Reality: I have several clients of the 15-50 user range, they all run SBS 2003, they also have a 2nd server as an additional DC (in one case this is desktop hardware with server OS) and one of them the 2nd DC also handles DNS/DHCP/IIS etc. Zero issues in the four+ years of running SBS 2K3 Premium (Exchange + SQL) as well as IIS, FSMO/DNS/DHCP/File/print etc on any of my clients. Rock solid, no performance issues either (one of them is on a three year old dual core PowerEdge box w/ 4GB RAM and just 180GB).
Think of SBS as a normal DC but Exchange required to be installed on it and not a separate box, with a limitation of 75 users and no ability to have a trust relationship and you're pretty close. You can always add IIS/DNS/DHCP/File-Print servers later, but SBS is a good price for under 75 users. I didn’t even know SBS had wizards for user account creations etc until a couple years after deploying the last one… David Lum // SYSTEMS ENGINEER NORTHWEST EVALUATION ASSOCIATION (Desk) 971.222.1025 // (Cell) 503.267.9764 -----Original Message----- From: Cesare' A. Ramos [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 4:54 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: SMB question.. Hello all. We are having an internal tech discussion and wanted to have some thoughts from others. The thoughts can be either opinion or reality. We have a handful of small clients, less than 50 users (50 is an average. The majority are under 20) that are currently running a single server that is acting as AD, file, print, IIS, DHCP, Internal DNS, and Exchange 2003 server on MS Windows 2003 standard server. From the books, I can agree that this may be pushing the hardware, if not sized correctly. The servers are all running qty 2 dual core processors, 4 to 8 GB of RAM, and over 500GB of available storage with all running. The internal conversation / discussion that we are having is that a single server cannot run all these items as it will lead to issues and error in the server. One of the guys, states that he feels that services such as server will become unstable. Is MS Windows SBS and option yet but not a reality.. Thoughts.. CAR Mobile: 786-412-1746 e-Mail: [email protected] BB Pin: 305083B1 AIM: cramosMIA MSN: [email protected] Yahoo: cramosMIA This e-Mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this e-Mail in error please notify the sender via returned e-Mail. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this e-Mail are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. Although IDF operates anti-virus programs, it does not accept responsibility for any damage whatsoever that is caused by viruses being passed. ** Think before you print this message. ** ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
