server just start the "dcpromo" command and the wizard will guide you through the installation process. Most of the settings can be left default. Pay attention to DNS settings. If you decide to have DNS on SBS server, don't forget to configure all your client's TCP/IP properties to have DNS server set with SBS's server IP adress.
3. When installation is completed, create some Organizational Unit (From Administrative tools - Active Directory Users and Computers) and then create some user accounts inside this OU (via the same console).
4. Simply join the workstations to domain.
5. You're done

As from_exp mentioned, you don't need additional network card. Let's say you will have physical star topology - all computers connected to single switch and last cable from switch will lead to the internet (thrugh firewall ideally).
The SBS shouldn't be the entry point to your newtork, keep it as secure as possible.