jaydub31

Can SI5 run effectively on Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 R2 with SP2, Standard or Professional Edition?

I noticed the requirements on the main site listed Windows Server 2003 and was hoping it would work on the new Small Business Server as well!

Please let me know if anyone has tried it or knows if it is possible...

Thanks,
JW

slemay

Yes, it'll run just fine. As an "IT" person - I'd suggest that you get more ram in your server... also are you using Premium or Standard SBS? Premium gives you SQL (which you could then use on your D-Tools install). As for RAM - max it out at 4gb... it's not that expensive and you can't go wrong with too much RAM!

jaydub31

Shawn,

Thanks for the information, I have not actually purchased SBS just yet so I am open to recommendations. I don't see the use of the premium features such as the SQL since the D-Tools SI5 disc gives you SQL Express, or at least I think it does.

Can you recommend a standard minimum configuration since I would start from scratch? I want to combine preformance with value (not the bleeding edge technology and speeds), since I'll be adding this under a tight budget...

Thanks for the help!

slemay

The more hardware you put in it - the better. I'd suggest Premium still, as it comes with ISA firewall and SQL. SQL is much more powerful than SQL Express, plus the firewall will MORE than protect you and your network. It's worth the extra $$$. As for hardware - dual core 64 bit processors (spend the extra money now, as the next version of SBS, due out next year - ONLY - supports 64 bit... so spend the extra now instead of having to buy a whole new server again later). Get dual hard drives (raid 1) with SAS drives if you can - if not at least SATA drives (this way if one drive dies, the server keeps running on the 2nd drive). And go at 4gb RAM. The rest is all optional (except you do need two NIC cards, or a motherboard that has two). Also - don't get "workstation" quality products - get "server" quality. Not saying you have to purchase a server from Dell, or HP etc... but at least get a server quality / rated motherboard, same with the hard drives... they last MUCH longer and usually offer monitoring tools (so you know when something is about to die / broke - and can usually fix it BEFORE the server crashes / dies).

slemay

OH - and purchase the 2 year Software License Agreement from Microsoft on the SBS you buy... it's a little more expensive than just the SBS license, but again, it'll be MUCH (!!!) cheaper that purchasing another SBS in a year or two, when the next version comes out (Microsoft no longer offers "upgrades" to their products - either you're under a software contract OR you buy a full version the next time around). For example - let's say SBS costs $1000 (just coming up with random figures here) - the SBS w/2 year software might cost $1300. So for the extra $300 you get free upgrades for 2 years... in this case, you KNOW there is an upgrade coming out in about a year... so you just saved yourself $700 or more (as you'd have to spend another $1000 for the new version).

jaydub31

Shawn,

Thanks for the information, I'll utilize your advice!