How To Setup Windows Server 2008 as a Router

In simple term a router is a computing network device or an application that connects two or more different networks and forward packet data from one network to another. Routers can connect networks within a Local Area Network (LAN), connect LAN network with a WAN (Wide Area Network), a WAN network with another WAN or LAN . A router can also act as an internet gateway to internet service provider and provide internet access to client computers connected to it. In addition routers also perform the network-related tasks such as: filter out, control and manage data traffics, divide  networks into multiple sub-networks, perform network routing to obtain the shortest path to network resources and also provide an alternative in the event the main links are broken or clogged.

There are basically two types of routers, a device router and software router. Device  router is a network gear or hardware that serves as a physical router, among the best known router brands are Linksys, Netgear, Cisco, Belkin and so on. Software Router is an application program installed on an operating system that acts as a router, among the well-known software router are RRAS (Routing and Remote Access), WinRoute, WinGate, WinProxy , SpyGate and so on.

Windows Server 2008 or commonly often referred to as Win2K8 or W2K8 is one of Microsoft’s Windows server line of operating systems introduced to the market in the year 2008. It’s the successor to Windows Server 2003, which was introduced five years earlier. A second release, named Windows Server 2008 R2, was published to the market in the year 2009. Just like Windows Vista and Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 is based on Windows NT 6.x. and like with its siblings we setup Windows Server 2008 as a router. In order to turn Windows Server 2008-powered computer into a router you need first create Routing and Remote Access (RRAS) role on your server . RRAS is a network service that can serve as:

• NAT (Network Address Translation).
• Dial up and VPN Demand-dial Router.
• Dialup remote access server.
• VPN (Virtual Private Network) Server.
• Router

Suppose you want to connect computers between two different networks;  network I and II, network A has computer A as one of its clients, while network II has computer B connected to it. To connect network I and network II, first of all, of course make sure the Windows Server 2008-run computer/ server that you want to turn into a router has two Network adapters (NICs) and the necessary cables to connect them via the router. After the above requirements are met follow the bellow step-by-step instruction on how to setup Windows server 2008 and a router:

• Go to  Server Manager by clicking on  Server Manager icon (located on the right Taskbar), or if it is not there you can go to the Server Manager via the Administrative Tools in the Start menu
• Click on Roles on the left and then click “Add Roles ” menu located on the right pane  (see picture bellow)

• You will then be prompted with the “Add Roles” wizard. check “Network Policy and Access Services” then click Next.

• Still  the ‘Add Roles” wizard , select Routing and Remote Access services option then click the Next button.
• On the Confirmation window click on the “Install” button to complete the installation

• Next : enable Routing And Remote Access – by going to Start —-> Administrative Tools —-> Routing And Remote Access 

•  Next :  On Routing and Remote Access window,  on the left pane just bellow Server Status  right click on the server name then select the Configure and Enable Routing and Remote Access. (see bellow picture)

• You will then be prompted with Routing and Remote Access wizard window, where you will find several configuration options such as Network Address Translation (NAT) and Remote Access (Dial-up VPN )  and Secure connection the between two private networks.  As  we only want to setup router select “Custom Configuration”and then  hit Next . See the bellow picture

• Next check LAN routing option and then hit Next

• A Routing and Remote Access popup windows will appear after that click Start the Service click button

• At this stage you’re done with  the Routing and Remote Access installation process
• Test if the newly-created router works by pinging computer A from computer B and vice versa

If you can ping computer A from computer B and vice versa then you have just successfully setup your Windows server 2008 as a router.

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Filed under: Computer & Networking

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