SBS 2003 R2 Design Rules
Yeah, we know. Not many SBS networks will be as complex as the drawing above. Nevertheless, there are a few requirements and restrictions built into the structure of SBS that cannot be modified or changed.
SBS is meant to be an all in one solution for organizations of less than 75 users and/or devices. These design limits are not unduly restrictive for the intended market, but if your requirements exceed these limits you may want to look at Windows Server 2003 and multiple servers.
Please read on for an outline of SBS 2003 design limits and some of its features.
Q: What IS Small Business Server 2003 Release 2?
A: SBS 2003 R2 is the fifth version of Microsoft's increasingly popular software for organizations of 75 or fewer users and/or devices. It brings a great deal of the functionality of a large IT organization into small offices and is easily managed by mere mortals with the aid of the Server Management Console that is unique to this product.
In the space available here it is impossible to list all the benefits of SBS. For Microsoft's explanation, go here. Everything they say is true, but vastly understates the improvement in communications, collaboration, data access and centralized computer and user management that SBS provides.
Top.Q: What server products are in SBS 2003 R2 Standard
A: - Windows Server 2003 Standard SP1
- Exchange Server 2003 SP2 and
the related Outlook 2003 Email Client
- SharePoint Services 2.0
- Fax Server
-
Windows Software Update Services 2.0 (WSUS)
- File Server Resource Manager (FSRM).
Not to mention Exchange RPC over HTTP and email Push to Phone, which along with RWW
makes; SBS Real Time Information Anywhere.
Q: What server products are added for SBS 2003 R2 Premium?
A: - ISA Server 2004
- SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition
- Front Page 2003.
Q: What desktop OSs are compatible with SBS 2003 R2?
A: - Windows Vista Business Enterprise or Ultimate
- Windows XP Pro
-
Windows 2000 Pro will connect to SBS Servers.
Vista requires a patch and a patch to SBS, while Windows 2000 does not allow Remote Web Workplace Connections.
To connect from a remote location, as in over the internet, any flavor of Vista, XP, and Windows 2000 will work, Use 9x or ME at your own risk.
Q: How is SBS 2003 R2 licensed?
A: SBS 2003 R2 comes in four flavors.
- Retail
Box,
- OEM,
- Upgrades
- Open License.
Each flavor comes with 5 Client
Access Licenses for all the included programs. Additional SBS CALs
can be purchased in either 5 or 20 packs.
For a definitive list of the various types of licenses
and CALS click
here.
Q: What can my organization do with all these programs?
A: For less than the cost of Windows Server 2003, (SBS Standard Edition) you can do amazing things. Just the enhanced security and "Wizard" driven central management of users and computers that is built into SBS is worth the price of admission. Centralized file and printer sharing, collaborative email, not to mention centralized storage, management and backup of all your data and such delights as paperless faxing, vacation calendars.
Add in the premium package, and it gets even more amazing. For less than the cost of either, you get both a world class data base engine and firewall.
But the most amazing thing is the built in remote access functionality. Using their web browser your employees, your associates, your customers, your vendors or anyone you grant access to, can access designated resources on your network. (CAL required.) If you have Smart Phones or Pocket PC's you can get most of your Office Documents and Email from your phone.
Top.Q: What limitations are imposed on SBS 2003 R2?
A: Only one SBS Server is allowed per Active Directory - There can be no more than 75 Combined Unique Users or Devices - No Trusts Allowed - All components must be installed on the same server - Terminal Services on the SBS is Limited to 2 Users in Administrative Mode - All the FSMO roles (Domain required services) must be installed and remain on the SBS server - Remote Offices can use SBS in the SAME Active Directory, but they can and should have a Domain Controller/Global Catalog Server, or stay in a local workgroup and use Terminal Services. (Note: For Application Mode TS, add another server).
Top.Q: What enhancements were made to SBS 2003 R2
A: Primarily, WSUS (Windows Software Update Server). Also added were Expanded Client Access Rights, FSRM (File Server Resource Manager), and because it includes Exchange Service Pack 2, Exchange Store limits are raised to 75 GB.
Top.Q: Can other servers be installed in a SBS network/domain?
A: Yes. Additional Domain Controllers and Member Servers can both be added to SBS Domains. In particular, a member server running Terminal Services may be beneficial to your organization. However, there can be only one SBS server in the domain.
Expanded client access license (CAL) rights in Windows SBS 2003 R2 allow client computers to access additional servers on the network (such as those that are running Exchange Server 2003, SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition, and Windows Server) without requiring additional CALs. You can even promote a member server that is running Windows Server 2003 to be a domain controller, in order to improve authentication services at remote offices.
Top.Q: Can SBS be added to an existing Windows Domain network?
A: Yes. You can introduce your SBS into your already existing Windows Network. The Microsoft KB article KB884453 gives a good explanation of this procedure. You should note the following from that KB article.
If you use the steps in this article to join an existing domain that already contains an SBS 2003 computer or an SBS 2000 computer, you will have to demote the existing SBS server by manually running Dcpromo.exe to remove the computer from the domain. This retirement process must occur within 14 days of adding the new SBS 2003 computer to the domain or the new SBS 2003 computer may display warnings and shut down periodically.The following conditions must be true after you install the new SBS 2003 computer in an existing domain or the new SBS 2003 computer may display warnings and shut down periodically:
| • | The new SBS 2003 computer must be a domain controller that is installed on the root of the domain. |
| • | The new SBS 2003 computer must hold all the Flexible Single Master Operation (FSMO) roles. |
| • | The new SBS 2003 computer must be a global catalog server and must be the licensing server. |
| • | There must not be any existing domain trusts or child domains. |
| • | Only one SBS server can exist on the domain. If SBS 2003 is installed, no other SBS 2003 or 2000 server can be installed on the same domain. |
Failure to meet these conditions may cause the SBS 2003 server to shut down.
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Q: What will happen if the SBS server goes off line and there is another domain controller to act as backup?
A: At first not much will happen. Of course all the resources on your SBS will be unavailable, including email, web access, share point services, company web, printers, files and folders of user data, etc.
But after a short while the network will begin to break down because the FSMO roles are lost with the SBS server. The "best practices" advice is to have a tested plan to restore your SBS to a working state as soon as possible, rather than attempt heroic measures to transfer all the missing info to other servers in the domain.
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Q: Can Exchange (or any other part)be moved to another Server?
A: No. All the components of SBS must be installed on the SBS Server. You can install another server and install an additional licensed copy of Exchange or ISA on that if you wish, but "what ships with SBS stays with SBS".
Top.Q: What can be done if our organization outgrows SBS 2003?
A: The easiest path is to apply the SBS Transition Pack, which will eliminate all the SBS restrictions while keeping the Wizards. You can then move the applications to other servers, (which of course will break the wizards), and grow beyond the 75 user limit.
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