Server Solutions for Small Business Part 1 – Windows Small Business Server
If you are looking to get a first server for your business like the HP ProLiant MicroServer you’ll also need to consider which OS to run on it. Windows Small Business Server is an affordable, all-in-one solution to reduce complexity and increase manageability of server technology in a small business environment. It comes in three editions: Standard, Essentials and Add-on…
Small Business Server 2011 Standard
Designed and priced for small businesses with up to 75 users, SBS 2011 Standard helps protect your business information from loss by performing automatic daily backups. Additionally, it allows users to be more productive with features such as e-mail, Internet connectivity, internal websites, remote access, and file and printer sharing. The Standard product (previously known as Windows Small Business Server 7), doesn’t assume the use of cloud-based services, it includes on-premise email and collaboration servers, in the guise of Exchange Server 2010 SP1 and SharePoint 2010 Foundation. There’s a great review on V3 that sums up the key points of this software:
Pros:
Latest Windows Server, Exchange and SharePoint products; simplified management console; enhanced Remote Web Access tool with network shares; improved internal web site; Premium add-on for SQL Server and more.
Cons:
No in-place upgrade for existing customers; 64-bit hardware required; expensive compared to forthcoming Essentials product.
Small Business Server 2011 Essentials
Ideal as a first server for small businesses with up to 25 users, SBS 2011 Essentials provides a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution to help protect data, organise and access business information from virtually anywhere, support the applications needed to run a business, and quickly connect to online services for e-mail, collaboration and CRM. The lower cost of this software makes it a great deal for small businesses because of capabilities like simple-to-set up remote access, upcoming integration with Office 365, and a number of add-ins to extend functionality. A review on PC Mag summarises Essentials as an excellent server OS for small businesses, fusing a user-friendly interface with powerful capabilities.
Pros:
Excellent server OS for smaller organisations. Easy setup and management. Retains power features of Server 2008 R2.
Cons:
Not for handling heavy-duty server tasks.
Small Business Server 2011 Premium Add-on
The Windows Small Business Server 2011 Premium Add-On gives small businesses a flexible and cost-effective solution for deploying additional servers on a network running Windows SBS 2011. It provides a platform for running line-of-business (LOB) applications that are based on the SQL Server operating system, role-based server deployments (such as additional domain controllers), and virtual servers that run in a Hyper-V environment. It also gives you the flexibility to access a second application platform when you need it, yet requires minimal IT resources. Designed as an add-on component for Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials or Standard, Windows Small Business Server 2011 Premium Add-On includes Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Technologies and SQL Server 2008 R2 for Small Business.
An eye to the future – Windows Server 2012 Essentials
Microsoft announced on the 1st of August that Windows Server 2012 has been released to manufacturing, meaning that the final code is complete will be generally available for evaluation and purchase by all customers at the beginning of September – keep your eye out for more info coming soon …
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