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By Alan Stevens, ZDNet UK on 13 November 2008 12:29 PM
Tags: windows, server, 2008, small business, microsoft, hyper-v, sbs, windows server
1 @Anonymous: well perhaps he is talking about Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)?
Before you bite my head off for that, you should take a look at it yourself. Our company doesn't have any specialist IT department, but we were able to easily install and utilize an Ubuntu Server that covers *all* of our needs - email (Groupware), website, file-sharing, VPN, etc.
I must say, even I was surprised at just how easy it is to do. We've had no problems with it.
Yes, I wish the author would indicate what the "plenty of simpler alternatives" are. Sort of leaves you hanging at the end of the article.
seems ok but
The good: No tape backup, whats that all about???
I recently upgraded from SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 Premium and have had nothing but problems with it. While 2003 wasn't very glamorous, it worked and was fairly reliable. I have had so many problems with SBS 2008 I'm seriously considering scrapping the whole thing and going back to 2003.
The good: Comments are dead on. Easy to install but console tools are EXTREMELY limited in functionality.
The bad: Most applications will not run on 2008 (Blackberry Professional/Enterprise, Quickbooks, etc). Server hangs or crashes almost daily. Explorer.exe has a tendency to consume nearly all CPU and memory resources and finally lock up the machine.
Linux so called "free alterantive" has nothing on the out of box functionality that comes with SBS2008. Try setting up a Linux box to do the same thing (Intranet, email, snapshot backups, RWW, OWA etc) and you are looking at way more money in the long run.
...and by the way, tape drive backups SUCK big time and that is why MS have moved to USB backup...it is soooooo easy and reliable.
SBS is expensive you need to think about TCO such as MS Windows and Office on everyone's desktops, not to mention CAL's. Don't rule out SAS (software-as-service) options. MS Office Live, Google Apps, Yahoo Zimbra to name a few.
The good: Easy to install, good basic configuration. Sharepoint is becoming popular CMS.
The bad: Need an IT expert to really take full advantage of capabilities.
Doesnt offer a system recovery tool needed to recover the server from scratch so you really need to get a third party solution for a proper corporate application. Why do they bother including a second rate solution unsuitable for small businesses rather than something thats complete and state of the art for small businesses.
Windows update failed during first update requiring complete reload from scratch. Apparently a 64 bit problem.
The good: Theres no effective competition so by default its the best product around. If only the linux guys could get a fully compatible exchange equivalent working.
The bad: Needs lots of IT support to get it running. Bank on 5 x software cost itself so the MS claim about low total cost of ownership is fiction. Exchange / outlook still has major deficiencies compared to linux server/thuunderbird/firefox. It does somethings better though.
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"There are plenty of simpler alternatives that can to do what most small companies need for a lot less money."
Right - like what? That's a baseless statement.