Section 1: Windows Small Business Server 2008 Overview

BoV_Startbutton People drive results. When you amplify their impact you create greater success. Microsoft® believes that people, when properly equipped with the right tools, can surmount even the most complex business challenges. Of the many options available to business, software has demonstrated a unique capacity to amplify the positive impact of people, help them overcome business management challenges and more effectively contribute to the bottom line.

To help small businesses solve these issues, Microsoft built upon its success with Microsoft Windows® Small Business Server 2003 to develop Windows Small Business Server 2008. Windows Small Business Server 2008 is the latest small business solution from Microsoft designed to help small businesses operate at the same technology level as much larger organizations, but without the added costs and complexities of managing an intricate IT infrastructure.

Windows Small Business Server 2008 is a reliable, affordable, all-in-one solution, whether as a first server OR as a migration server for small businesses with an existing network. It delivers multiple key technologies in an integrated fashion, making it easier to deploy, administer and manage. It provides small businesses with a simplified installation and management experience making the transition from peer-to-peer networks to server-based technology painless. It also helps in keeping small business’ data and systems highly secure – including e-mail and documents - from malicious attacks, disasters, OR technology failures. Windows Small Business Server 2008 increases productivity through anytime, anywhere access – for employees OR partners - to business information regardless of their location.

Windows Small Business Server makes it easier for partners to deliver value to customers through custom installation, administration and mitigated costs. For partners, Windows Small Business Server 2008 paves the way for short and long-term revenue opportunities; highlighting new tools for simplifying installation, administration and management—for example, the single administration console, improved remote management capabilities—which enable partners to serve customers with greater efficiency while increasing their profit margins

These tools, and the underlying design goals of Windows Small Business Server 2008, will afford the partner community the ability to move beyond traditional break-fix services. Partners can become specialists in vertical market technology and provide value-added services to their customers. Infrastructure management is not a commodity, but it is one that can’t be heavily promoted as a value-add line item; customers expect that the infrastructure is configured properly, is highly secure, and “just works.” By providing a core infrastructure that already meets customer expectations, it frees the partner to focus on and promote value-add solutions to the customer – in other words, the partner gets to focus on doing what the partner does best.

Partners can also increase customer trust by providing them with a known-good, highly-secure infrastructure built upon Microsoft best practices. As businesses grow, the potential for loss increases and the more products need to be installed and configured to help reduce the risk. Even when products are supplied by the same vendor, additional configuration and modification is needed to ensure the products work efficiently and securely. This requires that partners become knowledgeable about different products so that the systems will be highly secure. Yet there can be lingering questions, wondering if all the options been properly set OR whether something was missed from the best practice guide. With a core infrastructure in place that has already been configured according to best practice guidelines, partners can increase customer trust and improve their status as a true strategic partner for the midsize business.

Section 2: Product Comparison

BoV_Startbutton Windows Small Business Server is a solution designed and built specifically for the small business. It has been providing core infrastructure services and solutions to small businesses since its inception in 1999. With each new release, Windows Small Business Server builds upon enterprise-quality technologies and enhances them with tightly-integrated management features. It is then optimized for small businesses and delivered to the market as a robust solution.

Over time, the underlying technologies, components, and features have changed to reflect updated products, feedback from partners and customers, and improved product usability and manageability. The most recent release to the public was Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 which shipped in July 2006 Scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2008 is Windows Small Business Server 2008. This section explores the differences in detail, providing additional product knowledge to groups at Microsoft involved with the product release.

The product comparisons include:

· System requirements

· Product technology comparison

· Licensing and pricing

· Languages

· Product features

· Virtualization support

Note that these comparisons are based upon Windows Small Business Server 2008 Release Candidate 0. The product may change before it is released to manufacturing; please consult with the Windows Small Business Server Product Marketing team before making any materials public that rely on this document. For the most current product information, please visit the Windows Server Solutions Group Web site at http://infoweb2007/wssg.

System Requirements

The following items represent the minimum hardware requirements for the server that will run the respective Windows Small Business Server solution. For new servers, your server hardware should have the “Certified for Windows Server 2008” logo. This logo helps identify products that deliver a high-quality computing experience with Microsoft® Windows Server operating systems. You can find a list of certified hardware and server systems on the Windows Server Catalog Web site (http://www.windowsservercatalog.com).

Standard Edition System Requirement	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
CPU Speed	x86 CPU: 750 MHz minimum clock speed (SBITS.Biz suggested 2Xeon 2.8Mhz CPU Min)	• x64 single-core CPU: 2.66 GHz minimum clock speed • x64 multiple-core CPU: 1.5 GHz minimum clock speed • x64 multiple CPU sockets: 1.5 GHz minimum clock speed (SBITS.Biz suggests Intel Dual Core 2.66 Xeon CPU Min.)
RAM	512 MB minimum (SBITS.Biz suggests 4GB Min.)	4 GB minimum (SBITS.Biz suggests 8GB Min.)
Hard Disk	16 GB available hard disk space (SBITS.Biz suggests RAID Configuration of 40GB for OS and 500GB for Data.)	60 GB available hard disk space (SBITS.Biz - suggests RAID Configuration of100GB for OS and 1TB OR More for Data)
Optical Drive	CD-ROM OR DVD-ROM	DVD-ROM bootable from the system BIOS OR a peripheral connection (such as USB)
Display	VGA OR hardware that supports console redirection. (SBITS.Biz 800x600 Monitor required for installation.)	VGA OR hardware that supports console redirection. (SBITS.Biz 800x600 Monitor required for installation.)
Other Devices	One network adapter (SBITS.Biz suggests 1GB Card and USB 2.0)	• One network adapter supporting a 100 Mb OR greater link speed • One external hard disk drive for redundancy; two external hard disk drives are suggested. Windows Small Business Server 2008 supports USB 1.1, 2.0, and IEEE 1394 external hard disk drives (SBITS.Biz suggests 1GB Card and USB 2.0 and firewire.)
Additional items and services required for Internet access	• Some features require Internet access and payment of a separate fee to a service provider; local OR long-distance telephone toll charges may apply. • Broadband OR high-speed modem Internet connection	Some features require a publicly accessible Internet connection with a firewall, OR firewall-enabled router/modem. This may require payment of a separate fee to a service provider; local OR long-distance telephone toll charges may apply.
Additional items required for networking	Dedicated Class 1 fax modem to use fax service	Dedicated Class 1 fax modem to use fax service

Premium Edition System Requirement	Small Business Server 2003 R2*	Small Business Server 2008 (second server)**
CPU Speed	x86 CPU: 32-bit 750 MHz minimum clock speed (SBITS.Biz suggests is the same as the server, you can Not MOVE SQL off of SBS2003R2)	• x64 CPU: 1.6 GHz • x86 CPU: 1.0 GHz (SBITS.Biz suggests 64bit Xeon 2.66Ghz OR more.)
RAM	512 MB minimum (SBITS.Biz suggests 4GB Min.)	512 MB minimum (SBITS.Biz suggests 4GB for second Server.)
Hard Disk	16 GB available hard disk space (SBITS.Biz suggests RAID1 500GB Min.)	10 GB OR more available hard disk space, depending on SQL Server components installed (SBITS.Biz suggests RAID1 250GB Min.)
Optical Drive	CD-ROM OR DVD-ROM	DVD-ROM bootable from the system BIOS OR a peripheral connection (such as USB)
Display	VGA OR hardware that supports console redirection	VGA OR hardware that supports console redirection
Other Devices	Two network adapters (SBITS.Biz - suggests 1GB network Card with Good Commercial Firewall.)	One network adapter supporting a 100 Mb OR greater link speed (SBITS.Biz - suggests 1GB NIC Card.)
Additional items and services that may be required	• Some features require Internet access and payment of a separate fee to a service provider; local OR long-distance telephone toll charges may apply. • Broadband OR high-speed modem Internet connection (SBITS.Biz suggests Quality Firewall for Security and Port Forwarding.)	(SBITS.Biz suggests Quality Firewall for Security and Port Forwarding.)

* All Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Premium Edition components must be installed on the hardware running Standard Edition.
** SQL Server may be installed on the same hardware running Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard Edition.

Product Technology Comparison

Windows Small Business Server minimizes initial acquisition and deployment times by offering an easily deployed single server solution that combines several server technologies under one Microsoft license. Small businesses OR partners are not tasked with identifying, purchasing, OR licensing multiple server technologies, OR subsequently matching them to appropriate hardware resources. They also benefit from an integrated deployment experience – one delivered on a single piece of media that fully integrates the configurations of all underlying server technologies into a single server installation wizard.

The tables below compare the respective product technologies for Windows Small Business Server 2003 and Windows Small Business Server 2008 for the Standard and Premium Editions of each product.

Standard Edition Technologies

Product Technology	Small Business Server 2003 R2	Small Business Server 2008
Operating System	Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition technologies	Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies
E-mail	Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2	Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition
Collaboration	Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 (SBITS.Biz suggests Downloading and Installing WSS 3.0 for Better Intranet Portal.)	Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
Update Services	Windows Server Update Services 2.0 (SBITS.Biz suggests WSUS 3.0 SP1)	Windows Server Update Services 3.0 (SBITS.Biz suggests WSUS 3.0 SP1)
Shared Fax Service	Windows Server Shared Fax	Windows Server Shared Fax
E-mail client	Microsoft Office Outlook 2003	Outlook Web Access (SBITS.Biz suggests Office 2007)
Exchange antivirus	None (SBITS.Biz suggests Current Version of Trend Micro WFBS. For AV and SPAM Solution.)	Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server^1,2(SBITS.Biz suggests Current Version of Trend Micro WFBS. For AV and SPAM Solution.)
Server malware protection	None (SBITS.Biz suggests Current Version of Trend Micro WFBS. For AV and SPAM Solution.)	Windows Live OneCare for Server^1,2 (SBITS.Biz suggests Current Version of Trend Micro WFBS. For AV and SPAM Solution.)
Web page editor	None	Integration with Office Live Small Business²
Prebuilt marketing and Web reporting tools	None	Integration with Office Live Small Business²

1 120 day trial included in product.
2 Windows Live OneCare for Server and Office Live Small Business are not available in all markets and languages; Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server is not available in all languages. Please see www.microsoft.com/sbs08 for details.

Premium Edition Technologies

System Requirement	Small Business Server 2003 R2*	Small Business Server 2008 (second server)**
Operating System	Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition technologies	Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies for SBS Premium (x86 OR x64)
Network Firewall	Internet and Security Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004	Windows Server firewall for host protection only Not applicable
Database server	SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition	Microsoft SQL Server® 2008 Standard Edition for Small Business (x86 OR x64) OR Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition (x86 OR x64)
Web page editor	Microsoft FrontPage 2003 (FrontPage only with Premium)	Integration with Office Live Small Business

Licensing and Pricing

Windows Small Business Server 2008 is offered in two editions: Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard Edition and Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition.

Server licensing

Each edition is covered by a single server license that provides use rights for all the included product technologies. Each edition also includes five client access licenses (CALs) that allow users to connect to the respective product technologies. The CALs may be designated as per-user OR per-device, enabling a small business to choose the licensing model that best suits its needs. For additional users and devices, customers and partners must purchase additional user and device CALs.

Note

User CALs are assigned to a specific user, allowing the use of any number of devices to access Windows Small Business Server. Device CALs are assigned to a specific device, allowing any number of users – but only one user at a time – to access Windows Small Business Server.

User and device licensing

User and device licensing has undergone three changes between versions. First, the name has been changed to more accurately reflect the type of network usage needed on the network. The table below shows the new names.

CAL nomenclature	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
Standard CAL	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 5-CAL pack / 20-CAL Pack (1-CAL Pack available in Volume License channel only)	Windows Small Business Server 2008 CAL Suite 1-pack / 5-pack / 20-pack
Premium CAL	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 5-CAL pack / 20-CAL Pack (1-CAL Pack available in Volume License channel only)	Windows Small Business Server 2008 CAL Suite for Premium Users OR Devices 1-pack / 5-pack / 20-pack

User and device CALs will be available in two types of license Suites. The first type, Windows Small Business Server 2008 CAL Suite, provides use rights for the Standard Edition product technologies, and provides rights to access other computers running Windows Server 2008 and Exchange Server 2007 Standard OR Enterprise Edition on the network. This license may be used with Standard OR Premium Edition of Windows Small Business Server 2008, and is best for users OR devices that do not require access to the Premium Edition technologies.

The second type, Windows Small Business Server 2008 CAL Suite for Premium Users OR Devices, provides licensing for Standard Edition and Premium Edition technologies, including SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition for Small Business. Premium CAL Suites are only needed for specific users OR devices that access all versions of SQL Server running on the network.

Second, with Windows Small Business Server 2008, a customer can purchase CAL Suites that match the type of license needed and recognize a cost savings. Only users that need access to SQL Server would need a Premium CAL Suite. This results in savings to the small business that can craft its license usage to match the actual needs of its users.

Third, License Suites are sold in denominations of one, five, and twenty licenses. This also gives partners and customers greater flexibility to match licenses to numbers of employees OR devices. This helps cost-conscious customers and partners buy only the licenses that are needed and reduce overall license management costs.

In the table below, prices are stated in U.S. dollars and reflect pricing for purchases within the United States and Canada. The prices listed are estimated retail prices; reseller pricing may vary. To find the Microsoft Web site for your country/region, visit the worldwide sites page (http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide).

	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
Standard Edition	$699 *Retail	$1089 *Retail
Premium Edition	$1299 *Retail	$1899 *Retail
Single CAL (volume licensing only)	Dependant on pricing level and region
CAL Pack 5/20	$489/ $1929
Standard CAL Suite 1/5/20		$77 / $385 / $1540
Premium CAL Suite 1/5/20		$189/ $945 / $3780

Software Assurance (SBITS.Biz suggests SA for MS Office and Server.)

Customers can invest in future software upgrades by paying for Software Assurance. This allows them to receive future updates at no additional cost. For Windows Small Business Server, this can be problematic since product technologies can change architectures, are no longer compatible, OR are discontinued. Microsoft suggests that you purchase Software Assurance for your servers and CALs to use the latest Windows Essential Business Server release, and to take advantage of the many additional benefits of the Microsoft Software Assurance program.

For customers with Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 and Software Assurance, the upgrade paths are listed in the table below.

SBS 2003 R2 Component Product	Upgrade Path
FrontPage 2003	SharePoint Designer 2007
Outlook 2003	Outlook 2007 OR Entourage (Macintosh users)
ISA 2004	ISA 2006 plus a copy of Windows Server 2003. Customers will also be provided a promissory note for a copy of Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010 when it becomes available.
Windows Small Business Server 2003R2 CALs with Software Assurance	Windows Small Business Server 2008 CAL Suite for Premium U sers OR Devices

Transitioning to other Microsoft products

Microsoft recognizes the need to provide customers with an effective path to migrate out of their current solution as their business needs change—whether that path is a move within the Windows Essential Business Solutions (WESS) family of products OR to its standalone server products. With that in mind, Microsoft is introducing a new program that will support the various customer scenarios for those who want to move to a different product solution.

Called the Solutions Pathway, it will offer a tiered discount that will be applicable to all mobility scenarios involving the WESS family, and will replace previously offered SKUs to achieve the same outcome. Customers will be able to make the purchase easily from MS COM Web sites. Upon entering your product key, the system will automatically validate and recognize what product you have and will provide the possible migration paths available to you. It will also automatically calculate the appropriate discount, which ranges from 25% to 35%, depending on what changes you are making.

For more information please visit the Microsoft Web site (www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/essential/pathway.mspx).

Languages

Both versions of Windows Small Business Server will be offered in the same set of languages. This helps ensure market continuity and market opportunity worldwide. Windows Live OneCare for Server and Office Live Small Business are not available in all markets and languages; Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server is not available in all languages. Please see www.microsoft.com/sbs08 for details.

Available Languages
English	Brazilian	German
Italian	Turkish	Spanish
French	Polish	Dutch
Korean	Russian	Czechoslovakian
Chinese (Traditional)	Chinese (Simplified	Japanese
Portuguese	Swedish	Hungarian
Greek

Product Features

With each new version of Windows Small Business Server the list of product features expands and becomes more powerful. Administrators and users benefit from the advances made in each of the products in Windows Small Business Server, and they benefit from improved usability and expanded capabilities that are brought to market. This section examines the different features and functions found in each version, including:

· Environmental Considerations

· Setup and Installation

· Administration Console

· Networking

· Messaging

· Storage Management and Backup

Environmental considerations

The server running Windows Small Business Server must be capable of running all of the software components, provide a great user experience to the PCs it serves, and require a minimum of customization and configuration by a wide range of administrators. Since the target market is the small business, some product design considerations have been built into Windows Small Business Server so that it can meet these goals. Most of the limitations affect the network environment, such as the 75-user OR –device limit. The table below lists the limitations for each product.

Environmental considerations	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
Maximum users	75	75
Target administrator	VAP	VAP, DIY owner (Because of the Issues SBITS.Biz has seen user installation issues with SBS2008, SBITS.Biz suggests a Qualified Installer.)
Hardware firewall required	(SBITS.Biz suggests a Hardware Firewall for Both SBS2003 and SBS2008)	YES
Network firewall	Yes (2 NICs Required for using SBS2003’s Firewall.)	No
Child domains	No	No
Cross-forest trusts	No	No
Small Business Server must hold FSMO roles	YES	YES

Setup and Installation

Windows Small Business Server excels at setting up and configuring all product technologies needed for a customer’s environment. The goal for Windows Small Business Server 2008 was to further simplify setting up a new server OR migrating to Windows Small Business Server 2008. It includes tools and wizards to make the setup and installation process consistent, repeatable, and understandable. (SBITS.Biz suggests a Qualified person install SBS because of the many Technical Terms and Configurations that are needed with SBS2008, You may choose to install your own, however SBITS.Biz suggests knowledge of MX Records, DNS Principles, Port Forwarding, IP Address Assignments. Network Design, Understanding of use of RAID in a server. User space Requirements, Configuration of Exchange 2007 with IMF, Spam Filtering, User Configurations Shared folders, permissions to Users Paths. Permissions on Folders, and a Basic Understanding of Solid Security Policies.

For example, many partners purchase a server with Windows Small Business Server pre-installed. (SBITS.Biz Does not suggest this Installation, because it often doesn’t take into account the Client’s NEEDS.) With Windows Small Business Server 2008, the OOBE has been reduced to five screens of simple input (business name and address, server name, administrator name) followed by approximately thirty minutes of software installation and configuration. This represents a significant time savings for the partner. (SBITS.Biz never uses this installation because Vendors will not do what is best for the client, and the server will most likely need to be rebuilt from scratch anyway.)

Setup and Installation Features	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
New installation	ü	ü
OEM installation	ü Not suggested by SBITS.Biz	ü Not suggested by SBITS.Biz
Extensive help files and guidance during setup		ü (SBITS.Biz has found that people are confused on terms that Microsoft uses.)
In-place upgrades	ü	(SBITS.Biz – In place Upgrade not available because of the Switch to a 64bit OS)
White paper migration	· SBS 4.5 · SBS 2000 · SBS 2003 · SBS 2003 SP1 · SBS 2003 R2	· Windows 2000 Server, Standard Edition · SBS 2000 (Documentation Lacking in Details)
Wizard-driven migration		· Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition · SBS 2003 SP1 · SBS 2003 R2 · SBS 2008 · Windows Server 2008, Standard edition (SBITS.Biz – This Documentation is NOT complete and has many Pitfalls Please Read the Entire Document and Know all steps before attempting. Also, Please do in a TEST environment FIRST also the wizards are not always Wizards but "LINKS" to support Articles.
Must change server name during migration	ü	ü (SBITS.Biz suggests SBSMigration.com OR Fork Lift Migration)
Must change AD domain name during migration	Depends on migration
Must manually change client settings after migration	ü
Time allowed for migration	7 days	21 days (SBITS.Biz suggests you Test Environment your Migration if you have not done one before.)
Detailed log files created during setup		ü
Perform migration during business hours	Not suggested by SBITS.Biz	ü (SBITS.Biz NEVER suggests this, this is a Weekend Process, ONLY!)
Answer file tool to automate deployments		ü
OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK)	ü	ü

Note: SBITS.Biz – Microsoft has done a lot of effort in an attempt to make migration path easy. However If you search Google you will notice that is not So. To Migrate a SBS server someone should have a great knowledge of AD, Exchange 2003 and 2007 and File Permissions. Along with a good understanding of SQL and Databases.

Administration Console

The Administration Console is the primary location for managing most aspects of the small business infrastructure. It helps minimize the cost of managing and maintaining multiple applications, systems, and network resources such as users, computers, and devices. Designed for simplicity, the Windows SBS Console abstracts away management complexities by providing a streamlined interface into the most common client and server administration tasks for a small business environment.

In Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2, the Administration Console grouped management features based on specific technologies, such as Web site management OR Software Updates. Once in the technology-related section, many of the links connected to native management consoles. This mix of task-related versus feature-related functionality was helpful for experienced administrators but could prove confusing to partners OR business owners new to the product.

With Windows Small Business Server 2008, the administration experience was redesigned with tasks rather than technologies in mind. The Administration Console collects primary management tasks and status indicators into related tabs. Each tab focuses on a set of tasks OR functions that can be applied to similar resources on the network. Grouping the tasks together makes it easier for administrators to determine where to go to manage the network and what to do once there.

Each tab contains streamlined tools that dramatically shorten common management tasks. For example, adding a user requires completing fields in only two screens for all user-related configurations in the network: user account, e-mail account, access permissions, user quotas, and group membership.

The Administration Console also offers real-time insight into an organization’s overall health, security, and network management. A partner OR business owner can immediately tell whether the network secure, protected, and up-to-date. If not, the console takes the administrator to the appropriate tab where more information is available.

Administration Console	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
New installation	ü	ü
Add a user	ü	ü
Add multiple users	ü	ü
Define custom user roles	ü	ü
Strong password policies enabled by default		ü
User quotas automatically defined	ü	ü
User documents folder redirected to server	ü	ü
Automatically configure group policies	ü	ü
Automatically configure computer update policies		ü
MMC consoles available	ü	ü (Exchange 2007 uses power shell for some administration.)
Real-time security status from servers and PCs		ü
Real-time update status		ü
Real-time backup status		ü
Real-time system status		ü
Links to additional Web resources	ü	ü
Admin console extensible by ISVs		System Health and Alerts tabs
Edit company information after installation		ü

Networking

The most important step for Windows Small Business Server is network configuration. It is easier to provision a network than it was ten years ago; but for the unwary, setting up a business network can be a challenge even when provided with all the information needed to be connected to the Internet. An administrator is still required to know details about the local network, if one is present, how to purchase and register domain names, and how to configure the local network so all computers would use the available services.

Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 used the Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard (CEICW) to set up core network services, such as local network addresses and domain name resolution. Other tasks, such as registering a domain name, were left to the partner OR small business owner to resolve. For Windows Small Business Server 2008, the networking goal was to get the server on the Internet, quickly, securely,
and with as little networking knowledge, using automation where at all possible.

Network configuration has been completely overhauled, using multiple wizards to set up and maintain different aspects of the network. The Network tab in the Administration Console is the first place to visit when setting up a server on a network. Once the network has been configured, the Network tab is the first place to stop when having a network-related issue. The Fix My Network wizard detects and corrects over seventy common network configuration issues, isolating and repairing individual issues rather than reapplying configuration settings in hopes of fixing the issue.

There are two features that have been removed from Windows Small Business Server 2008 that were present in Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2. First, the server is no longer used as a router between network segments and so supports only a single network interface card (NIC). Second, ISA Server is no longer available as part of the Windows Small Business Server 2008 solution. Customers preferred using a hardware firewall, OR already had an existing firewall in their network, and so it was decided to remove these features from the Windows Small Business Server 2008 solution.

(SBITS.Biz – Note: Network Configuration does not always work, be prepared to manually change MX Records
Create DNS pointers and Open Ports in Firewalls, manually This Requires DNS knowledge and Knowing exactly what is in your Network Environment.)

Networking Features	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
Edge firewall role	ü
Support for IPv6 addresses		ü (SBITS.Biz Note: Do not Disable IPv6 it will cause issues.)
Network subnet auto-discovery		Connect to the Internet wizard (CTIW)
Router auto-discovery	CEICW	CTIW
Configure router ports for network services	CEICW (UPnP-enabled routers)	CTIW (UPnP-enabled routers) (SBITS.Biz Does not suggest the UPnP Feature of Firewalls they can cause you more headaches than manually configuration of a firewall.)
Configure DHCP services for network	CEICW	CTIW
Configure DNS services for network	CEICW	CTIW
Select and purchase Internet domain name	Manual	Internet Address Management wizard (IAMW)
Manage domain name	Manual	Automatically with IAMW OR manually (SBITS.Biz – Note: Automatic does not always work.)
Update domain information with registrar		Automatically with IAMW OR manually (SBITS.Biz – Note: Automatic does not always work.)
Warn of changes OR errors with domain provider		ü
Configures SBS as primary DNS server for domain	ü	IAMW
Windows Firewall enabled by default	CEICW	ü
Advanced firewall and caching services	ISA Server (Premium Edition only)
Repair network configuration errors	Re-run CEICW	Fix My Network wizard
Trusted Certificate installation wizard		ü
Configure VPN connections	Re-run CEICW (This is Wrong, it's the Remote Connection Wizard)	VPN Wizard
Mobile device configuration and support	ü	ü

Windows Small Business Server 2008 also comes pre-loaded with server-side software for Windows Mobile connectivity. Windows Mobile 5 is supported, but due to the reduced certificate management complexity, Windows Mobile 6 devices and higher are suggested for use with Windows Small Business Server 2008. In addition, a Small Business Server self-issued certificate may OR may not work with a particular device, depending on how it is locked by device provider. Windows Small Business Server 2008 includes a certificate installer application which can aid this process by automating this installation on some devices. Partners and customers deploying Windows Mobile devices are suggested to purchase a trusted certificate for use with Windows Small Business Server 2008.

(SBITS.Biz Note: Current iPhones are supported with Exchange 2003 (SP2) and Exchange 2007 )

Feature	Windows Mobile 5	Windows Mobile 6	Windows Mobile 6.1+
E-mail, calendar, contact, tasks sync	Yes	Yes	Yes
Remote wipe	Yes	Yes	Yes
Local wipe after 10 failed logons	Yes	Yes	Yes
Device PIN policy		Yes	Yes
Works with SBS self-issued certificate		Yes	Yes
Auto-discover configuration settings from SBS			Yes

Messaging

In today’s connected world, e-mail is the mission-critical business application. Microsoft Exchange Server introduces advanced e-mail and calendar functionality to businesses running Windows Small Business Server. This allows the business to start using enterprise-quality messaging and collaboration matched only by robust security features.

The goal for setting up messaging is to establish the small business on the Internet, complete with a domain name and mail server to receive mail sent to the domain. The user’s e-mail experience should also be seamless, letting the employees take advantage of integration with Microsoft Office Outlook, Outlook Web Access, and Windows Mobile features with minimum effort.

Messaging Features	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
Message server	Exchange 2003 + SP2	Exchange 2007
E-mail antivirus		Forefront Security for Exchange Server (SBITS.Biz suggests Current Version of Trend Micro WFBS)
Message store limit	72 GB	16 TB
Default user mailbox limit	200 MB	2 GB
POP3 Connector	Manual configuration	Wizard
Smart Host (SMTP relay host) configuration		ü
Windows Mobile support	Version 5.0, 6.0	Version 5.0, 6.0, 6.1+
Outlook Web Access log on requirement	Domain and user name (SBITS.Biz – Note: False information You can use name only)	User name only

Backup and Storage Management

Previous versions of Windows Small Business Server relied upon NTBackup, the backup program available in Windows Server 2003. It lacked the ability to back up locked files OR files in use such as Exchange OR SQL Server data files. This meant that backups had to occur during low usage periods, usually late at night. Backups were file-based; meaning that if one cluster in a file changed the entire file would have to be backed up. This took a lot of time; and as most backups were done to tape, it was possible that even late-night backups wouldn’t be finished before employees showed up for work in the morning.

Windows Server Backup (WSB), part of Windows Server 2008, has been incorporated into Windows Small Business Server 2008. WSB has been rebuilt from ground up with a goal of solving the backup needs of Small Business Customers. Its focus is on simplicity, reliability and performance. It helps provide comprehensive data protection from disasters (fire OR theft), system failures (disk failure), OR data losses (virus attacks, accidental deletion).

WSB is block-level, meaning that it only backs up the changed part of a file, not the entire file. This dramatically reduces the time needed to back up changed data, which in turn allows multiple daily backups for more restore points. Block-level backup also changes the nature of the backup – it no longer consists of sequential series of full and incremental backups, but consists of a single full, up-to-date backup that can be restored at one time. No more hunting for tapes OR other recordable media that contain sequential, incremental backups to assemble a full backup!

Lastly, WSB can back up to external OR internal hard disk drives, such as USB OR eSATA devices. Tape backup systems are no longer supported.

Storage management has also been dramatically improved. In Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2, adding storage, such as additional drives to a RAID array, was the easiest part of moving data. Nearly all data-moving tasks required administrators to use the techniques detailed in white papers, with all the attendant risks of misconfiguration. Windows Small Business Server 2008 has simplified storage management by building wizards to move various data folders to new storage devices. These powerful yet simple-to-use wizards make it easy to add storage as a business’s needs grow over time.

Backup and Storage Management	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
Tape drive support	ü
External hard disk drive support	Limited (SBITS.Biz – I don’t know what they mean by “Limited” is but it works Just fine?)	USB 2.0, IEEE 1394, eSATA
File-level backup (NTBackup)	ü
Block-level backup (Windows Server Backup)		ü
Support for rotational schema between multiple disks		ü
Bare-metal restore	White paper	Wizard
System state backup and recovery	ü	ü
Application Data Recovery support	Wizard	SharePoint Services, Exchange, SQL Server
Move Exchange server data	White paper	Wizard
Move Windows SharePoint Services data	White paper	Wizard
Move users’ shared data	White paper	Wizard
Move users’ redirected documents data	White paper	Wizard
Move Windows Update repository data	White paper	Wizard
Folder redirection	Users	Users and Groups
Filter file types, define quotas	ü	ü

Security and System Health

Aside from employees, the most important small business asset is business data. Without information about customers, products, contracts, prices, and communications, a small business would be forced to shut its doors. Protecting that data is of paramount importance; and while most businesses believe they are protected, they frequently lack the hard evidence to prove it.

Windows Small Business Server has provided increased security and confidence to businesses for years. With Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2, that confidence was extended to include other computers on the network. It added centralized software update management, delivering updates to all computers on the small business network. Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 also had solid server and network reports, giving administrators daily OR weekly e-mail updates about network health.

But there was still more that could be done, and Windows Small Business Server 2008 accepted the challenge. It now provides real-time information about network security, including all computers on the network. The administrator can:

· Quickly identify anti-spam, antivirus, server antivirus, and malicious software status and alerts through color-coded health indicators;

· View definition OR signature file versions for anti-spam and antivirus;

· Determine if any client computers lack security updates;

· Receive summary information on the Windows Server Update Services environment including pending approvals and update errors;

· Deploy OR decline updates with a single click;

· Change Windows Server Update Services synchronization OR automatic approval options; and

· Generate reports showing how an update affects the network.

Reporting likewise has been improved. The summary and detailed server reports provide consolidated reporting information on the Windows Small Business Server 2008 environment and a means to distribute status information to desired recipients. The administrator can:

· Leverage native reports to get a complete snapshot of the environment, including all servers, computers, printers, and devices on your network;

· Generate reports immediately OR on a schedule with automatic e-mail forwarding; and

· Create custom reports, OR view past reports through the reports archive.

· Reports are extensible by third party vendors.

· Reports can be read on Windows Mobile 6.0 OR later smartphone devices.

Reports are available at any time in the Administration Console, and reports can also be delivered to multiple recipients through e-mail. By default a daily summary report is sent to the network administrator every night, and a weekly detailed status report is sent to the network administrator once a week.

Security and System Health	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
Live view of network health	Server only	ü
Server antivirus and malware protection		OneCare Live for Small Business (SBITS.Biz – OneCare is EOL. SBITS.Biz suggest Trend Micro WFBS Advanced)
E-mail antivirus and malware protection	Exchange Server 2003 + SP2 (malware only with IMF)	Exchange Server 2007, Forefront Security for Exchange Server (malware and antivirus) (SBITS.Biz – suggests Trend Micro WFBS)
Client PC compliance check prior to joining domain		ü
Updates automatically applied to non-compliant systems	ü	ü
Real-time client antivirus monitoring		ü
Real-time client firewall monitoring		ü
Real-time client malware monitoring		ü
Health reports	SBS 2003 R2 server only (SBITS.Biz To be honest I don't know what they are talking about here?)	All servers and clients
Software update services	WSUS 3.0 (SBITS.Biz – Error SBS2003R2 Came with WSUS 2.0 You can however download and install WSUS 3.0)	WSUS 3.0 + SP1
Define alerts	ü	ü
Create custom reports		ü (SBITS.Biz – This is kind of deceiving, It’s not user friendly and some of the simple reports from SBS2003 have to be RE Created.)
Support for Healthmon perf counters	ü
Extensible by 3^rd parties		ü
Usage reporting (who has largest mailbox, who accesses Internet the most)	Internet usage only (ISA Server, Premium Edition)	ü
Performance reporting (processes-consuming resources, event log alerts)	Process information only	ü

Business Productivity

Windows Small Business Server provides two indispensible tools for small businesses looking to make a big-business impact: Remote Web Workplace, and Windows SharePoint Services. Remote Web Workplace is a dynamically-updated Web site that provides a single, simple, consolidated, and secure entry point into a small business network. Authorized users can connect to Remote Web Workplace using any computer connected to the Internet with Internet Explorer installed. It brings flexibility to small businesses by offering anytime, anywhere access for employees.

Employees can take advantage of remote access to business information and applications, including e-mail, shared folders and files, OR remote connectivity to their desktop computer at the office. With Remote Web Workplace, remote employees enjoy an experience similar to their office counterparts. The first iteration of RWW shipped with Windows Small Business Server 2003; the second, and much-improved version, is available in Windows Small Business Server 2008.

Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 also included Windows SharePoint Services 2.0, which allowed employees to upload and edit documents, collaborate on projects, maintain common calendars, and share customer contact information. Windows Small Business Server 2008 includes Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, which has been substantially expanded with business-specific templates, predefined business workflows that can be attached to documents, a site-wide recycle bin to catch those accidentally deleted files, and the ability to create and share wikis and blogs – great tools for informally catching corporate knowledge and making it available throughout the business.

Though Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 was able to host an externally-facing Web site, most customers used an external service to do so, as bandwidth limits would be reached for more than just a casual, static Web page for the company. Windows Small Business Server 2008 offloads Web site tasks to Office Live for Small Business, a hosted service that provides a huge jump-start to small businesses with tools, reports, marketing, and even e-commerce capabilities. This lets small businesses create a big-business presence without expending time and money seeking out a Web site developer and Web host. (SBITS.Biz – suggests Any Offsite Hosting, *Godaddy, Hostgator etc. Office Live often locks you and limits users control of site.)

And finally, no business would be complete without its own line-of-business (LOB) application. Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 could host LOB applications, and it did so well. But some customers wanted to use terminal services OR remote desktop capabilities to offload LOB applications onto a dedicated server. Windows Small Business Server 2008 provides a second server for just that reason, giving small businesses the ability to run multiple LOB applications without affecting core infrastructure OR services.

Business Productivity	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
Remote Web Workplace	Version 1.0	Version 2.0
Single sign-on	ü	ü
Credentials required	Domain and user name (SBITS.Biz Note: Domain Not required if server configured correctly.)	User name only
Add company logo to RWW		ü
Add common and per-user custom links to RWW		ü
Outlook Web Access	OWA 2003	OWA 2007
Advanced e-mail and shared calendar functionality via RWW	ü	ü
Remotely browse internal Web site	ü	ü
Remotely connect to personal computer at work	ü	ü
Remotely connect to application server at work	ü	ü
Windows SharePoint Services	Version 2.0	Version 3.0
Business-specific SharePoint templates		ü
SharePoint search	(SBITS.Biz - Search could be enabled with SQL installled.)	ü
SharePoint Recycle Bin		ü
SharePoint wikis and blogs		ü
SharePoint per-document permissions		ü
Public Web site support	Hosted on SBS, suggested for low-bandwidth usage only; required complicated white paper	Hosted by Office Live Small Business, no bandwidth limits (Any Third party Hosting will work.)
Web site design tools and templates	FrontPage 2003 (Premium Edition only)	Office Live Small Business
Advertising management		ü
Mass-marketing tools		ü
Customer contact manager		ü
Document manager		ü
Collaborative workspace		ü
Project management		ü
Site reports		ü
E-commerce / shopping cart		ü
Vista gadget with links to RWW, business info		ü
Database for line-of-business (LOB) applications	SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition (SBS Premium Edition only)	SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition (SBS Premium Edition only)
Dedicated LOB server		ü
Terminal Server support	(SBITS.Biz – Second Server also required.)	ü (second server only)
Shared application support		ü

Virtualization support

Virtualization continues to be one of the most exciting technology trends in the market today. Whilst not a new technology, in recent years it’s momentum has grown particularly in solving several technology challenges. These challenges include; server consolidation, backup and recovery; and high availability. Windows Small Business Server has always focused on providing such features targeted to the Small Business segment.

With the release of Microsoft’s own virtualization technology Hyper-V, and its support for 64-bit child partitions, Windows Small Business Server 2008 includes support for virtualization with Microsoft’s Hyper-V technology.

Windows Small Business Server 2003 will remain unsupported as a Hyper-V child partition due to complexities in supporting some of its component technologies in a virtualized environment.

Further details will be released closer to the RTM of Windows Small Business Server 2008 covering the scenarios available.

Virtualization Support	Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2	Windows Small Business Server 2008
Windows Hyper-V		ü