Review: Windows Small Business Server 2003

Lots of small offices run their networks as serverless LANs, or workgroups, in order to share basic office facilities including a high-speed Internet connection and high-speed or color printers. This kind of setup is generally quick and easy to establish, and though it lacks any kind of true coordination, it's generally adequate for very small networks.

But at some point, most offices find they want additional facilities in order to support their growth and the increasing complexity of having staff work together. These functions fall into the general categories of file backup, centralized e-mail, document sharing, and remote access to documents. At the same time, the ad-hoc setup of individual computers has become unmanageable because of the differences in each configuration.

Each of these problems can be addressed by a wide range of solutions, but Microsoft's Windows Small Business Server 2003 is a breath of fresh air because of its holistic approach to the problem. Small Business Server 2003, an update from SBS 2000, extends the original package and adds a set of very useful functions, combining the Windows Server 2003 operating system, Windows SharePoint Services for Web collaboration, Exchange Server 2003 technology for e-mail infrastructure, Outlook 2003 e-mail and calendaring client, Microsoft Shared Fax Service, and Routing and Remote Access Services (RRAS) firewall technology.

But the best part is that all the components of SBS 2003 can be installed and maintained by the kinds of support staff common to most small businesses.

Server Configuration Made Easy
A common issue with small organizations that decide to convert to a server-based network is the configuration of the server itself. Windows Server products are feature- and detail-rich environments, and while they can operate with a minimal configuration, doing so means missing out on many of the most valuable features.Small Business Server 2003 includes wizards that guide uninitiated server administrators through a process that ensures each of the facilities can be taken advantage of. Most of the time, the wizards do a great job of explaining the options available during the step-by-step process, but highly detailed help is always available.

Installation And Setup
The setup guide for SBS 2003 offers options for upgrading an existing server or starting fresh. I started with a previously used Pentium 1.3-GHz white-box machine with 512MB RAM and a 60GB hard drive, and allowed the installation wizard to reformat the drive for a fresh start. I installed from the single DVD rather than swapping the four CDs also included in the package.

The setup wizard asked about the existing network and Internet connections, then made the appropriate settings based on my selections. The whole process took a couple hours, but most of that was unattended.

Next Steps

Once the initial process was completed, the ToDo list appeared as my home page. SBS's ToDo list is a great feature because it clearly identifies all the configurations and setups that are to be done.

It doesn't, however, automatically indicate which tasks have been begun but not completed. I would like to see some automated indication of which tasks were at least partially complete and which hadn't been touched. But it was simple enough to click the associated link for each task, which started up the wizard for that particular process.

Many neophyte administrators know what a particular function does, but are not familiar with how to best use it. For example, the Exchange Server 2003 installation wizard in SBS 2003 installs and sets a minimal configuration for Exchange Server, but the fact that users and e-mail accounts can be created and managed using account templates may not be obvious, and can save the administrator significant time and effort.

SBS's extensive list of Best Practices, covering topics ranging from establishing adequate security settings to managing e-mail and user accounts, makes it easy to understand details by presenting them as needed.

It took me only another four hours to do the following:

Not bad for a few hours' work, especially considering I didn't need to install any additional programs.

Connecting The PCs
SBS 2003 comes bundled with five Client Access Licenses (CALs) and a copy of Outlook 2003, which is copied to a shared folder on the server. I set up a new PC by connecting it to the LAN and pointing it to a page on the server, then logging in as a user I had already set up. The page then downloaded an ActiveX control that pushed Outlook, an update to Internet Explorer, and any OS Service Packs that needed to be applied.

A nice touch for converting from peer-to-peer networks is the profile migration function that's kicked off when connecting a client computer. I was able to migrate my existing My Documents and Favorites to SBS 2003 simply by identifying which users would be using the particular PC.

Outside Help
Many small to midsized businesses rely on service providers for ad-hoc support. SBS 2003 has a complete set of tools including remote desktop and server administration, a help desk utility, and performance reporting that simplify the service provider's job, reducing support time and ultimately the overall cost to your company.Pricing

Small Business Server 2003 is a relatively low-cost way to equip your small office with enterprise-class services. The Standard version including five CALs retails for $599, and the Premium version, which adds SQL Server 2000, ISA Server 2000 firewall technology, and FrontPage 2003, sells for $1,499. Additional CALs are $50 or less depending on quantity. (Note that you must have a CAL for every machine connected the LAN that accesses the server. This means not just PCs but also fax machines, printers, etc.)

The Bottom Line
Large enterprises typically have an advantage over smaller companies in that they have full-time staff to handle setup, configuration, and maintenance of the complex systems that keep their operations coordinated. The prospect of setting up an Exchange server, VPN access, or a company intranet scares off many small organizations because of the complexity and cost of deploying these advantageous tools. But Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 levels the playing field considerably. It just might be the all-in-one server solution your small business is looking for.