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How To Plan, Install, Manage, Maintain, Secure, Backup and Restore Small Business Server 2003 R2

Part Six - Almost Home - Final Tweaking

Please see what the Legal Eagles Make us say Here.

Remember what this projects stated goal is.  To enable a robust, easily maintained installation of SBS 2003 that will work for you, not the other way around.  Please take a little time to review and check your progress.

At this point we should have:

  • A fresh backup of the server in case it goes south.  Too much work has gone into this project to risk doing it over.  Besides, you can use the practice.

  • The storage system (hard drives) partitioned and allocated as needed.

  • A working SBS server with few if any errors in the event logs.

  • Exchange installed and operative

  • Sharepoint Services installed.  If you open the browser on the SBS server you should see http://companyweb.com as your default web site.

  • ISA and SQL, if installed, both operating without complaint.

  • WSUS 2.0 installed and operating.  You can check this if your server is connected to the internet.

  • If installed, your fax modem should be ready to go to work, but don't plug in the fax line yet.

  • Anti Virus and Anti Spam installed according to manufactures instructions, fully operative, and/or a contract with an outside source.

  • A backup and restore plan in mind.  A tested backup would be good.  Tested means that you have successfully restored some files to a dummy location to verify that the system created the files and is able to read and restore them.

  • Checking Administrative Tools - Services and Event Logs, everything checks normal, when compared to the screen shots you made earlier.  Make another set of screen shots and add them to your documentation.

  • Verify with Windows Update, or WSUS that the server is fully patched.  For the latest on what patches and Service Packs to apply, click here.

What could possibly be left to do?  Can't I setup users now?

Yes, but you should do one or two more things before you do that.

  • If you haven't already, activate your copy of SBS with Microsoft.

  • Go to Start - Server Management and become familiar with the various pages there.  Review the links and settings, and in particular, go to the To Do page and review the Security Sections.

  • Also on the To Do page run the Connect to Email and Internet Connection Wizard.  (the famous CEICW... it was easier to say, and to type, when they called it the Internet Connection Wizard, or ICW).  This is one of the most crucial wizards in the entire SBS Wizards Handbook, but it is fairly self explanatory.  For a MS view, look here.  I suggest that you DO NOT allow the Wiz to configure your router. 

Ok, I think that's enough.  There are lots more things one could do, but most of them are more advanced than this started out to be.  For an example, look here.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines:  link to setup computers here.

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