Introduction

Welcome to the Microsoft® Windows® Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 reviewer's guide. This guide describes the key capabilities and features of Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 and how these features benefit the two main audiences for the product, small businesses and the technology providers who deliver information technology (IT) services to small businesses. To help ensure that you have all the information you need to review Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2, this guide provides information on the following:

· Significant trends in the small-business technology industry

· Key design goals for Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2

· Features of Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2

· A guided walk-through of Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 Setup

In October 1997, Microsoft Corporation introduced Microsoft BackOffice® Small Business Server 4.0, the first integrated suite of server applications designed specifically for businesses with 50 or fewer desktops. With this product, small businesses could license a single product to address their networking, communications, and Internet needs at a price that represented a tremendous value.

In two subsequent releases, the product increasingly delivered that value to small-business customers, with return on investment (ROI) ranging from 57 percent to 268 percent, according to a study by Forbes.com. Users recouped their investment in one accounting period or less, expanded their geographic reach, performed more revenue-producing tasks at no extra cost, and improved their quality of life through the ability to conduct business from wherever they happened to be.

With the vision of extending the return on investment to small-business customers, Microsoft actively worked to further break down the barriers to adoption, including reducing product complexity. Representatives from Microsoft visited hundreds of small businesses to learn how to enhance product usability and conducted thousands of customer and partner interviews to understand how to maximize the value that Small Business Server provided to small businesses. This customer and partner feedback has driven product development and product improvement at Microsoft. The result is Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2, the fifth-generation release.

As part of the Windows Server 2003 family, Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 delivers the familiar look and feel of the Windows operating system that consumers already know. When small-business users inquire about the Windows Server product that is right for them, the clearly branded Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 will be the optimal choice. Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 provides first-class technology in an integrated solution tailored to meet the needs of small businesses—whether it’s the only server or the center of a multi-server network—delivering great value to solve the problems that small businesses face every day.

Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 offers the ability to integrate and tailor the powerful features of several Microsoft Windows Server System™ components to deliver the ease of use needed by small businesses. Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 delivers an easy-to-install, easy-to-manage product that forms the centerpiece of a small business IT solution.

Small businesses have varying needs for an IT solution. To better meet the variation in a larger population of small businesses, Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 is available in two editions, Standard and Premium.

· Standard Edition consists of Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003, Windows SharePoint Services, and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) technologies. Standard Edition is ideal for first-server customers who are looking to leverage the benefits of server technology in their network, or for customers migrating from a stand-alone server to an integrated technology platform.

· Premium Edition adds Microsoft SQL Server™ 2005 Workgroup Edition, Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004, and Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 technologies. Premium Edition is ideal for small businesses with more demanding IT needs, such as data-intensive line-of-business applications, or for customers with more stringent monitoring and management of Internet services and connectivity.

Table 1 provides an overview of the two editions and their included technologies.

Product Technology	Standard edition	Premium edition
Windows Server 2003 technologies	√	√
Exchange Server 2003 technologies	√	√
Outlook 2003	√	√
Components unique to Small Business Server (setup wizards, monitoring tools, Remote Web Workplace, shared fax)	√	√
Windows SharePoint Services	√	√
Windows Server Update Services	√	√
FrontPage 2003		√
SQL Server 2005 Workgroup technologies		√
ISA Server 2004 technologies		√
Includes 5 client access licenses (CALs)	√	√

Table 1. List of product technologies contained in the Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 editions.

Key Trends

Four major industry trends serve as the backdrop for the design and development of Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2:

· Increased server adoption rate by small businesses

· Increasing need for data storage and backup technology

· Increasing demand for broadband, remote, and wireless connectivity

· Implementing a line-of-business application

Increased server adoption rate by small businesses

Rapid technology adoption by small business is a continuing trend with some new twists. While personal computer growth in small businesses will continue over the next few years—IDC projects that adoption of personal computers by small businesses will climb by almost 8 percent per year between 2001 and 2006—small businesses will deploy servers even more quickly than they will personal computers. IDC projects server growth at almost 10 percent per year through 2006. Within the small-business sector, the deployment of server-based local area networks (LANs) will climb the fastest for the smallest companies. Ownership of Server-Based LAN networks is growing at a rate of 6.5% whilst the rate of PC acquisitions is at a rate of approx 1.5% [2]

This growth is fueled by several factors. First, personal computer penetration in small businesses is already high, and small-business owners are looking to increase the benefit and ROI they get from the computers they already own. A key way to boost collaboration and productivity is to link existing computers in server-based LANs.

Second, small businesses made their last major technology push to prepare for potential year 2000 issues. Continuing advances in technology are bringing those investments near the end of their useful lives, so companies are looking to upgrade.

Third, servers have become simpler to use while the price of server hardware has plummeted—server prices are as low as 20 percent below what they cost a few years ago. According to D.H. Brown analyst Tony Iams, small businesses still operating on servers based on Microsoft Windows NT® Server 4.0, for example, should seriously consider upgrading to Windows Server 2003 because of the persuasive benefits. Iams calls Windows Server 2003 “a platform that’s much easier and more cost-effective to operate today—a key benefit in smaller organizations that lack sizable IT staffs—but that’s also guaranteed to grow to meet expanding needs over time.”[3]

From a demographics perspective the number of small businesses is very large; globally, there are more than 44 million small businesses. IDC has projected that in the US alone there will be an increase of approximately 100,000 small businesses per year through to 2008. [4]

Informal, reactive IT spending pattern for small businesses

No formal planning for IT spending

Small businesses often have no long term plans for their computers and business network. There is no future planning for new servers, desktops, software packages or line-of-business applications. It is common for small businesses to have small or nonexistent IT budgets. In some cases, small businesses do not recognize that the IT infrastructure is as much a helpful tool as an electrical tool on the shop floor. Without planning, it is difficult for small businesses to determine where IT funds are being spent, or even worse, where a small business can receive the biggest bang for the buck for its limited IT funds.

Reactive, not proactive, spending model

In most small businesses, hardware replacement is done on a critical-needs basis—it typically occurs only after something is broken. Operating systems are upgraded or patched only when a desktop or laptop is purchased from a vendor. Desktop software is replaced or updated only when there are significant features or functions that are required by the business. Without a consistent model for installing and maintaining hardware and software, there is a significantly increased risk for security holes to develop in the business infrastructure.

Increasing need for data storage and backup technology

One of the trends fueling the growth of server adoption by small businesses is the explosive increase in the quantity of data in digital format: e-mail, faxes, application data, documents, and media files. Previously, small businesses would have handled much of this data on paper or on native media such as video tape or film. The move to digital media necessitates server software and hardware to share, store, and archive this increasingly business-critical information.

Not surprisingly, data backup and recovery is the most important future IT focus area for small businesses. According to industry observer Access Markets International Partners Inc., 43 percent of small businesses rank data backup and recovery as important to their businesses, making it the leading concern among small businesses. Small businesses are also conscious of the need to secure the information they’re managing electronically: 30 percent cite data security as a future focus, making it the second-highest-ranked concern of small businesses.

Increasing demand for broadband, remote, and wireless connectivity

As broadband service becomes readily available and affordable, it also becomes more attractive to small businesses that can benefit from the technology to make the most of the increasing amount of data they store and use online. IDC expects the number of small businesses using broadband technologies to climb 19.3 percent each year through 2006, making it the fastest-growing technology segment that IDC tracks in the small-business sector.

With greater numbers of personal computers linked to boost collaboration and productivity, and more of their data accessible over a network, small businesses want access to their data and applications anytime, anywhere, so that they can work from home or while on the road. Many small business owners work on company data from home during non-business hours. A growing number of small-business owners and employees work mostly away from an office, and some remote workers have no discrete office at all. Small business owners and employees are more productive when equipped with tools and software that enable seamless access to company data and applications.

Wireless technology is also increasingly popular, both for use in-office and for mobile users looking to take advantage of real-time network connectivity. Wireless devices, from handheld inventory devices to PDAs to tablet PCs increase the mobility of users and data, which in turn improves responsiveness to customers and improves productivity. These devices are both portable, affordable, and practically a requirement for today’s competitive business environment. It’s no wonder that small businesses perceive a competitive advantage to being wireless, mobile, and effective.

Implementing line-of-business applications

A final key trend for a small business moving to a server-based solution is the competitive need for a line-of-business application, such as accounting software or a customer relationship management application. These types of client/server software require a server on the network from which the business can share data, back up data, keep secure, and make available via remote access.

Features and benefits of Windows Small Business Server 2003
Release 2

Microsoft’s small-business customers need to connect to information and to each other, and access their data and applications from wherever they may be. And small businesses want big-business solutions that are easier to install, manage, and use. Microsoft collected considerable input from customers about what they envisioned in a small-business server operating environment. To meet these needs of small business, Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 was designed with these three goals:

· Provide small businesses with connectivity for collaboration, communication, and mobility.

Provide simplicity in installation, management, and use.

· Provide flexible deployment features that benefit both small-business customers and technology providers.

Small businesses receive the benefits of award-winning technology by installing and deploying Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2. It is ideal for small businesses deploying a first server in their environment, or for small businesses that are upgrading one or more servers in their current environment. Table 2 shows a partial list of features and benefits found in each edition of Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2.

Feature/Benefit	Standard Edition	Premium Edition
Tools and technologies to help share, manage, secure, and back up files on an internal network	Windows Server 2003 technologies (e.g., Group Policy, NFTS file level security, NT Backup, and Windows Server Update Services)
Team communications and collaboration environment (e.g., Companyweb)	Microsoft Windows SharePoint™ Services
Communication and collaboration infrastructure that helps increase productivity	Exchange Server 2003 with SP2 technologies
A unified place to manage e-mail, calendars, contacts, and other personal and team information	Microsoft Office Outlook® 2003
Technology to help secure Internet connections	Routing and Remote Access Services (RRAS)	ISA Server 2004 technology
Relational database supporting line-of-business applications	N/A	SQL Server 2005 Workgroup technology
Tools for sophisticated Web site development or the creation of customized solutions for Windows SharePoint Services	N/A	Microsoft Office FrontPage® 2003

Table 2. List of features, benefits, and the respective Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 editions.

For customers seeking an IT solution that gives them a business advantage, the technology itself can seem overwhelming. But with Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2, Microsoft has worked hard to build wizards and management tools that make installing, configuring, and managing this technology much easier than with the standalone products. The following discussion of features and benefits shows where each of these areas has been improved, and how an IT solution is not only manageable, but necessary, to a small business owner.

Simplified installation

Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 provides an integrated Setup solution for installing and configuring the small-business network. It is designed to guide administrators through the task of configuring an entire small-business network, providing an end-to-end solution. The installation features are designed for technology consultants who set up the solution for their small-business customers and for technically savvy business owners who like to do things themselves. Setup is optimized for installing and configuring the operating system and installing the server applications and tools based on best practices for a small-business network.

Customers can install a copy of the full retail product on existing hardware or obtain a copy preinstalled on hardware by an OEM. With the latter, a customer can have Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 up and running in as little as fifteen minutes.

Wizard-driven network configuration

Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 provides an easy-to-use wizard that configures broadband and dial-up connections for the server, automatically configures the built-in firewall and Internet services such as Domain Name System (DNS), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and Windows Internet Naming Services (WINS), sets up an e-mail server, and makes changes to policies and permissions for both users and devices that connect to the network. The Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard enables configuration of e-mail, Internet connectivity and network services that can be provided via an Internet connection. Using this one wizard, customers can more easily configure settings for the network, firewall, security-enhanced Web sites, and e-mail to connect network computers to the Internet.

Setting up client computers and adding users

Administrators can create user accounts and set up client computers quickly and efficiently using the updated Client Setup features in Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2. New features include client networking configuration using a Web-based wizard, preconfigured user templates to apply the same set of rights and privileges to groups of employees, the ability to automatically deploy client applications, and enhanced mobile and remote-use tools. These new features make it easier to deploy, configure, and administer user and computer accounts and deploy a standard set of applications to users within the organization. The wizard can be run in bulk mode, enabling the customer to run the wizard once to add multiple user accounts.

Improving security of the network and business information

Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 provides improved security to small businesses at every level of operation. Network access is controlled and monitored using Windows Server 2003 firewall technology; customers who need more stringent control and monitoring of individual or group Internet use can use ISA 2004 (an enterprise-standard firewall) found in the Premium Edition. Remote access to e-mail, intranet data, and business information uses secure sockets layer (SSL) security found in Internet Information Server; Windows Server 2003 also provides award-winning file and folder security, Windows Backup, and Volume Shadow Copy. These allow small businesses to easily and securely back up, retrieve, and archive business information without impacting day-to-day operation.

Collaboration and information sharing

Coworkers can collaborate on projects and share information using the out-of-the-box internal Web site based on Windows SharePoint Services. This site includes shared document libraries, announcements, events, and links that allow users to publish, share, edit, and comment on information. The site features version control, simple site authoring and permissions tools for users, automatic change notifications, and discussion threads. All these help make information more accessible, easier to work with, and easier to manage than individually-shared folders.

For example, users can post documents into shared document libraries, view the company’s vacation calendar, enter a request to the help desk, and participate in a survey or discussion group. Users get shared document libraries that can be used out of the box by most small businesses for presentations and other needs; shared lists for information such as announcements, events, links, and a vacation calendar; fax routing to route received faxes into the Incoming Faxes document library; and out-of-the-box content including sample lists and libraries that describe how users can use the features and tailor them to their needs.

Remote access

To accommodate an increasingly mobile work force, Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 contains one of the most powerful business tools available, the Remote Web Workplace. It enables users who are out of the office to access e-mail, the shared internal Web site, server-based applications or terminal server-based applications, and even connect to their own desktop computer to work with information, retrieve files, or print out documents. There is also a special version of Remote Web Workplace that gives administrators the ability to manage servers and desktops on the network from a remote location. Virtual Private Networking (VPN) is also available for users who can benefit from direct access to network resources.

Remote Web Workplace also provides a central location for administrators to access management features, such as the Remote Desktop to access servers and client computers, Windows SharePoint Services to administer the internal Web site, Help Desk to view requests generated by users, and to view performance and usage reports. This makes remote administration simple not only for business owners, but for partners who provide IT services to small businesses without a full-time IT staff.

Mobility

The mobile user solution in Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 is built on the Exchange Server 2003 Outlook Mobile Access feature. People can use cell phones and other portable devices to access e-mail, schedules, calendars, and task information while away from the office. People with Windows Mobile-enabled devices can also gain access to documents and information on the internal Web site. This extends the usefulness of company information to employees at remote locations, such as a customer site or while traveling on business.

Server administration and management

To help ensure that the network runs efficiently, Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 includes updated, end-to-end network administration features. Wizards simplify common or repetitive tasks, and preconfigured management consoles provide the necessary tools to manage the network. These tools are unique to Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2; they integrate product technologies in such a way that one wizard can provide all the necessary settings for complex product interrelationships.

The Server Management console contains a unique set of management tools for network management tasks, such as working with user accounts, printers, fax machines, files, shared folders, licensing, networking, e-mail monitoring, intranet updates, and backups. This is the home for the IT administrator and contains all the tools necessary to manage, monitor, and update computers and software on the network. There is also a version for power users that allows an administrator to delegate basic tasks to on-site users. These tasks typically are common ones that do not require sophisticated IT intervention, such as adding a user, configuring a group account, or viewing resource properties.

Because the two consoles are task-based, focusing on tasks that need to be performed rather than on the technology subsystem, they are more intuitive for typical small-business users to navigate.

Automatic PC updating

Windows Software Update Services (WSUS) enables businesses to be able to update all their Microsoft products running on servers and desktops on the network. It provides a single deployment mechanism for Microsoft updates, ensuring that the environment is updated with the latest service packs and critical patches. A comprehensive reporting log is available to show which critical and non-critical updates are available, which computers have been updated, and which need additional support in order to be brought up to date. This helps automate the update management process and dramatically reduces the time, effort, and cost associated with updating all computers within an organization.

WSUS accomplishes this by enabling an organization’s administrator to synchronize available updates and patches from Microsoft Update servers, decide which updates are applicable to the organization, and approve or disapprove updates based on their operational requirements and compatibility needs. The service reports the results via e-mail to the administrator on a daily basis so that the administrator is kept informed of the state of server and client machines in the environment.

Monitoring and reporting

The monitoring and reporting tools in Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 can be used to ensure that the server remains healthy and can help reduce downtime by enabling administrators to respond quickly when issues arise. These enhanced tools enable technology consultants and business owners to monitor server activity and receive performance and usage reports in e-mail or online. All of these are configured using the Monitoring Configuration Wizard. It sets up the necessary alert notifications, schedules delivery of server performance and usage reports, and also configures application logging. The daily reports include those from WSUS, detailing the update status of other servers and desktops in the organization.

Performance reports provide information about the general health of the server and can replace much of the “simple” monitoring that was performed using earlier versions of Windows Small Business Server. Usage reports contain information to help owners understand how their networks are being used. These reports provide detailed information about employee Internet, e-mail, and fax use, as well as details on remote connectivity. The clear format of the performance reports makes it much easier to note potential issues that require action.

Data backup and restore

Windows Small Business Server 2003 Release 2 contains an innovative solution for customers who recognize the need for data protection but lack the tools or technology to deploy one. This solution helps customers back up their servers more easily and guides them through the restore process. The server has an integrated backup solution that identifies critical business information, prepares complete information backups, and restores the entire server in case of catastrophic hardware failure or disaster-recovery scenarios. This backup solution also provides a reminder for the on-site tape changer and sends an e-mail message reporting the success or failure of each backup operation.

Setting up the schedule is simple. The Backup Wizard guides a system administrator through the creation and implementation of a backup schedule. By default, the schedule will back up all of the system, application, and data files needed to completely restore the server, including file shares, My Documents folders that have been redirected from client computers, and files stored in the company’s SharePoint site. If Premium Edition is installed, the backup also recognizes SQL Server databases and automatically adds them to the backup schedule.

One of the most common data loss events is the accidental saving of a file over a previous version, resulting in the loss of data. Using Small Business Server 2003, any user can easily recover previous versions of their files without needing to restore the file from a backup. Small Business Server uses the Volume Shadow Copy service to provide self-help recovery. A user can recover an earlier version of a document without requiring IT staff involvement or the lengthy process of recovering a file from a backup.