I want to add a wireless connection to my company's existing small business server which is running Windows Server 2003. I was curious if anyone had any links to a tutorial that explains this process. Can I use a linksys like the one on my home network or is there a different hardware choice for the business environment? There would only be a couple of users accessing the wireless as we are a small company, but it must be able to support viewing a live manufacturing environment, (IQMS). Please consider I am attending college for an IT Networking degree and currently taking windows server classes so I am still green in the networking environment. Any help or direction is greatly appreciated. Brett

Hi, You are adding Wireless ability to your network, it has nothing to do with your SBS 2003 Server unless you are going to manage wireless settings on the clients using GPO, which I believe you are not. Of course for the corporate environment it is always recommended to use proper equipment which is more reliable, supports bigger load and has bigger range. But at the same time it is up to you and your needs. Simple "home like" device will also do if, as you said, you are planning to have only a few Wireless users. Just make sure that you will set up everything properly in terms of security. Use complex key, I would also recommend not to broadcast SSID of your Wireless network. Regarding viewing IQMS, it all depends on the speed of your wireless connection. Fastest speed can be achieved with N standard, I think the speed is about 100 Mbit, but this standard is not widespread yet, and some client PCs may not support it. I would say the best option for you will be G standard, which is supported by most Wireless devices and has a speed of 54 Mbit, whichshould be fast enough for you. The best thing is try and see what is the best solution for you.

Kudrat, Great! I was hoping it would be that simple. So if you don't mind, let me give you a scenario. In our tooling department, the tooling manager has an office with his workstation and the network connection is in his office. The user in his department has a desk located in the middle of the room. To avoid hanging a cat5 wire down from the ceiling for his laptop to access the network and IQMS, I got the idea of putting a wireless router in the managers office. Correct me if I am wrong, but I should be able to plug the network connection in from the wall to the router and plug the managers workstation into the router for his access to the network and the new user can use the routers wireless ability. This connection change for the users should not affect anything in active directory I wouldn't think. Am I on the right track?

oops, I guess I am in the wrong forum. I can't find the 2003 forum though? sorry moderators.... lol

Hi Brett, No, you will not affect Active Directory as it has nothing to do with it. In this case you work with the network only. Yes, you have to connect Wireless router to your wired network. Up to you if you want to connect manager's desktop to the Wireles router, his current connection will be fine, as all wall sockets go to some swithch.

Thanks for your help. Brett

Excellent.. Thanks for all your help, the wireless is up and running and working flawlessly.(Rookie IT Networking Major) Brett