Windows Small Business Server (SBS) (formerly Microsoft Small Business Server) is an integrated server suite from Microsoft designed for running network infrastructure (both intranet management and Internet access) of small and medium enterprises having no more than 75 workstations or users. Application server technologies are tightly integrated to enable small businesses with targeted solutions such as the Remote Web Workplace, and offer management benefits such as integrated setup, enhanced monitoring, a unified management console, and remote access.
Windows Small Business Server is technically not an 'edition' of the Windows Server operating system but rather a customized SKU of server technologies targeted especially to small businesses. As such, the application servers are not merely bundled with the OS but are tightly integrated into the operating system. The same service packs as those for Windows Server or other server products cannot simply be used to update the OS.
Initially, Small Business Server was marketed as an edition of Microsoft BackOffice Server. When Windows 2000 was released, it was marketed as Microsoft Small Business Server 2000, and finally was rebranded as a member of the Windows Server 2003 family. Microsoft has also introduced a Windows Essential Business Server product aimed at medium-sized businesses, which will now incorporate the next version of ISA Server instead of SBS.
Design and licensing considerations
Windows Small Business Server has its own type of Client Access License (CAL), that is different and costs slightly more than CALs for the usual editions of the Windows Server operating system. However, the SBS CAL encompasses the user CALs for Windows Server, Exchange Server and SQL Server, and hence is less expensive than buying all the other CALs individually.
Windows Small Business Server has the following design restrictions: [2]
Only one computer in a domain can be running Windows Small Business Server.
Windows Small Business Server must be the root of the Active Directory forest.
Windows Small Business Server cannot trust any other domains. It cannot have any child domains.
Windows Small Business Server is limited to 75 users or devices depending on which type of CAL.
All Windows Small Business Server versions up to SBS 2003 are limited to 4 GB of RAM.
Windows Small Business Server versions prior to Windows Small Business Server 2008 are only available for the x86 (32-bit) architecture.
Windows Small Business Server 2008 will only be available for the x86-64 (64-bit) architecture. This is due to the requirements of Exchange Server 2007, whose production version is 64-bit only. The 32-bit version of Exchange Server 2007 is only supported for testing and non-production scenarios.
Only the Remote Desktop for Administration mode is available because Small Business Server always runs on the domain controller, and only two simultaneous RDP sessions are allowed. (Change from SBS 2000 policy)[3] Terminal Services in application sharing mode needs to be run on a second server on the network. This however is possible with SBS 2008 Premium edition which includes a Windows Server 2008 license for running the second server.
To remove these restrictions and upgrade to regular editions of Windows Server, Exchange Server, SQL Server and ISA Server, there is a Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Transition Pack. [4]
based on Windows NT Server 4.0 SP3 and includes Exchange Server 5.0 SP1, IIS 3.0, SQL Server 6.5 SP3, Proxy Server 1.0, Internet Explorer 3.02 or 4.01, and Outlook 97; allows 25 client licenses.
based on Windows NT Server 4.0 SP4 and includes Exchange Server 5.5 SP2, IIS 4.0, SQL Server 7.0, Proxy Server 2.0, Internet Explorer 5.0, Outlook 2000, and FrontPage 2000; allows 50 client licenses.
based on Windows 2000 Server and includes Exchange 2000 Server, IIS 5.0, SQL Server 2000, ISA Server 2000, Internet Explorer 5.0, Outlook 2000, and FrontPage 2000; allows 50 client licenses.
October 92003 ? Windows Small Business Server 2003 (codenamed Bobcat)
August 212008[6] - Windows Small Business Server 2008 (codenamed Cougar)
based on Windows Server 2008 and includes Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and 120-day trial subscriptions of new security products from Microsoft, namely, Forefront Security for Exchange and Windows Live OneCare for Server. [7][8] The standard edition of SBS 2008 will be a single server solution for small businesses. The premium edition will contain a license for Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition, with the option to run SQL Server on either the main SBS server, or a second server. The premium edition will therefore be targeted at dual-server scenarios such as terminal services application sharing, Line of Business applications, edge security, secondary domain controllers, and virtualization. [9] In addition to features present in previous versions, new features include:
A streamlined administration and management console that is designed around tasks to be accomplished rather than underlying technologies [10]
Built-in support for registering and configuring domain name and DNS records via multiple registrars
Monitoring reports that gather data from both servers and clients on the network, including Security Center status (anti-virus, spyware, and client firewall) from all the clients
New features in the Remote Web Workplace, such as the ability to define default and allowed PCs for each user
New server backup features, based on the incremental block-based backup technology in Windows Server 2008 (tape backup no longer supported via native tools, but continues to be supported via 3rd parties)
SBS 2008 requires installation behind a separate network firewall device. In contrast with SBS 2003, it does not support being installed directly on the edge of the network, ISA Server is no longer bundled and a dual-NIC configuration is not possible.[11]
SBS 2008 was released to manufacturing on August 21st, 2008 [12] and has a public launch date of November 12th, 2008. [13] Windows Small Business Server 2008 will support organizations with up to 75 users or devices. [8]
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