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Windows 2003 Small Business Server - 26.Feb.2005 4:54:00 AM

catelo5

Posts: 63
Joined: 7.Jul.2004
From: Miami
Status: offline

Hey guys quick question. I have a couple of clients that I need to quote new servers for. I know they dont want to spend alot of money, so I was thinking of quoting them W2K3 Small Business Server. I have worked with 2000 SBS environments, but have never installed one, nor worked with the 2003 SBS. Just wanted to hear your thoughts since I know that some people were very apposed to this setup with past OS's.

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RE: Windows 2003 Small Business Server - 28.Feb.2005 11:23:00 PM

btercha

Posts: 24
Joined: 10.Jul.2003
From: PA
Status: offline

I've deployed about 50 SBS 2003 servers in all different enviornments, law firms, police, private companies, settlement companies, banks, etc. I have found SBS to be very reliable as long as it is setup properly from the get to. There is no tricks, but just follow good server practices when installing/configuring it. I would typically install the server OS, configure DNS, DHCP, WINS, run DCPROMO and then finish the SBS setup. I've found that allowing SBS to setup DNS, AD and the other services it can sometimes cause errors in the event log you have to go back and fix. After it was all installed, I would update it, Exchange 2003 SP1, all the windows updates, SQL 2000 (if you have Premium Ed.).

The only thing I am opposed to is running ISA on your DC/file server. You should either go with ISA on its own box, or a hardware firewall solution.

Becareful that the organization will not exceed the limits of SBS, it has a 1 DC and 75 concurrent user max. There is a way out, there is an upgrade that converts SBS to a regular 2003 server standard edition running Exchange 2003. But you have to purchase that as well, in the end it turns out to be about the same if not more for standard editions of 2003 server and exchange.

I hope I answered your questions, if not post back and I will gladly help.

(in reply to catelo5)

Post #: 2

RE: Windows 2003 Small Business Server - 1.Mar.2005 12:25:00 AM

catelo5

Posts: 63
Joined: 7.Jul.2004
From: Miami
Status: offline

Well I have deployed several servers and am well aware of the configuration issues that are associated with installing and configuring DNS, DHCP etc. incorrectly. I am glad that you mentioned the DNS, DHCP install before finishing the SBS part of it, I will keep that in mind in if I do go this route. The other thing I wanted to ask was if during the OS install, is Exchange installed as well or no?

(in reply to catelo5)

Post #: 3

RE: Windows 2003 Small Business Server - 1.Mar.2005 2:02:00 PM

btercha

Posts: 24
Joined: 10.Jul.2003
From: PA
Status: offline

Hi Carlos -

No, exchange is installed during the SBS setup portion, not the OS installation.

(in reply to catelo5)

Post #: 4

RE: Windows 2003 Small Business Server - 1.Mar.2005 10:04:00 PM

tmucha

Posts: 3
Joined: 7.May2003
From: Plantsville, CT
Status: offline

quote:
Originally posted by btercha:

Becareful that the organization will not exceed the limits of SBS, it has a 1 DC and 75 concurrent user max

You can have as many DCs as you want, you just can't have any trusts to another domain. It's a common misconception with SBS.

(in reply to catelo5)

Post #: 5

RE: Windows 2003 Small Business Server - 16.Mar.2005 12:47:00 AM

Guest

Hi there,

On the SBS installed version of Exchange, is that version in any way limitted? Does it have the same max store size limits as Standard Exchange?

Thank you!
Rich

(in reply to catelo5)

Post #: 6