Windows Server 2003 HELP

[MrWizzard]

I just built a server and am not sure which version of windows 2003 server to get.

This office will have 20-30 users and we run our own exchange server.

We currently are running a win2000 server with a separate exchange server snap in.

Any help would be great. There are so many different versions of the 2003 server I am not sure of which one to get.

Do I need to get the enterprise version?

Thanks

 

[drum]

I would go with the Standard Edition. We have about 500 users with servers all over the state that we just migrated from 2000 server to 2003 standard edition and it works great. just my opinion of course.

 

[Smilin]

No, you do not need enterprise at all. Standard edition would work fine. Stay away from the Web Server edition - it won't support the number of SMB users you have.


Normally an org your size would go with an SBS (small business server) that includes Exchange and whatnot. If you already have exchange going, then a 2003 standard server would work just fine.

 

[MrWizzard]

Thanks for the info.

I will be decommissioning the old 2000 server though. The 2003 will need to do our exchange also. So will the standard still be ok?

Thanks

 

[drum]

Originally posted by: MrWizzard
Thanks for the info.

I will be decommissioning the old 2000 server though. The 2003 will need to do our exchange also. So will the standard still be ok?

Thanks

yes, the standard edition will take care of it.

 

[RebateMonger]

You'll find that SBS 2003 is a LOT easier to properly configure and a LOT cheaper to manage than Server 2003 Standard Edition plus Exchange Server, due to its built-in monitoring and wizards. Things like the Daily Server Performance Reports, pre-built Alerts, automated backups and backup status reporting, and full Remote Access (Remote Web Workplace) are worth a lot.

You can't put Exchange 2000 on a Server 2003 computer, so you'll need new Exchange Server 2003 licenses, anyway. So going to SBS will probably be cheaper than going to Server 2003 Standard + Exchange 2003.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SBS 2003 PREMIUM Edition = $1000 plus maybe $1000 to $2000 for User CALS
Total is around $2000 to $3000, depending....

Server 2003 Standard = $700 plus Exchange 2003 = $1500 (?) plus maybe $1000 to $1500 for User CALS
Total is around $2200 to $3700, depending...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are rough cost figures, but you see that you'll certainly spend no more to get SBS, and will save a lot of money in setup and maintenance costs. Plus, you'll get ISA 2004 and SQL 2000 built into SBS Premium Edition. You might not need SQL, but ISA does some very cool stuff. You can, for instance, set up a secure VPN with a couple of mouse-clicks. And you can monitor and control Internet access by user or by computer, again with a few mouse-clicks.

 

[gwag]

SBS 2003 all the way...

 

[RebateMonger]

Since you are going to decommision your old Server (which I'm assuming is a Domain Controller, since you run Exchange), take a HARD look at Jeff Middleton's SBS Swing Migration technique. It's VERY easy to do and is solidly documented as a way to move Active Directory to a new server. His kit is only $200 and can save you DAYS of work in doing the migration to the new server.

http://swingmigration.com