Chapter 2. Getting Started

There are several ways to get SharePoint Services. The biggest choice is whether to host SharePoint on your own server or whether to buy the services from a hosting provider. The primary advantage of hosted services is that you don't need to wrangle with installing and maintaining SharePoint yourself. The main disadvantage is that you lose some of the flexibility and control you get from using your own server.

In this chapter, I show you how to get started using a hosted site; then I explain how to install SharePoint on your own server. These two tasks build on each other: if you create a hosted site first, you'll be better prepared when you install SharePoint. Even if you don't intend to host your own site, you can still develop some advanced skills by completing the chapter.