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MovedGoalPosts · 30-12-2004, 17:52

Ideally clients want Win XP Pro (you cannot use home), but Win 2k Pro is almost as good, just that XP configures easier. Win 98 SE can be used at a push, but it's messy and doesn't give you the security issues.

Look at what software is being used on the network. If you are hoping to keep Office 97 running, you can, but it deosn't integrate tightly with the security systems of win 2k or XP which means your users have to have admin rights to their workstations. You really want at least Office XP (I'm not sure of Office 2000). ONe of the big adavantages of the business class network OS is tha ability to assign users specific rights that stop them tinkering with key parts of the workstation's setup, even to the extent of them not adding software. That can be useful so you, the IT admin, knows exactly how it is set up and thus troubleshooting is a lot easier.

Check with the ISP for email and the web stuff. Can they support the new server connections? Many ISPs cannot.

SBS is a product which has taken a number of M$ consultants by surprise as many small businesses are running it with little or no assistance. Indees the M$ SBS newsgroups are full of privateers looking for small siolutions. I suppose I'm a prime example of that. I'm still learning today. If you are capable of setting up a peer to peer windows network, you can set up an SBS one, it's less about the Server OS, more about the configuration of the added components, but many of the wizards do help you through that. There are plenty of info sites out there to help. But do give yourself plenty of time, and do expect to have to start over a few times while you work out the steep learning curve.

Migration of most data will just be time consuming, a simple network probably only uses Outlook Express for email, and that's where you biggest challenge will be moving that to Exchange and Outlook. Once that is sorted you can add the other extra facilities of SBS as a need arises.

30-12-2004, 17:52	#21
MovedGoalPosts Inactive Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 127.0.0.1 Age: 59 Posts: 15,868	Re: Server Setup Ideally clients want Win XP Pro (you cannot use home), but Win 2k Pro is almost as good, just that XP configures easier. Win 98 SE can be used at a push, but it's messy and doesn't give you the security issues. Look at what software is being used on the network. If you are hoping to keep Office 97 running, you can, but it deosn't integrate tightly with the security systems of win 2k or XP which means your users have to have admin rights to their workstations. You really want at least Office XP (I'm not sure of Office 2000). ONe of the big adavantages of the business class network OS is tha ability to assign users specific rights that stop them tinkering with key parts of the workstation's setup, even to the extent of them not adding software. That can be useful so you, the IT admin, knows exactly how it is set up and thus troubleshooting is a lot easier. Check with the ISP for email and the web stuff. Can they support the new server connections? Many ISPs cannot. SBS is a product which has taken a number of M$ consultants by surprise as many small businesses are running it with little or no assistance. Indees the M$ SBS newsgroups are full of privateers looking for small siolutions. I suppose I'm a prime example of that. I'm still learning today. If you are capable of setting up a peer to peer windows network, you can set up an SBS one, it's less about the Server OS, more about the configuration of the added components, but many of the wizards do help you through that. There are plenty of info sites out there to help. But do give yourself plenty of time, and do expect to have to start over a few times while you work out the steep learning curve. Migration of most data will just be time consuming, a simple network probably only uses Outlook Express for email, and that's where you biggest challenge will be moving that to Exchange and Outlook. Once that is sorted you can add the other extra facilities of SBS as a need arises.