Preparing the Server

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After planning partitions and gathering network information, perform the following preparations before launching Setup:

• Make sure the server is sized appropriately for the load under which you plan to place it. For more information on server sizing, see Chapter 3, “Designing a Network.”

• If installing on an existing server, back up all data and record any important settings.

• Remove the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) management cable from the server (even if it’s USB).

• Upgrade the system BIOS to the latest version available.

• Set the boot order in the BIOS to boot from the CD-ROM before the hard disk.

• Locate any mass storage drivers or custom hardware abstraction layer (HAL) files necessary for the system.

• Disconnect the server from the Internet (unless protected by a firewall).

Under the Hood

Active Directory and Domain Name System

As part of installation, Setup installs Active Directory and promotes the computer to a domain controller, creating a domain. Active Directory is a requirement for several Windows Small Business Server components.

The Windows Small Business Server network is TCP/IP-based, so a Domain Name System (DNS) server provides name resolution. Although Active Directory works with any DNS server that complies with the appropriate standards, stick with the DNS server provided with Windows Small Business Server—it works great and is configured automatically by Windows Small Business Server.

During Setup, the DNS service is configured to listen only to DNS queries from the local network. In addition, the DNS server is unbound from the external network adapter so that your internal DNS information is not available to outsiders.

If you need to host your own Internet-accessible DNS server (to host the DNS records for your company Web site and e-mail server), do so on a separate server from the Windows Small Business Server computer, and place this server in a perimeter network (see Chapter 3, “Designing a Network,” for more information). Trying to host both an Internet DNS server and an internal DNS server on the same computer results in a security vulnerability and will probably break DNS resolution for client computers. Most small businesses are better off letting their ISP host their DNS records as well as their primary Internet Web site.

Note 

See Appendix A for details about automating the operating system portion of the installation using the answer file.

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