CIS256 Project - Windows Server 2008 Active Directory

This is an individual project where you will engage the many components of planning the implementation of Windows Server 2008 Active Directory. With increased use of computer technology, many medical practices, clinics and doctor's offices are moving away from their paper-based recording system for their patients to a new Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system. In this project, a group of 4 medical offices are merging together into a single entity.

The EMR application has already been purchased by the new company, and requires Active Directory to function. In addition to the EMR system, many insurance companies require submission of claim forms electronically instead of paper forms. Additionally, many pharmacies they use now accept electronic prescriptions via the Internet. The net effect in this scenario is that several small practices are grouping together and are moving to an entirely electronic system.

The name of the new entity will be called ECPI EMR. Each of the remote offices has about 30 tablet computers that will be used for the EMR system via a browser interface, and 30 desktops running Windows 7 for general office work, thus central file storage on the domain is required. ECPI EMR would like to provide web pages on the Internet and they would also like internal email.

Each office has these departments:

Providers [all the physicians, physician assistants, nurses, etc]
Accounting [processes payments, receipts, payroll, etc]
Nursing [handles submission of prescriptions to pharmacies]
Insurance [works with insurance companies]

A central office will house the IT infrastructure to support the new company. One Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition server is located in each of the remote offices at this time. Additional servers can be purchased if justified. A T1 line is already in place between the remote offices and the central office. Digital certificates are needed for authentication purposes for these devices.

Your task is to design the Active Directory structure for the new organization.

In this project, you will:

Design AD logical and physical design
Design the GPO structure of the organization
Design the DNS infrastructure to support Active Directory
Identify the location of the FSMO roles
Identify the DC locations
Identify the bridgehead servers (if any are used)
Design the software / operating system deployment plan for the organization
Design the CA for the organization
Develop a Disaster recovery plan to include data and Active directory
Identify additional servers / equipment needed

Generate a time line to implement the entire solution

You will have access to Microsoft Word, Excel, and Visio via the XenDesktop. You will use those applications to develop your solutions for different parts of this project.

Unit 1 Project

You are beginning the design of your solution for ECPI EMR, the newly combined medical services provider company. You will use Microsoft Visio (via XenDesktop).

Part 1 - Existing Network Diagram

Using Visio, prepare a diagram based on the information you've been given so far. This will be a first step to confirm you have a firm understanding of the existing environment, particularly the hardware already installed. Visio has extensive stencils for diagramming computer networks, however, focus most on thinking through what's described in the project.

Save your file as Lastname_CIS256_U1_Project1-1.vsd

Part 2 - Active Directory Diagrams

Using Visio, design a physical and a logical structure for the company. You should have two files, one for each diagram. In these diagrams, you should include physical components such as domain controllers, file storage, forests, OUs, domains, trees, etc. Know that this is an initial plan and will likely change dramatically as you progress in the project. Get ideas from the images in Chapter 3 and 4. What you start with now will likely be very different from what you end with.

Save your file as Lastname_CIS256_U1_Project2-1.vsd for the physical design.

Save your file as Lastname_CIS256_U1_Project2-2.vsd for the logical design.