Features of Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003

Protecting a business can be a full-time job - with full-time worries. Just consider the issues you need to be alert to every day:

1. Worms and viruses that can sneak into your computer systems
2. Hackers trying to gain access to your company's confidential data
3. Employees who might download harmful files from the internet
4. A disaster or accidental deletion that could wipe out critical business records

If you use Windows XP Professional, there is an even easier way to get updates. Simply activate the Automatic Updates feature, which allows your PC to automatically notify you of important updates once they are made available.

Is the anti-virus software current on all of our machines?

It's not enough to simply have anti-virus software. Virus writers are prolific, releasing hundreds of viruses each month. That means you need to keep not only your operating system current but also your virus protection software. And make sure it is current on every PC and laptop in your organization. However, relying on users to stay current with software updates may not be effective in every organization. Employees may forget or may not think it's important. That's one of the benefits of a server-based environment, where updates to PCs and laptops can actually be managed from the server.

Does everyone understand they should never open e-mail attachments they aren't expecting or that come from senders they don't know or trust?

Even with the most current anti-virus software, there's always a possibility that a destructive worm or virus will get through. That's why your entire organization needs to be cautious about e-mail attachments and downloading files from the internet. Consider making these safety tips company policy:

1. Never open suspicious e-mail attachments or those from unknown or untrustworthy senders
2. Configure e-mail to read all messages you receive as plain text to increase security
3. Set the security level on Internet Explorer to the highest level and make exceptions for trusted websites only
4. Use a utility that blocks pop-up ads, which can be used to install malicious code on computers
Do we have a regular back-up procedure, are we following it and do we verify the back-up is accurate?

Backing up the data on your computers is one of the simplest and most effective "safety nets" you can institute. It's also inexpensive. The idea is to routinely make electronic copies of everything on your computers. The copies should be stored off-site so that in the event of a disaster or accidental deletion, you have a way to restore the bulk of your lost data.

Have we installed a firewall? Do we have a clear policy on employee internet use and is it monitored and/or enforced?

If you don't have an internet policy, your company and employees are at risk. And the risks can be serious, from the harmful downloads discussed above to offensive and/or illegal activity that can jeopardise your company's reputation and create messy legal problems.

Do we use strong passwords and are we diligent about keeping them private?

Be honest about this one: There's a big difference between having passwords and using strong passwords. In many workplaces, it is common for employees to share passwords, post them next to their computers or choose passwords that are easy to guess. Worse yet, they use the same passwords for everything and never change them. Make sure everyone knows how to create strong passwords.

Do we have a secure way for remote users to access our network?

Enabling employees to access your network from the road or from home is great for efficiency, but it also exposes your network to risk. For small businesses, Windows Small Business Server 2003 offers a full slate of features designed to make remote access less risky. One is Remote Web Workplace, a remote portal that allows authorised users to access e-mail or their company's internal websites, from anywhere through a Virtual Private Network or over the internet.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/features-of-microsoft-windows-small-business-server-2003-710653.html

How To Create an MS-DOS Network Startup Disk in Windows Server 2003

Windows Server 2003 does not contain an equivalent to the Network Client Administrator tool that is included with Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0. You can use the Network Client Administrator tool to create an MS-DOS network startup disk. You can run the Network Client Administrator tool for the x86 platform in Windows Server 2003.

Set Up the Network Client Administrator Program

• 1. Create a folder that is named Ncadmin in the root folder of drive C.
• 2. Copy the following files from the I386 folder on the Windows NT Server 4.0 CD-ROM to the c:\Ncadmin folder you created in step 1:
• Ncadmin.cn_
• Ncadmin.ex_
• Ncadmin.hl_
• NOTE: You also must have access to the CD-ROM drive letter:\Clients folder on the Windows NT 4.0 CD-ROM.
• 3. At a command prompt, change to the C:\Ncadmin folder.
• 4. Type expand -r ncadmin.*, and then press ENTER.
• 5. Double-click the Ncadmin.exe file in the c:\Ncadmin folder, and then follow the instructions on the screen to create an MS-DOS network startup disk.

Via: support.microsoft.com

Microsoft updates SMB server line

Microsoft Corp. has updated its all-in-one server for small businesses, and added an additional product to its server line for mid-sized businesses with up to 300 users.

Windows Small Business Server accommodates up to 75 users, while larger businesses now have the option of Windows Essential Business Server 2008, according to Constanza Zalba, product manager for SMB servers for Microsoft Canada.

“Canada is primarily a small and mid-size country,” Zalba said. And Canadian SMBs tend to view IT differently from their American counterparts; while only 30 per cent of U.S. SMBs have an internal IT staff, 60 per cent of Canadia SMBs do, she said.

“Technology takes on a much more strategic importance in the company (in Canada),” she said.

Steve Tong, manager of information systems for Toronto Grace Hospital, said the hospital had been running the 2003 version of Small Business Server. The central management window for SQL, Exchange and SharePoint servers “made the difference” in the decision to go to EBS.

“It almost gives me a dashboard view in the morning” of the status of the network, Tong said. Using the single server package means a 30 to 40 per cent savings, and a reduction from seven servers to three.

Grace’s IT staff of three – supporting 275 users on about 100 machines -- had only a week to migrate the system onto the new platform, but since it has a similar look and feel to SBS 2003, they were confident they’d be able to go live on time, Tong said. The migration took place in 10 to 12 hours over a weekend.

An included migration tool checks for active directory and DNS issues and the like, then graphically designs the new network, saving the design as an XML file.

The server was deployed on an Intel Modular 5000 server with an integrated storage area network donated by Intel Corp.

Via:itworldcanada.com/a/Daily-News/6eaf3a92-63af-4191-98f9-b26ca224a050.html

Microsoft Demos Windows Server 2008 R2

Bill Laing, vice president of Windows Server and Solutions, and Rob Williams, Microsoft's senior program manager, presented and demonstrated Windows Server 2008 from the small business to the enterprise. Specifically, they presented Windows Server 2008 R2, which will tentatively be released in 2010.

The keynote started with a presentation of 24 categories of Windows Server 2008, from home server up to enterprise class server flavors.

The first product presented was the upcoming Small Business Server and Essential Business server updates to Windows Server 2008. These will be presented on November 12 on the Microsoft Web site, hedreamserver.com. Essential Business Server is aimed at small- and medium-sized businesses that need server functionality but don't already have a server.

The meat of the presentation was several demos of the upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2. R2 is currently in pre-beta, and the full beta is expected next year. As previously announced, R2 will be 64-bit only, with support for x64 and Itanium. R2's features include streamlined management tools, integration with Windows 7, an enterprise class foundation, and enhancements for virtualization and consolidation.

Windows 7 support will include the seamless integration of Windows 7 PCs with the corporate environment, whether that PC is on the corporate LAN or on the Internet.

Laing and Williams demoed a Windows 7 PC that was connected to the Internet and the Microsoft corporate network, even though the PC is physically in Los Angeles and the corporate LAN is in Redmond, Wash. The PC connected seamlessly without the need for extra VPN software. The Windows 7 PC was also subject to corporate group policy updates, in this case a mandate that external USB drives be encrypted with BitLocker.

They also demoed enterprise-class scaling with a SQL server running 192 logical cores (combination of "real" silicon and HyperThreading). R2 will be scalable up to 256 logical cores, up from the current 64 core support in Windows Server 2008.

Last but not least, there was a demo of Hyper-V, the latest in Windows Server virtualization. Hyper-V was shown running instances of Vista, Windows Server 2003 with multi-core and 64-bit support, and Linux. The last demo was when Williams moved a running VM from one physical node to another, without any hiccups or having to reboot the VM. To the end user, this would've seemed like nothing had happened.

Source:pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2334055,00.asp

Configure Server 2008 with these handy shortcuts

Windows Server 2008’s interface is quite a change from the familiar interfaces of Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 Server. Find out how you can get the most important configurations via a command line.

You may see blank stares when administrators try to accomplish tasks in the new Windows Server 2008 environment. When a simple MMC (Microsoft Management Console) snap-in won't do the trick, try my most frequently used command lines for Windows Server 2008.

• ncpa.cpl: The additional clicks to get to the Manage Network Connections configuration are among the bigger learning curves for new installations. Simply running ncpa.cpl will take you right to the interface's configuration.
• desk.cpl: The display and resolution configuration are also buried in different areas, but you can quickly access the resolution by running desk.cpl.
• appwiz.cpl: Skip the visit to the Control Panel and simply run appwiz.cpl to jump into the Programs And Features applet.
• sysdm.cpl: It is not as easy as right-clicking My Computer anymore, but running sysdm.cpl can take you to the system properties screen to perform server renames, domain joins and device manager access and enable remote desktop.
• CompMgmtLauncher.exe: You can quickly access this server manager (which is much different than in Windows NT 4 version) by running CompMgmtLauncher.exe.

These handy shortcuts can help you make the transition to Windows Server 2008 quickly and, in some cases, perform tasks in the same fashion as in previous versions of Windows Server.

Top 10 Reasons to Use Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 (SBS 2003 R2) is an advanced solution for productivity and security, designed to help you keep businesses like yours up and running, so you can do more with less and connect with customers more effectively. SBS 2003 R2 provides many of the features used by large companies, all in one affordable, integrated solution.

1. Protect your business and prevent data loss

A more secure infrastructure protects your business from unauthorized users and data loss with:

• Built-in firewall protection and security-enhanced remote access.
• Tools to manage and monitor Internet access, block spammers, and automatically remove dangerous e-mail attachments to help prevent virus attacks.
• Automatic data backup and the ability to retrieve and restore previous versions.

2. Get the "green check" of software health

Automated patch and update management tools keeps PCs and servers up to date, and a daily report is e-mailed to you (or your IT consultant) so you can identify issues before they occur. A green check indicates that your system is healthy, or the report details actions necessary for attaining "green check" status.

3. Keep your business up and running with a reliable network

Built on Windows Server 2003 technology, the most reliable network operating system Microsoft has ever produced, SBS 2003 R2 delivers an operating system you can depend on.

4. Optimize your Windows investment

Built on Windows technology, SBS 2003 R2 enables you to benefit from efficiencies and savings inherent in having an integrated network.

• Reduce training with familiar Microsoft products and tools.
• Run your application of choice: a powerful database in the Premium Edition supports the largest selection of business software applications.
• Microsoft products are designed to work together, so applications and hardware integrate effortlessly.

5. Increase productivity with one central location for company data

SBS 2003 R2 provides a central location to store your company data, so employees can:

• Quickly find the right information.
• Share record keeping.
• Communicate and collaborate on group projects.

6. Access business information and resources from virtually anywhere, anytime

Be productive, whether you're out of the office, at home, or on the road.

• Securely access your e-mail, internal Web sites, network files, and even business applications from any PC with an Internet connection.
• Easily access e-mail, schedules, and contacts from virtually anywhere, at anytime using a Microsoft Windows Mobile-based or Smartphone device.
• Communicate in real time to stay current with your company and customers.

7. Reduce costs by sharing printers, Internet access, faxes, and more

As a complete network solution, SBS 2003 R2 enables your business to get more done with what you already have.

• Share resources, like Internet access and business software.
• Share equipment, including printers and fax machines.
• Fax with fewer phone lines and send faxes directly from PCs.

SBS 2003 R2 is easy for your IT consultant to install and maintain, helping to lower the costs of network management.

8. Present a more professional image

Get the tools you need to help create a strong brand, including a customized Web site that resides on your server – no sharing of your domain name with a Web hosting company. And with your own e-mail domain hosted on your server, there's no sharing of your address with an Internet service provider. SBS 2003 R2 helps you build credibility with your customers.

9. Stay connected to your customers and serve them better

With SBS 2003 R2, you can stay more connected, present a professional appearance, and manage your customer relationships more effectively. Server technology can streamline customer communications, allowing you to:

• Access the facts you need in real time.
• Respond to customer inquires more quickly and accurately.
• Stay connected while on the road with remote access capabilities.

10. Get a platform that is easy to grow for today and tomorrow

SBS 2003 R2 is a robust, flexible platform that can be customized to your needs. Affordable today and scalable for tomorrow, it provides a solid "technology building block" for future technology enhancements to your business. SBS 2003 R2 has the flexibility to grow with your company. As your business expands, you can add additional servers and migrate seamlessly to the full line of Windows Server System products.

Source: microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/evaluation/top.mspx