MS Small Business Server 2003

[richman]

Hey Guys,

I have been assigned to getting a server for our small server and would like some advice, does Small Business Server 2003 have a domain controller so users can login from any machine on the network assigned to that domain.

Also will Small Business Sever 2003 run on a x64 bit chip (e.g amd 3000+ xp Venice)

Thankyou
Richard

[Moby-Dick]

SBS2003 is basically windows 2003 and exchange 2003 + some other usefull bits and pieces.

It would probably run on the 64 bit chips , but you might not get the best out of it.

CPU power isn't the key to a swift SBS2003 box - fast drives and lots of memory are much more important.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...s/default.mspx shoudl answer lots of questions

[richman]

Ah thanks for that :-)

Do you have any ideas as to what chip would be best if a 64bit isnt the best option to get.

Richard

[Moby-Dick]

how many users are you planning on having on it ?

[richman]

Ruffly about 50 to begin with.

Rich

[Moby-Dick]

you've got 50 machines ?

you do know that you can only licence SBS2003 up to 75 users dont you ?

at 50 users you'll need a reasonably beefy machine to run it on.

I'd go for a Dual Xeon box with at least 2 GB ram ( 3 or 4 better )
2 Hard drives in a mirror for the OS/Apps and 3 further ones in RAID 5 for data ( SCSI preferably if not , as fast SATA as you can get. )

[richman]

Well 50 will be the absoulute max, that was a maximum figure.

SATA will probrably be the way we will go, maybe SATA 2.

[Moby-Dick]

you are thinking of building a box yourself I take it ?

[richman]

Yes building it ourself, to allow us to add hardware and switch parts in and out without needing special bits from special manufacturers.

[Moby-Dick]

I would advise against it - if your SBS box dies , your entire IT infrastructure will die with it. Its times like that when a 4 hour onsite responce comes in very handy ( unless you plan to keep an entire servers worth of spares with you )

however if you really want to go for an own build box then consider the following checklist.

Redundant Power Supply
Backup Device ( LTO2 drive would probably be about right )
Raid controlerr capable of more than 1 array ( not sure if this is doable with SATA , so you may need dual RAID controllers - dont risk onboard )
Dual CPU ( not just hyper threading or dual core )
3 Gb of the fastest memory you can lay hands on.
2 small , fast drives for OS ( Mirror )
Multiple fast drives for data array
Hotswap sata backplane ( you dont want down time to swap out a faulty drive ? if not , consider adding a hot spare to each array )

also dont forget that SBS 2003 requires a CAL for each user - these have to be installed / activated like the OS. It will only let the licenced number of users connect.

[richman]

I have just been looking at prices, and it may not be such a bad idea to go with dell as for what u cand build they can provide.

Rich

[ikonia]

David the owner of hexus has a dell box that may suit you quite well for this

the key factor is RAM and disk access.

drop him a note

[Moby-Dick]

indeed - if you manage to catch a dell saleman at the end of his month, you can pick up some great deals

also its worth having a look at www.serversource.co.uk - they sell dell kit at a good price.

[Moby-Dick]

http://www1.serversource.co.uk/shop/...t=76&prod=1054

add another Gb ram , and a pair of 36Gb drives and you are quite literally laughing

I dont think the box David had was quite beefy enough for SBS ikonia - exchange can be a bit of a beast on its own , but when you add in domain services & intranet/extranet server and potential ISA & SQL ( if you need the premium edition ) then it all adds up !

[[GSV]Trig]

Is there a "Recommended" list for exchange stuff..

I've just turned our old STX Server into a 2k3 box and I'm most likely going to ditch vpop3 and go down the Exchange route altho it sounds like the machine wont do it in its current state..

2.4Ghz HT Xeon
1Gb RAM
4x36Gb SCSI Drives...

[Moby-Dick]

I reckon on another Gig or so of memory - you might be able to get away with the single CPU if its not doing too much else

the drive config might give you issues , but porbaly worth sucking it and see.
( in an ideal world , you'd have 2 drives for the os , 2 for the logs and as many as needed for the data )