Review: Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2

Computerworld - Microsoft Corp. has long seen the value in providing computing and server solutions to small and midsize businesses, although only recently has it put more of its industrial-strength marketing presence behind its product line in that arena. Microsoft released Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2, an update to the version of SBS released in late 2003.

R2 integrates many of the improvements included in Windows Server 2003 R2 -- the core operating system of the SBS product -- and increases the focus on client and server security and updates. Let's take a look.

New features and how to get them

Most things are as they were in SBS 2003 -- Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003 and so on. The core components of the suite haven't changed that much. A couple of newcomers -- one to the Standard edition and another to the Premium edition -- make the difference. The most prominent new features and enhancements to R2 over the previous version of SBS are as follows:

• The "green check" of software health. While SBS networks have always been supported by Microsoft update tools like Software Update Services and Windows SUS, those tools haven't been specifically integrated into the SBS paradigm. The "green check of health" refers to the results given by an integrated version of WSUS, with special reports and an easy-to-use administrative interface that takes care of updates for the SBS server, any additional servers running on the network and all client machines. The setup, administration and reporting tools are unique to SBS and designed to insulate the small-business owner from having to worry about deploying WSUS in his environment. Daily reports let the administrator, or the consultant he has hired, know of the status.

    

• SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition. Previous versions of SBS included a pretty limited version of SQL Server, whereas with SBS 2003 R2, users get access to a much more powerful and capable SQL product than they've had before. (The naming is unfortunate.)

    

• Expanded client-access license (CAL) rights. SBS 2003 R2 customers can use their CALs to access additional servers running Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003 and SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition on the SBS 2003 R2 network. As before, no duplicate CALs are needed when new servers are deployed on the network as the business grows.
  

Current SBS 2003 with Service Pack 1 customers may be able to upgrade to R2 using the Technology Upgrade Program to receive SBS 2003 R2. Through this program, you can receive a copy of the R2 Upgrade Media Kit if you purchase SBS 2003 with SP1, either Standard or Premium edition, preinstalled on a new server from a reseller or a registered System Builder during the eligibility period from March 1, 2006, through Nov. 30, 2006.