The Top Ten (Plus One) Myths About Windows Small Business Server 2003
This page helps answer the Top Ten (Plus One) Myths about Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 (Windows SBS). Unless otherwise noted, the questions and answers apply to Windows Small Business Server 2003 (Windows SBS 2003), Windows Small Business Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (Windows SBS 2003 w/ SP1), and Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 (Windows SBS 2003 R2).
1. I cannot add additional servers to a Windows SBS domain.
You can add additional servers to the Windows SBS domain. Windows SBS has the following design constraints:
| • | There can be only one server in a domain running Windows SBS. However, there can be other Windows Servers in the domain and there can be other domain controllers in the domain. | ||||||||
| • | You can add additional Windows Servers in the main office:
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Adding additional Windows Servers in a remote office:
| • | For domain controller redundancy |
| • | For faster authentication and resource location |
| • | You can have additional servers configured as Global Catalog servers |
The server running Windows SBS must be the root of the Active Directory forest
| • | You cannot create trust relationships with any other domains |
| • | The Windows SBS domain cannot have any child domains |
| • | All the flexible single master operations (FSMO) are restricted to running on the Windows SBS server. |
2. I cannot run Terminal Services in the Windows SBS domain.
You can run a server running Terminal Services in the Windows SBS domain, but you cannot run the server running Windows SBS in Application Server mode. There are a number of risks, including security, stability, and application compatibility, involved with running end-user applications on a domain controller, and security risks in providing terminal services access to a domain controller. After balancing the risks and benefits, the decision was made to disable terminal services on the server running Windows SBS except for using Remote Desktop for Administration.
Two primary reasons for using Terminal Services in Application Server mode in a Windows SBS network:
To easily share applications in your office without requiring hardware updates
| • | Line-of-business applications that won’t run on Windows SBS |
| • | Older client machines with under-powered hardware that would require substantial upgrading, or non-Windows computers that need to access the Windows SBS domain |
To provide remote access to business applications using Remote Web Workplace
Many partners and customers have found that installing a second server running Windows Server 2003, and then using Terminal Services to share applications on that server, is more stable, easier to manage, and presents less of a security risk for customers and business-critical data.
3. Windows SBS doesn’t scale.
Windows SBS integrates applications and services for small business, providing an optimal environment for up to 75 users. It uses advanced memory management and service management technology to shift resources to where they are needed – for example, SQL Server will use as much memory as is available but will throttle back to share memory efficiently when Exchange is needed. Some tips for hardware selection:
| • | Do not use desktop hardware. Some customers want to use existing desktop hardware on the server because they have surplus desktop parts available. Server hardware is designed specifically for high-throughput, high-usage scenarios, and will support users much more efficiently and cost-effectively. |
| • | You can use multi-core processors. Windows SBS can use servers with up to two physical processor dies; you can use processors with dual-core or processor hyperthreading to maximize your investment in the underlying “engine.” |
| • | Scale the hardware to support the users. Add memory to the server (3 gigabytes total is optimal), dual processors, and then multiple disk spindles to improve the ability of your server to work with your business information. |
4. Windows SBS requires different hardware than Microsoft Windows Server 2003.
Windows SBS includes Windows Server 2003 technology as the foundation for its small business platform. Windows SBS therefore can use any hardware listed on the Windows Server Catalog Web site that is approved for Windows Server 2003. This includes hardware such as RAID 5 controllers, hot swappable drives, external hard drives, multi-fax cards, and advanced processor technology. Windows SBS does not natively support 64 bit platforms, but it runs perfectly in 32-bit mode on both Intel and AMD 64-bit processors. This means you can purchase 64-bit hardware today and be ready for 64-bit versions of Windows SBS that will be based on the “Longhorn” code base.
5. I cannot upgrade my current server.
Windows SBS supports both upgrades (installing new software on an existing server) and migrations (moving an existing environment to new hardware) for servers running Windows Server or earlier versions of Windows SBS. Older versions must be migrated; newer versions can be upgraded or migrated.
Migration required from old server to new server hardware:
| • | Windows NT 4.0 Server to Windows SBS |
| • | Small Business Server 4.5 to Windows SBS |
In-place upgrade can be performed on the same server hardware:
| • | Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 to Windows SBS |
| • | Small Business Server 2000 to Windows SBS |
| • | Windows SBS 2003 to Windows SBS 2003 R2 |
There are multiple white papers that walk you through the step-by-step process of migrating or upgrading your server; see the Microsoft Web site for more information. If you migrate or upgrade to Windows SBS 2003 R2, note that the hardware requirements have increased. See the System Requirements on the Microsoft Web site.
There are also cost-effective licensing upgrade options for customers moving to new versions of Windows SBS. For example:
| • | $299 version upgrade SKU (new lower price!) Any previous version of Windows SBS to Windows SBS 2003 Premium Edition |
| • | $699 product upgrade SKU (new lower price!) Steps up from Windows SBS 2003 Standard Edition to Windows SBS 2003 Premium Edition |
See the Pricing for Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 page on the Microsoft Web site for more information.
6. I’m going to outgrow Windows SBS.
Great! Small businesses do not always stay small. As your business grows, Windows SBS is ready to grow with you. You can add additional servers to your Windows SBS domain, install applications on those servers, and install servers in remote offices. Windows SBS lets you manage your additional resources with the same intuitive, task-based tools.
As you reach the 75 user-or-device limit on your network, you can purchase the Windows SBS Transition Pack. It removes the user limits and other Active Directory design constraints, and lets you move up to standalone versions of Windows Server 2003 R2, Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition, and SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition (Windows SBS Premium Edition only).
When your network is handling a midsize business load, you can move up to midsize-business software while preserving your initial technology investment. See the Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Transition Pack Web page on the Microsoft Web site.
7. The Exchange Server 2003 mail store limit is too small.
In this era of rich media communications, even the default 16 gigabytes for the mail store in Exchange Server 2003 can seem small. But now any Windows SBS 2003 and Windows SBS 2003 R2 customers can increase the size of the Exchange mail store to 75 gigabytes. Exchange Server 2003 SP2 allows system administrators to increase the size of the mail store to accommodate media-rich e-mail that is becoming the standard in today’s communications. See the step-by-step whitepaper on the Microsoft Web site for instructions on how customers with these product versions can increase the mail store size.
8. My applications are not supported on Windows SBS.
Even if a third-party application does not list Windows SBS on the side of the box, in most cases you can still obtain support for the product. Because Windows SBS is based upon Windows Server 2003 technology, if the third-party vendor is compatible with Windows Server 2003, in nearly all cases it will be compatible with Windows SBS. The one exception is a recent one: Windows SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition includes SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition, a product similar in scope to SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition. Third-party vendors may not have issued compatibility statements regarding their line-of-business applications and compatibility with Workgroup Edition, and so forwards-compatibility cannot always be assured. Contact both your third-party vendor and Microsoft if you have questions about specific applications and compatibility with Windows SBS.
9. Windows SBS has scaled-down versions of the applications.
Sometimes it’s difficult to appreciate just how much big-business technology is packed into a small-business product. Customers sometimes ask if Microsoft scaled down the server applications in order to sell the product. The answer is a resounding NO!
| • | Windows SBS does not contain limited versions of the server applications |
| • | Windows SBS is not a “lite” version of the server applications |
| • | Windows SBS is not a damaged version with APIs missing |
The complete product technologies – Exchange Server 2003, SharePoint Services, Windows Server Update Services – are included in the product. You can install component service packs directly on the server running Windows SBS, and you can write programs or design Web sites that utilize Microsoft technologies. In addition, Windows SBS is pre-configured for smaller sized businesses, with unique management and monitoring tools added. It is the best value on the market and the best opportunity for customers seeking a new server or the right-sized server for their business.
10. I can’t use the tools from Windows Server 2003 in Windows SBS.
Some small-business partners or IT professionals come from a midsize or enterprise-sized IT environment. They are used to using numerous Microsoft Management Console snap-ins to configure, manage, and troubleshoot a large business network. The biggest surprise is finding out that Windows SBS provides simple wizards for most tasks that automate most IT management tasks.
For example, using the Windows SBS Add User wizard, all the necessary Active Directory settings are changed with just a few clicks of the Next button. User templates, Exchange mailboxes, computer settings, and home directories are configured automatically. This removes the need to open several different consoles, confirm that information doesn’t conflict (or, worse yet, a crucial setting was overlooked), and work through a “new user checklist” that many IT organizations find necessary to ensure the creation of a new user account.
If the need arises to go “under the hood,” Windows SBS contains all the MMC snap-ins needed to manage computer and network services. Most IT professionals find the wizards are fast, easy-to-use – and they wonder how they ever got along without them in the midsize marketplace.
11. Windows SBS isn’t secure.
Windows SBS is more secure out of the box than most standard server products. It has been pre-configured to improve security and increase the safety of business and user information. It provides security at three levels:
| • | Security on the network. Windows SBS can configure and manage UPnP firewalls, or you can rely on the built-in firewall provided by RRAS. Windows SBS has support for SSL, IPsec, L2TP and PPTP. Windows SBS Premium Edition adds per-user, per-port, per-service, or per-day control of Internet traffic for maximum control, management, and monitoring of Internet resources. By default, remote access is done through an encrypted Web site called Remote Web Workplace, where all users have limited access unless you grant them increased rights and permissions on your network. |
| • | Security on the server. Windows SBS uses folder redirection and robust backup tools to protect and secure business and user information. Line-of-business information is automatically backed up each night, along with Exchange e-mail and user data. Only administrators have the right to log on locally, and user rights are limited to access within their own folders. While these settings can be changed, it creates a more secure environment for your data from the moment of installation. |
| • | Security on the desktop. Windows SBS 2003 R2 includes Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) that provides update and patch management for all your computers and servers on your network. Critical patches are applied automatically, while recommended patches or service packs are held for administrator approval. A nightly report will show the “green check of software health”, or it will provide details about which computers have not been patched or need additional attention. Spam and malware filtering is available in Exchange, and the Windows Firewall in Windows XP is activated automatically when the computer is joined to the domain. |
Windows SBS is secure out of the box, without requiring extensive administrator configuration, and helps provide greater security for servers, desktops, and business data around the clock.