Home Server/Network Config Comments please !!

I am in the process of refurbising my house and while i was at it i have added CAT5 throughtout the house, to make best use of this currently and for the future i have built myself a server with the bits i had left over from serveral PC upgrades, current spec of the server is as follows :-

2000xp Processor
1 Gig Ram
1 x 20 Gig Harddrive
1 x 16 Gig Harddrive
1 x CDRW drive

Software running on this is Server 2003 & Exchange 2003 (over kill i know but im wanting to play and learn)
This server is connected to a SMC 24 port switch, also in the house is a High Spec Gaming / Multimedia Machine also connected to the 24 port switch and a Centreno Laptop connected via wireless to a Dlink DSL 604+ Router, which acts as a Internet Gateway and is also connected to the 24 port switch

I would like this server to act as a File Server and Active Directory for current & future machines, i am planning to get a couple of new larger Hardrives for the server and put them in a RAID 1 config and put all my Music, Photos, Video, etc, on these drives

I was also thinking of having this machine as the mailserver and to host my website which im currently paying for to be hosted else where.

Comments & Suggestions please on my Config / Plans

Regards

Phil G

Wow - you've got some cool stuff there

It all sounds about right to me. Server is good and powerful and running the correct software. Should be able to host webservers/email servers without a problem. Just make sure that you're running a good firewall and that your ISP doesn't block any ports like 25 or 80.

i have almost the same setup with the 604+, and a dual p3 server and have lots of probs with my win2003.

btw, why do u need a firewall when the NAT on the 604+ is doing that for u???

Dont be confused NAT really isnt a firewall unless no one is connected through it. when you connect to the internet through NAT/PAT your PC is open for access. example, lets say you have NAT/PAT running on your router and you connect to the internet a one - to -one dynamic translation is made and a port scan of your router will show the port as open attacking that will send the attack straight to the PC through the translation. A firewall on the NATed router would block outside attempts to connect through the translation slot. PAT is better than NAT as PAT is dynamicly changing and lets say you have 10 PCs that access the internet the port translation will change so from the outside you will connect to a different PC on the inside each time, basicly the hacker doesnt know wich of the 10 PCs he is attacking at any given moment and they change. NAT is a one to one translation and you will hit the same PC or server everytime.