Small Business Server

Note: If you are new to networks, please read our "Network Primer" first.

Introduction

Microsoft® Windows Small Business Server 2003® (SBS2K3) combines several Microsoft® products into a single, integrated package designed to cater for the needs of small to medium organizations. If you have (or expect to have) less than 75 workstations and if you want to minimise the time dedicated network administration, Small Business Server is for you. Small Business Server offers incredible value for money. Just consider this:

• It's a LAN Server. Powered by industry standard Windows 2003 Server Operating System, Small Business Server makes sharing your files, databases, applications and printers a breeze.
  
  
• It's email. With Small Business Server, every employee can have their own email address and can send/receive internal and external email from their workstation.
  
  
• It's FAX. Every employee can send faxes directly from their workstation. The incoming faxes can be printed and distributed by hand and/or copied directly to an employee mailbox or public folder.
  
  
• It's Internet. All employees can access Internet simultaneously via a single Internet connection.
  
  
• It's a Web Server. Small Business Server makes an excellent platform to host your Intranet and/or Internet Site (although for security and performance reasons we don't recommend running your public Internet site on the SBS machine; please check our "Web Design Primer" for web hosting options). The powerful, built-in tools take care of site security and traffic analysis. There's also a handy search engine thrown in.
  
  
• It's a Database Server. The built-in Database Management System can help you manage your business information. This information can be accessed with Microsoft® Excel, Microsoft® Access, and many other applications. You will need to do some programming to use it, though.
  
  
• It's Remote Access. Small Business Server allows home and mobile users to work as if they were connected directly to the network. These users can send and receive email, send faxes, or access files just as they would be in the office.
  
  
• It's a Network Manager. While the installation and configuration of Small Business Server is definitely a job for professionals, the network management is very simple. You don't need to employ a dedicated Network Administrator. Using the Integrated Management Console, an average PC user can easily perform the management chores such as adding and deleting users, changing their privileges, performing backups etc. The built-in Online Guide provides an instant help when you need it.

And Microsoft are currently (Feb 2004) offering all this at less than the cost of Windows Server 2003 alone!!!

• Micropol have supported Small Business Server since the earliest version.

• We will be encouraging our SBS4.x sites to upgrade as soon as possible. Microsoft extended the 'life' period of NT4 but will soon consider it an 'end of life' product and will no longer support it. We would be pleased to support any new clients wishing to investigate upgrading.

• SBS 2000 was a major change and facelift, adding Active Directory to the already powerful operating model.

• SBS 2003 adds more functions, particularly in data organisation and remote access capabilities. Also, by offering two levels of product Microsoft allow you to tailor the bill to your budget. More about SBS Premium vs Standard on later pages, skip to this link if you can't wait to find out.