Introduction

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The first time you noticed Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, it might have been because it’s such a remarkable bargain. For no more than the price of a mid-level desktop copier, you get Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Windows SharePoint Services, Exchange Server 2003, Routing and Remote Access firewall technology, and five client access licenses. And that’s just the Standard Edition.

In the Premium Edition, you get all that plus Microsoft SQL Server 2000, Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000, and Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003. In both editions, the technologies are optimized to work as a package for the small business user.

But then again, Windows Small Business Server through versions 4.5 and 2000 has always been a bargain. It’s unlikely that the price ever stayed anyone’s hand from adopting it. However, back in 1999 when we wrote the first book about the first version of Windows Small Business Server, we were obliged to mention its “foibles and blemishes.” We even went so far as to describe that first version of Windows Small Business Server as

…[A] product that must be handled with care…. For example, precise attention to hardware requirements is essential and set up must be done “just so” in order to complete successfully. Network faxing and modem sharing are completely new services and … afflicted with the occasional Version 1.0 eccentricity.

Fortunately, all these reservations have vanished with the appearance of Windows Small Business Server 2003. Although one still has to pay the usual attention to the Hardware Compatibility List, Windows Small Business Server is no longer stressful to install or to use.

The various applications are better integrated than ever before. New tools have centralized and simplified server management, and dozens of wizards are available to help with just about every conceivable task. Best of all, Windows Small Business Server allows companies with as few as three or as many as 75 computers to have an affordable, real client/server network with all the security and efficiencies that implies.

How to Use this Book

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Administrator’s Companion is a handy reference and assistant for the busy network administrator, whether the administrator is on the scene or accessing the network from another location.

Even though Windows Small Business Server 2003 has automated many, many of the tasks associated with configuring and securing a network, this book is required when you want to do something slightly out of the ordinary—or when you need additional understanding of what a wizard is doing.

Look for book elements such as these:

Under the Hood

Because wizards are so efficient at what they do, it can be very difficult to know what’s going on in the background. Sidebars titled “Under the Hood” describe the technical operations being performed by the wizard. These sidebars also include methodological information to help you understand Windows Small Business Server.

Real World

Everyone benefits from the experiences of others. “Real World” sidebars contain elaboration on a particular theme or background based on the adventures of other users of Windows Small Business Server.

Note 

Notes generally represent alternate ways to perform a task or some information that needs to be highlighted.

Tip 

Tips are ways of performing tasks more quickly or in a not-so-obvious manner.

Security Alert 

Nothing is more important than security when it comes to a computer network. Security elements should be carefully noted and acted on.

Caution 

Don’t skip over Caution boxes because they contain important warnings about the subject at hand—often critical information about the safety of your system.

Planning 

As we stress throughout the book, proper planning is fundamental to the smooth operation of any network. These boxes contain specific and useful hints to make that process go smoothly.

What’s in This Book

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Administrator’s Companion is divided into seven parts. The first six roughly correspond to the developmental phases of a Windows Small Business Server network. The last part has appendixes with helpful information.

• Part I: Preparation and Planning Planning and preparation are the sine qua non for any kind of network. It comes down to the old saying, “If you don’t have the time to do it right, how will you find the time to do it over?” Chapters 1 through 3 are all about doing it right the first time.

• Part II: Installation and Setup Chapters 4 through 8 take you through the process of installing or upgrading Windows Small Business Server and performing initial configurations. Also covered are completing the To Do List (a great new feature in Windows Small Business Server) and disk management.

• Part III: Performing the Basic Tasks In this part are chapters that cover the day-to-day tasks in running a network: setting up user accounts, arranging the sharing of information among users, adding and removing computers and printers, and backing up and restoring data.

• Part IV: Performing Advanced Tasks Chapters 14 through 16 provide insight and information about using Exchange Server, connectivity technologies, and Internet Security and Acceleration Server (Premium Edition).

• Part V: Administering Server Components In this part, you’ll find chapters about setting up and managing an intranet; plus the basics of Microsoft SQL Server (Premium Edition), the scalable, fast, and versatile data management software.

• Part VI: Tuning and Troubleshooting Chapter 20 covers the extensive library of monitoring tools available in Windows Small Business Server, and Chapter 21 is all about how you save your business, your network, and yourself in the face of the many varieties of disaster that can afflict networks.

• Part VII: Appendixes At the end of the book are two appendixes. The first is on automating installation and the second is about installing the SQL Server and Internet Security and Acceleration Server components that are part of the Premium Edition of Windows Small Business Server 2003.

There’s also a Glossary of networking and SBS-specific terms.

Talk to Us

We’ve done our best to make this book as accurate and complete as a single-volume reference can be. However, Windows Small Business Server 2003 is large and we are mere humans, so we’re sure that alert readers will find omissions and even errors (though we fervently hope not too many of those). If you have suggestions, corrections, or tips, please write and let us know at <[e-mail]>.

We really do appreciate hearing from you.

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