HP Advanced Services zl Module with Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008 R2 Planning and Design Guide

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Branch Office Solutions with the Advanced Services zl Module with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
Planning Your Services
Survivable Services
You should also deploy services that require survivability—that is, users must
be able to access them at any time, including during a WAN link failure—
locally at each branch.
At the most basic level, services that require survivability allow employees to
stay connected to the network. These services include:
 Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which enables devices to
obtain IP settings
 Domain Name Server (DNS), which enables endpoints to resolve host-
names to IP addresses
 Active Directory, which enables users to log in to the domain
Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a read-only Active Directory role, which
is ideal for branch offices. The read-only domain controller replicates
objects from other domain controllers. It can authenticate users and
devices that need to log in to the domain and enforce domain policies.
However, administrators of the read-only domain controller cannot add,
delete, or modify domain objects.
With the users’ basic network connectivity ensured, next consider which other
services might require survivability. Consider all the services that users at the
branch access routinely. Which of these services are vital to productivity and
customer care? If the WAN link to your data center goes down, what services
will your employees need to continue operating?
Such services might include access to critical files and applications. You can
use the module’s Windows Server 2008 R2 File Services role to store important
and frequently used files locally so they will be readily available at all times.
The Windows Server 2008 R2 can also host necessary applications locally so
your branch can remain completely operational in the event of a WAN link
failure.
For a list of all services available on the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2,
go to www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/default.aspx.