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Greetings..
My intention: Set up windows server 2008 as a stand alone server to
share files and peripherals among computers on my network.
To allow and deny access to various services to
particular machines.set up groupings for users.
What I have: Four windows xp professional desktops stations
One windows vista laptop
One eight port switch
Cat 5 network cable already crimped.(i think in
peer to peer mode. will check that out later).
No internet connection yet.
What I have done: Successfully installed windows server 2008
successfully installed dhcp server.

after the server was installed i was unable to see what or who is
connected and their ip address in some logical manner.
so i installed the dhcp server.
I am using only one station to test things for now.
I realised that i could not set up a static ip without being connected
directly to another machine.
so i connected to one and installed the dhcp server.
install was succesfull and it gave the 'test' station an ip address
in the desired scope.
the network connection still says unknown.
i also installed print server to allow printing from different machines.
but from the test station if i try to print a document, when i go to
find printer is says: no directory service installed.
i know what dns and active directory means, but not how to configure.
my network knowledge goes as far as workgroup networks for
gaming.Servers are abit more tricky.
know sure which series of steps i should take.

if i made mistakes in my intentions
it is lack of knowledge not haste.

virtualinfo

I have just installed Windows 2008 today to evaluate it & Test it for future use in production. The version I decided to use is the Windows 2008 Enterprise 64-bit. and I would like you to use this link for your reference.

Thanks