Windows Server OS for Small Businesses by Microsoft

As expected, Microsoft Wednesday introduced a version of its Windows Server OS for small businesses with 15 users or less, filling in what the company sees as a gap in its server offerings.

Windows Server 2008 Foundation initially will be available in 40 countries once its OEM release servers for the new OS, since it will be sold exclusively through them. Hewlett-Packard, Dell and IBM should have those servers out sometime in the second half of this year, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft recommends using the new OS edition for basic small-business IT needs such as running and maintaining a database, Web-site hosting, running line-of-business applications, file- and print-sharing and remote access, among other uses.

Microsoft already has an OS and software bundle called Windows Small Business Server (SBS) aimed at the small-business market. But that package bundles the Windows Server OS with Exchange Server, SQL Server and other business software, and may be more than some very small companies need to run their businesses.

One thing that will make Windows Server 2008 Foundation more affordable for small businesses is that the OS does not require them to purchase client access licenses, which other Microsoft business software -- including SBS -- does. Instead, the OS is licensed by user accounts; however, each license is limited to a maximum of 15 user accounts, and each one of those accounts can only have one distinct user at a time.

Source: pcworld

SMB Powerhouse Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta Is Public

During yesterday's Microsoft keynote at CES, Steve Ballmer announced the release of the public beta of Windows Server 2008 R2, which is a midway release between its major server releases. This is a philosophy that the Windows Server team at Microsoft adopted since Windows Server 2003. R2 beta will be available for download on the WinServer R2 web site.

While R2 arrives with myriad new features, there are two key areas that are of great interest to IT generalists and small VARs that cater to the SMB. First, a new DirectAccess feature eliminates the need for VPN connectivity by providing seamless intranet based connectivity to Windows 7 clients from remote locations. DirectAccess will do away with the need to buy any VPN appliance. What's more, administrators will be able to manage remote computers just like computers inside corporate intranets. For VARs, DirectAccess spells a boom in new business revenue. VARs can offer managed services directly from their networks.



In R2, Microsoft also changed some of the network plumbing and underlying protocols to increase the efficiency of file transfers and improve remote connectivity with Hyper-V. As a result, the old Terminal Services will no longer be supported.

R2 provides a new Remote Desktop service using a new Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). In a R2 VDI environment, remote computers will be able to connect to virtual desktops, instead of physical machines. Hyper-V's virtualization technology makes it looks seamless. From the point of view of users, they won't be able to distinguish if the virtual desktops are virtual or installed on physical hardware.

While this might sound too esoteric for many small businesses to deploy, in actuality, it is not. I've worked with Hyper-V in the past and found it extremely easy to use. Small business will be able to reduce operational costs because the desktops exist in the VDI environment (a server box). You won't be rolling your eyes back when you see the price. It's all included in the Windows Server 2008 license.

Source: http://blogs.pcmag.com/atwork/2009/01/ces_2009_smb_powerhouse_window_1.php

Steps to install Small Business Server 2003 in an existing Active Directory domain

To install a SBS 2003 computer in an existing Active Directory domain, follow these steps:

1. On a Windows 2000 domain, you must prepare Active Directory before you install the SBS 2003 computer in the domain. For more information about how to install a Windows Server 2003 domain controller into an existing Windows 2000 forest, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278875/ ) Dcpromo.exe and Winnt32.exe log errors when you create a Windows Server 2003 domain controller in a Windows 2000 domain or forest or when you upgrade a Windows 2000 domain controller that resides in a Windows 2000 forest to Windows Server 2003
2. Start the installation of SBS 2003 by inserting CD 1 into the CD or DVD drive.
3. When the operating system is installed and the computer restarts and continues with the integrated Setup program, click Cancel to stop the integrated Setup program.
   
4. On the SBS 2003 computer, configure a static IP address on the network card and make sure to configure DNS to include the existing server that hosts the Active Directory zone.
   
5. Note Do not create a new forest and do not create a child domain.
   1. Click Start, click Run, type dcpromo, and then click OK.
   2. Click Next two times.
   3. Click Additional Domain Controller for an existing domain, and then click Next.
   4. Enter the credentials for the domain administrator account, and then click Next.
   5. In the Domain name area, type the FQDN for the Active Directory domain namespace that you want to join, and then click Next. For example, type contoso.local. If you are not sure of the FQDN, you can click Browse to select the correct domain.
   6. Click Next to accept the default locations for the Database and Log folders.
   7. Click Next to accept the default locations for the shared system volume.
      
   8. Type the Directory Services Restore Mode administrator password, and then click Next.
      
   9. On the Summary screen, click Next to start the Dcpromo.exe program. This process may take several minutes.
   10. Click Finish to complete the Dcpromo.exe program, and then click Restart Now.
   11. Log on to the computer after it restarts and confirm that the computer has been successfully promoted to a domain controller. To do this, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
   12. At the command prompt, type gettype, and then press ENTER. The output should read as follows:
       
       

       Host Name: ServerNameName: Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server
       Version: 5.2 Build 3790
       Role: Domain Controller
       Components: Not Installed

6. Install the DNS server service. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, point to Control Panel, and then click Add/Remove Programs.
   2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
   3. In the Windows Components list, double-click Networking Services.
   4. Click to select the Domain Name System (DNS) check box, and then click OK.
   5. Click Next, and then click Finish.
      
   
   
7. Promote the SBS 2003 computer to a global catalog server. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Sites and Services.
   2. Expand Sites, expand Default-First-Site-Name, expand Servers, expand your SBS 2003 computer, right-click NTDS Settings, and then click Properties.
   3. Click the General tab, click to select the Global catalog check box to assign the role of global catalog to this computer, and then click OK.
   4. Open Event Viewer to the Directory Services event log and wait for event 1119 or 1869 with a description that states that this domain controller is now a global catalog.
   5. Restart the computer.
      
      Note Do not restart the computer or remove any other global catalog servers until you receive event 1119 or 1869. If you do this, it will cause adverse effects as there will be no global catalog servers available to process requests.
8. After the new computer is successfully promoted to a global catalog server, remove any other global catalog servers in the domain. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Sites and Services.
   2. In the console pane, expand Sites, and then expand Default-First-Site-Name.
   3. Expand Servers, expand any computers other than your SBS 2003 computer, right-click NTDS Settings, and then click Properties.
      
      Note You may have to repeat this step more than one time if more than one computer is listed, other than the SBS 2003 computer.
   4. On the General tab, click to clear the Global catalog check box to assign the role of global catalog to this computer, and then click OK.
      
      Note If the Global catalog check box is not selected, go to step 8.
   5. Restart any computers where you removed the global catalog server role.
      
      Note Wait for the account and the schema information to replicate to the new global catalog server.
9. Transfer the FSMO roles to the SBS 2003 computer. To do this, follow these steps for each FSMO role:
   1. Transfer the Relative ID (RID) Master role. To do this:
      1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
      2. Right-click your organization name, click All Tasks, and then click Operations Masters.
      3. In the Operations Masters dialog box, click the RID tab.
      4. In the Operations Masters dialog box, click Change.
      5. Click Yes to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click OK.
   2. Transfer the PDC Emulator role. To do this:
      1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
      2. Right-click your organization name, click All Tasks, and then click Operations Masters.
      3. In the Operations Masters dialog box, click the PDC tab.
      4. In the Operations Masters dialog box, click Change.
      5. Click Yes to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click OK.
   3. Transfer the Infrastructure Master role. To do this:
      1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
      2. Right-click your organization name, click All Tasks, and then click Operations Masters.
      3. In the Operations Masters dialog box, click the Infrastructure tab.
      4. In the Operations Masters dialog box, click Change.
      5. Click Yes to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click OK.
   4. Transfer the Domain Naming Master role. To do this:
      1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Domains and Trusts.
      2. Right-click Active Directory Domains and Trusts, and then click Operations Master.
      3. In the Change Operations Master dialog box, click Change .
      4. Click Yes to confirm that you want to transfer the role, and then click OK.
      5. Click Close to close the dialog box.
   5. Transfer the Schema Master role. To do this:
      1. You can use the Schema Master tool to transfer the role. However, the Schmmgmt.dll file must be registered to use the Schema Master tool as an MMC snap-in. To register Schmmgmt.dll, click Start, click Run, type regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll, and then click OK.
         
         Note You receive a message that confirms that the registration was successful.
      2. Click Start, click Run, type mmc, and then click OK.
      3. Click File, and then click Add/Remove Snap-in.
      4. In the Description area, click Add.
      5. Click Active Directory Schema, click Add, and then click Close.
      6. Click OK.
      7. Right-click Active Directory Schema, and then click Change Domain Controller.
      8. In the Select DC area, click Specify Name, type the name of the SBS 2003 computer, and then click OK.
      9. Right-click Active Directory Schema, and then click Operations Master.
      10. In the Change Schema Master dialog box, click Change.
      11. Click Yes, click OK, and then click Close.
      For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
      (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324801/ ) How to view and transfer FSMO roles in Windows Server 2003
10. Move the site licensing server to the SBS 2003 computer. To do this:
    1. On the SBS 2003 computer, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Sites and Services.
    2. Expand Sites, and then click Default-First-Site-Name.
    3. Right-click Licensing Site Settings, and then click Properties.
    4. Click Change, type the name of the new SBS 2003 computer in the Enter the object name to select area, and then click OK.
    5. Click OK to close the Licensing Site Settings Properties dialog box.
       
       For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/273475/ ) Licensing in Windows 2000 and differences with Windows NT 4.0
    
    
11. Wait for the new Active Directory objects to replicate to the SBS 2003 computer. The time this takes depends on the Active Directory size and on network performance. You can view the Directory Service event log to verify that replication has completed successfully. The SBS 2003 integrated Setup program may not continue if replication has not completed or if replication has failed.
    
    To test replication, you can create a new test user on a domain controller and after several minutes confirm the object has been replicated to the SBS 2003 computer. You can also force replication from a domain controller. To do this:
    1. On the SBS 2003 computer, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Sites and Services.
    2. In the left pane, expand Default-First-Site-Name, expand Servers, and then expand the domain controller that you want to replicate from.
    3. Click NTDS Settings. One or more objects are listed in the right pane. One of those objects is a link to the domain controller you want to replicate from. To see the "friendly" name of the object, right-click the object and view the name. Right-click the domain controller object, and then click Replicate Now. The replication is performed immediately.
12. Change the DNS settings on all domain controllers to point to the new SBS 2003 computer as the primary DNS server. To do this, follow these steps.
    
    Note Follow these steps on all domain controllers in the Active Directory, including the SBS 2003 computer.
    1. Click Start, point to Control Panel, point to Network Connections, right-click the internal network connection, and then click Properties.
    2. Click to select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.
    3. Change the preferred DNS server. Type the IP address of the SBS 2003 computer as the preferred DNS server. Also, make this change on the SBS 2003 computer.
       
       Note The alternative DNS server can point to the previous preferred DNS server as long as it is a server that hosts the Active Directory zone.
13. On the SBS 2003 computer, insert the SBS 2003 CD 1 into the CD or DVD drive and continue with the integrated Setup of SBS 2003 and its components.
14. If you already have Microsoft Exchange Server installed in the organization, the integrated Setup installs Exchange Server into the existing organization. If you already have an Exchange 2003 Server or an Exchange 2000 Server in your organization, and you plan to retire that Exchange Server, you can move the mailboxes and public folders to the new Exchange 2003 Server before you retire the old Exchange Server. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    822931 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822931/ ) How to remove the first Exchange 2003 Server computer from the administrative group
    
    To move the mailboxes and public folders, follow these steps:
    1. On the existing Exchange Server in the organization, open Exchange System Manager. To do this, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Exchange, and then click System Manager.
    2. At the top of the tree in the left pane, right-click the Organization Name (Exchange) icon, and then click Properties.
    3. Click to select the Display administrative groups check box, click to select the Display routing groups check box, and then click OK.
    4. Expand the Recipients container, and then click Recipient Update Services.
    5. Double-click each entry, and then enter the name of the new Exchange Server that is running on the SBS 2003 computer in the Exchange server area.
    6. Expand Administrative Groups, expand Administrative Group Name, expand Routing Groups, and then expand First Routing Group.
    7. Click Connectors, right-click your SMTP connector if it is present, change the server that is listed in the Local bridgeheads area to the new SBS 2003 computer, and then click OK.
    8. In the left pane, under First Routing Group, click Members.
    9. In the right pane, right-click the new SBS 2003 computer, and then click Set as Master.
    10. In the left pane, expand Administrative Groups, expand Administrative Group Name, expand Servers, and then expand the Exchange Server that existed before you added the new Exchange Server on the SBS 2003 computer.
    11. Expand First Storage Group, expand Mailbox Store, and then click Mailboxes.
    12. Select all the mailboxes, right-click the mailboxes, and then click Exchange Tasks.
    13. In the Exchange Task Wizard, click Move Mailbox, and then click Next.
    14. Click to select the new SBS 2003 computer in the Server list, and then click Next.
    15. Specify how you want the Move Mailbox procedure to handle corrupted messages, and then click Next two times to re-home all the mailboxes to the new SBS 2003 computer.
        
        Note This procedure also re-homes the public folders to the new SBS 2003 computer.
    16. Click Finish.
    17. As soon as replication is successful, remove Exchange Server from the computer that is to be retired. If the computer that is to be retired is also a domain controller, run the Dcpromo.exe program to remove this computer from the domain before you physically retire it.
        
        Note You must instruct all Exchange Server users to point to the new Exchange Server.
15. Run the Dcpromo.exe program on the SBS 2003 computer to join the existing domain.

For More Info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/884453/en-us

Microsoft Rolls Out New Small Business Server Options

Microsoft has announced new server software that it said provides small and medium businesses with enterprise-quality capabilities while helping them to save money, increase productivity and grow their businesses.

While designed specifically for small and midsized companies, Windows Small Business Server 2008 (SBS 2008) and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 (EBS 2008) include Microsoft's high-end server technologies delivered in a way that smaller companies can make the most of them.

“Around the world, small and midsize businesses are the engine that drives economic growth and opportunity,” Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, said in a company statement. “To help these businesses succeed, Microsoft has focused on creating integrated, affordable server solutions that are optimized to meet the needs of companies with limited IT resources. Small Business Server and Essential Business Server deliver a comprehensive set of capabilities that will help small and midsize business thrive and grow.”

Designed for small companies with up to 75 people/computers, SBS 2008 server software integrates a variety of Windows functions to help small businesses better secure data and increase employee productivity regardless of location.

Based on Windows Server 2008 Standard technology, SBS 2008 incorporates:-

• Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition for messaging and collaboration
• SharePoint Services 3.0 for online collaboration workspace and productivity tools
• Forefront Security for Exchange Server to handle e-mail security
• Windows Server Update Services 3.0 for network updates and protection
• Windows Live OneCare for Server to manage viruses, hackers and other digital threats
• Microsoft Office Live Small Business to help take your business online
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard for Small Business, a database available in the Premium edition

The server software offers a range of features including anytime/anywhere access to your PC and its data, including e-mail, files, business applications, and more. It's also designed to let your employees share Internet access, printers, fax machines and other network resources. Click here for SBS 2008 pricing information.

Microsoft designed EBS 2008 for midsized companies with up to 300 people or computers. It's meant to simplify and automate common IT tasks, and a unified administration console gives IT managers more control over an integrated network infrastructure.

Windows Essential Business Server 2008 also incorporates the applications found in SBS 2008, and Microsoft said it provides the following features:

• Significant costs savings compared to buying stand-alone products.
• Remote access, anti-spam, antivirus protection and improved messaging technologies improve productivity both in and away from the office
• An integrated setup saves time and reduces installation steps from days to hours Simplified licensing with a single server license and Client Access for all included products.

Steven VanRoekel, senior director of the Windows Server product group, noted that both server products help small and mid-sized companies compete in tough economic times.

"Small companies have the same needs and face the same challenges as big business, but they lack the staff, resources and time to manage IT environments," VanRoekel said. "The new EBS 2008 and SBS 2008 products are an integrated, affordable, enterprise-quality solution that can help small and midsized companies become more productive, cut costs and be more competitive." Click here for EBS 2008 pricing information

Via: itmanagement.earthweb.com/entdev/article.php/3785346/Microsoft+Rolls+Out+New+Small+Business+Server+Options.htm

Latest Gmail Outage Raises Concerns for Small Business

Sometimes, your greatest assets can become costly liabilities. Google's remarkable success and rapid growth over the past few years may have set the bar too high for customer expectations of their applications, particularly Gmail.

A recent outage on the popular email server, which is in a SAAS format (Software as a Service), caused thousands of headaches when users went an entire day without functional Gmail. Google's credibility took a hit from the damaging reports.

Messaging expert Michael Osterman told CIO.com that email outages aren't uncommon, regardless of the format, and Google simply receives more of the media's negative spotlight when it fails to deliver quailty service to its users.

The Google Mail outages are given more attention, and it will give SaaS a black eye. But if you look at Google's records, Gmail is still well over 99 percent available.

Google's unique predicament reminds me of a coach or an executive who surpasses expectations earlier than expected, and as a result, they receive unfair criticism when adversity arrives. A specific example who comes to mind is former New YorK City mayor, Rudy Giuliani. In his book, Leadership, he elaborated on the the daunting challenges for maintaining approval and appeasing 14 million people with different pleas.

To control the chaos during his eight years is mayor, he followed a simple but profound principle: "Under-promise and over-deliver", and he urged his supporting staff to do the same.The logic behind Rudy's mindset was: You can't be all things to all people, all of the time, so don't make any promises you can't keep.

In an ironic twist of fate, Rudy failed to adhere to his own principle during his run in the Republican Presidential Primary. He over-promised and didn't deliver Florida, a state where he devoted the majority of his energy and attention.
The bottom line: Once you've established star power, whether it's in business,politics,sports or entertainment, you'll be held to a higher, and sometimes unrealistic standard.

Via: marketingshift.com

Small Business VOIP - Ensure Business Safety while using Wireless VoIP Signals

For every businessman, there is a necessity of storing data in the office. This data includes information on business policies and confidential information. As the data is very critical to the business organization, it is essential to keep the data safe and protect it from falling into the wrong hands. If the data is leaked, it could cause enormous amount of problems to the company sometimes to the tune of having to lose the business altogether.

For this reason, small businesses need to protect the data they have very safely. Almost everyone uses computers to store data these days. So, there should be a software installed that will protect all information about the business safely. The software that will help you do this includes anti-hacking, anti-spyware, antivirus, etc.

Another commonly used technological tool is the telephone through which you might be sharing information. So, even this mode has to be made secure to avoid anyone from listening in to what you are saying.

VoIP has gained a lot of importance these days due to the newer trends in technology. VoIP is an important tool that helps a business become better, fruitful and competent. VoIP is like any other telephone but has better features. VoIP gives the benefit of making long distance calls at much lower rates in comparison to your regular telephone. It also provides other features that are generally not available on regular telephones and if present, will be quite expensive. You get enjoy additional features such as audio and video conferencing, call waiting, text messaging, three-way calling and much more all free of cost.

For these additional benefits provided, many businesses are now switching over to VoIP from their regular telephones. A question that comes to one’s mind is how it is possible with VoIP. VoIP is through the internet where data exchanging happens free of cost. VoIP makes use of the same principle to allow the movement of audio signals.

As the audio signals are moving through the internet, it is converted into digital format which makes the sound quality in VoIP phones very crisp and crystal clear, a feature you might not enjoy while making long distance calls from your regular telephone.

With improvements in other technology, VoIP has gained importance. Having a Wi-Fi connection has enabled a user to call anybody using a Wireless VoIP phone. For this reason, Wi-Fi phones have now sprung up and are becoming popular by the day. Moreover, it is much easier to handle calls through a phone rather than having to hook up your computer to an internet connection in order to make and receive calls through VoIP.

But, again the doubts about security arises as you are handling calls through wireless technology. You would not desire any unscrupulous elements from listening into your conversations through the phone. For this reason, it is essential to have a program that secures your conversation. With the help of this program, a user who wants to access your signals should be able to get in only if they are providing an approved username and password. Also, there are new Wi-Fi phones now in the market that has integrated privacy software that prevents anyone from eavesdropping into your conversations.

There are encryption devices also available for securing your conversations. You can even find devices compatible for Wi-Fi technology. When you use these devices along with your Wi-Fi connection, it prevents any unauthorized access into your systems. You can even choose to put up a firewall to further strengthen your Wi-Fi network. All these options are easily obtainable and are very proficient in preventing anyone from getting into your network and listening in.

Look for a VoIP Wi-Fi phone that comes with lot of inbuilt features like privacy software and encryption to improve the security of your network. These may come at a higher price in comparison to your regular VoIP phones but it is money well spent.

Source:gather.com