Small business server upgrade to 2003 Standard Edition

[IHateMyJob2004]

I am researching if an upgrade to Microsoft Server 2003 Standard Edition from Small Business Server(SBS) is possilbe. From MS's site all I can find is that you can upgrade from NT-4 or Server 2000. Upgrading from SBS is not mentioned anywhere.

Why we need to do this: We are going to have two servers on the same domain in several months time.

Anyone know if this is possible? A source for verification of this would be great, but I want to know if it's something I should even bother pursueing further.

Thanks,
kfh

 

[RebateMonger]

Microsoft sells a "Transition Pack" to help upgrade from SBS 2003 to full Server 2003, Exchange 2003, etc. licenses. People do this when their Domain exceeds 75 users or devices.

SBS 2003 Transition Pack
More Transition Pack Information - FAQ

What do you mean "second server"? You can add up to 74 Windows Servers or Domain Controllers to an SBS Domain. (Well, if you add 74, you won't be allowed to have any users). But, there's no problem adding additional servers or DCs to SBS. You just can't add any more SBS Servers.

Additionally, your SBS 2003 CALS work for the additional Windows servers. No need to buy additional CALS for the extra servers.

SBS 2003 has the following restrictions:

? Only one computer in a domain can be running Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server.

? Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server must be the root of the Active Directory forest.

? Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server cannot trust any other domains.

? A Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server domain cannot have any child domains.

? Each additional server must have a Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server client access license (CAL). You can use CALs for each user or for each device.

It's no problem adding a couple of extra Windows Servers to your SBS Domain. People do it all the time, usually as application servers or terminal servers or even Branch Office DCs.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Thanks for hte reply. We did more research on the matter and it turns out that you can only have one small businees server per domain. You can add addition Server 2003 hardware with no problems, just making sure that hte domain server is the SBS machine.