Win 2003 SBS

[Slowlearner]

At a smaller office with some 7-8 active users, we have purchased a server with W2003 SBS pre-installed. They are having a hard time setting it up as this OS seems to be designed for a strictly client-server setup. Whereas for a small setup like this, the only server app is the Job Quote/Track system, which require drive mapping anyway - so the question is can W2003 SBS for simple file sharing like w2000 Server.

People locally have said "Yes, but I have never done it".

The only reason for choosing W2003 SBS over win2003 Server was pricing, that small office does not host its own website,email server etc.

 

[spyordie007]

Using it for file sharing is a client-server setup.

If your question is "Can it only be used as a file server (without enabling Exchange, Active Directory, IIS, SQL, etc. that comes with it)?" Than the answer is yes. I dont use SBS very much but as I recall there is even a nice wizard that comes with it and you would just tell the wizard to enable the file server role (and nothing else).

Should be pretty simple.

 

[DaFinn]

Heh, during first boot (and every boot after, if you don't turn the feature off) it pops out a screen "Configure your server" where you can assign/alter different roles to your server... and YES, there is also a possibility to make it a file server. A simple wizard to take you through the different steps.

 

[Slowlearner]

Encouraged by the positive feedback from you guys, got the box, located Disk 1 of SBS 2k3, fired it up, changed boot to CDROM, stuck Cd in and began a full install. After about an hour Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server was installed and it wanted to move on - cancelled the next step - reconfigured network setting, added shared folders, set minimal permissions on those (will fine tune this Monday) and lo and behold it was working fine. What I dont understand is where it got device drivers for the mobo. The last time I did this with Server 2K, I had to put mb mfg's CD in to load all those drivers.

 

[stash]

If your question is "Can it only be used as a file server (without enabling Exchange, Active Directory, IIS, SQL, etc. that comes with it)?" Than the answer is yes

For SBS2003 anyway, the answer is no as for as enabling Active Directory goes. When you bring up an SBS 2003 system, the first thing it will do (IIRC) is run the dcpromo wizard. You can cancel out of this, but after a few days, your system will shut itself down, because not making the system a DC is a violation of the SBS 2003 EULA.

 

[spyordie007]

because not making the system a DC is a violation of the SBS 2003 EULA

Wow, this I was unaware of. That's a pretty strict limitation

 

[stash]

That's a pretty strict limitation

Perhaps, but SBS is designed for a very specific purpose. If your network requirements are different from what SBS is designed for, then you should be using a different product.

 

[stash]

By the way, if you cancel the dcpromo wizard, there is a 14 day grace period where the server will stay up. After that time, the server will shut itself down every 60 minutes.

 

[PlatinumGold]

ya, SBS for simple file sharing is WAY overkill. all you need for peer to peer file sharing is Win XP.