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We have a domain controller (Windows Server 2008) which has all of our employees user accounts with their roaming profiles.

I am in the process of looking into options for remote workers using laptops. The users would share a few laptops between them and take a different laptop with them every time.

Would it be sensible having the laptops linked by 3G through a VPN back to the office server? The users would then get all of their files etc. on the laptop as if they where sat at their desk. However, the connection speeds may cause issues.

Is it possible to link the laptop to the domain via VPN without adding any extra servers or server software?

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Before I even begin to write an answer I have one question. Do you have any other servers that could be used instead of the Domain Controller? –  John Gardeniers Apr 3 '11 at 22:27
We have a Unix server that runs our CRM system. Our draytek router currently runs the VPN connections but the users aren't linked to their profiles and the laptops are therefor not locked down. –  dannymcc Apr 4 '11 at 6:01

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While you certainly can use a Domain Controller for your VPN it's generally not advised to do so if you have other options. Configuring the VPN on a DC is no different to doing so on any other Windows server.

Given your requirements, the problem you face is that there is nothing to stop the users logging on to their laptops prior to connecting to the VPN. While it is possible to prevent this it tends to make the laptops a whole lot less usable.

This problem is the same regardless of whether the VPN is on the router or the server. If you wish to enforce a policy to force the laptop to be connected to the VPN prior to the use logging on (never done it, don't ask me how) the VPN can still remain on the router. It's the authenticating server that matters, not what/which is hosting the VPN, as long as the client machines can talk to the DC when connected.

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While it is possible that you can use this server as a VPN concentrator, I recommend you look at doing this at the edge by using a client VPN capable firewall like a Sonicwall, Cisco ASA, Checkpoint, etc. Let them connect to the device, authorized via LDAP or Radius against your Active Directory usernames and passwords. They can then use this tunnel to access resources inside.

I would not use a domain controller as a VPN endpoint, too many security concerns.

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