Recently, the Microsoft Corporation has released the first version of the server operation system for small businesses. The product Windows SmallBusiness Server 2003 is based on the operation system Windows Server 2003. It includes some additional software products for the business servers' implementation, such as the Exchange Server, SharePoint Services, etc. In this way, the servers for small business are packages that contain all server applications, which are necessary for enterprise servers for the small business.
It is not the first occurrence of issuing such products by Microsoft. The company released the first software product of this type in October, 1997. It was the BackOffice Small Business Server 4.0. Later, they presented some versions of the integrated package for small business servers on the base of the Windows NT 4.0 Server (Microsoft Small Business Server 4.5) and Windows 2000 Server (Microsoft Small Business Server 2000). The new Small Business Server version uses all the advantages of a new Microsoft server software generation.
There are two variants of the Small Business Server in the software market: Standard and Premium. These versions differ with the sets of the proposed software. The older versions of the software for the small business servers were proposed in a single variant. The standard variant comprises the operation system Windows Server 2003, a server for e-mail management, Exchange Server for a team work organization and a set of services Windows SharePoint Services 2, which is required for the implementation of web sites and services in the enterprise local network. The information manager Outlook is also added to the office software package Office Suite.
The premium edition consists of all standard components, as well as additional packages - DBMS SQL Server 2000 SP3, Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004 and the visual web pages editor FrontPage 2003. Since the development of the ISA Server 2004 was not finished at the moment of the Small Business Server 2003 release, all buyers of the Premium version will receive coupons for a free obtaining of the ISA Server 2004. The Premium version can be purchased as an update for the Small Business Server 2000 on favorable conditions. Take into consideration that no Standard variant available for update.
Dividing the system into two variants has certain logic. For instance, almost all small business servers require e-mail, an Internet connection and team work tools and a powerful DBMS of SQL Server level is not obligatory for small enterprises. The standard edition allows to receive all the necessary software for these companies without paying for the non needed components.
Microsoft provides both editions in a complex with five client licenses. Additional licenses are available with an additional fee. Client licenses from Microsoft exist in two variants - a license for a user and a license for a computer. The user's license is profitable, when one worker uses some computers, for instance, a desktop computer in the office and a notebook in business trips. The license for a computer is beneficial, when there are some workers at the same office PC in turn. The cost of the license is the same in both cases.