Advices before buying Microsoft stuffs

Hi,

First, sorry for my weird english :)

Ok, We will buy product from Microsoft in next few day. We plan at first to buy this:

2 Windows server 2003 x64 (if it's possible, i think we have a limit of one)
1 Exchange 2007
20 core cals

But i'm need help for best choosing.

Our organisation have or will have:

20 workstation (XP pro licenses) / 30 users
2 servers (recent Opteron servers offer by Dell)
We want to have 2 servers:
- a file server for files sharing and backup
- a Exchange/DC/WEB server.

I need advice because i am very tempted by Small Business Server. Small business server give us everything we need:
Exchange, Active Directory, security, central update for workstation in the domain, etc.

But, i'm not sure. SBS2003 is now available but, soon, SBS2008 is announced .

I don't know what to do. Will i be able to upgrade to 2008 if we install 2003.

Will it be available to Techsoup (SBS2008) soon.

Maybe it's best to keep my first idea and buy Server 2003/exchane 2007. But SBS2003 seems a good solutions too. Maybe it would be better to wait for SBS 2008?

Please, i need some advice what to buy and what is the best solution for us.

Please, feel free to ask be question if needed.

Thank you very much.

Rémy Lapointe
Les Oeuvres de la Maison Dauphine
remy.lapointe@maisondauphine.org

Rémy,

I would consider moving your DC to the file server/backup device. This would place the sensitive AD data on a different machine than your public web machine.

I've been happy with the 2003 R2 x64 edition and Exchange 2007. Previously we had SBS 2003. My experience had been that the patches and service packs were a bit slower to the SBS. I also was concerned about the inability to configure additional DCs on the network.

There are those that swear by the SBS package, I personally like the individual products.

Your advice is very interesting. Using individual product give me the oportunity to make a in place upgrade and if i use SBS i have to do a full install.

We have Win2k domain right now.

I will check the "allowed budget" because licensing individual is a bit more expensive than the SBS solution.

Another thing, i work with individual product for a long time and i have no experience with SBS. It will be more easy for my to use SVR2k3 and Exchange07.

Thanks a lot dtuuri!


Note: I think we can buy only one license of Windows 2k3 from techsoup... this is a bit complicated for what we want to do...

:Another thing, i work with individual product for a long time and i have no experience with SBS. It will be more easy for my to use SVR2k3 and Exchange07.


I found that it was much easier to work with the "natural" products. The bundled SBS is great for those that are not familiar with network administration. There are a handful of options that can only be performed via wizards.

Hi,

You can consider virtualization.

If you buy ONE W2K3 license, you can use this license for three adittional virtual machines based on W2K3 in the same phisycal server.

This licensing model is not limited to Microsoft virtual Server, it's extended to any virtualization product ( any version of xen server, vmware).

If you are worried about licensing costs, be careful selecting the type of license ( Enterprise, Standard.... for the server and the CAL).

you can request 6 titles. if it were me I will do this

1x server2003 enterprise
1x server2003 standard (yes, these 2 count differently)
1x exchange 2007
30x core license (I like to have some extra just incase within 2 yrs I need more since I can't order it again for 2 yrs)
30x microsoft office pro 2007
30x windows licenses (if you don't have it) or get other software you want.

ajeab, you can buy more the second year, up to 50 licenses.