Business server - When to buy
Discussion
Don't know if this is the best place to post this but I am looking for more of a commercial answer not a technical one and wonder if anybody else has had the same problem.
I am debating when we need to upgrade to a proper server running MS Small Business Server and what advantages this will gives us.
We currently have 5 pc's and 3 laptops (though this is increasing) running wirelessly with a shared area on one of the pc's so we can all access common files. We also have 2 decent laser printers running off the back of individual machines but with access by everyone.
We do online backups currently for all common files and this will continue.
The problem I have is that everybody I know who can advise me either doesn't have much knowledge or they sell IT systems and tell me I need one and it will cost me £000's. The only benefit I can really see is that we get access to shared calendars in Outlook, this would be nice but not worth £000's.
Any advice or information would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Phil
I am debating when we need to upgrade to a proper server running MS Small Business Server and what advantages this will gives us.
We currently have 5 pc's and 3 laptops (though this is increasing) running wirelessly with a shared area on one of the pc's so we can all access common files. We also have 2 decent laser printers running off the back of individual machines but with access by everyone.
We do online backups currently for all common files and this will continue.
The problem I have is that everybody I know who can advise me either doesn't have much knowledge or they sell IT systems and tell me I need one and it will cost me £000's. The only benefit I can really see is that we get access to shared calendars in Outlook, this would be nice but not worth £000's.
Any advice or information would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Phil
What exactly do you want to achieve by implementing a server?
Do you want a mail server, a proxy server, a file server, a print server... etc etc etc...
Give us your requirements and I'm sure I, or someone else on PH can at least give you a clue which direction you need to go in...
slinky
Do you want a mail server, a proxy server, a file server, a print server... etc etc etc...
Give us your requirements and I'm sure I, or someone else on PH can at least give you a clue which direction you need to go in...
slinky
Well I do sell IT equipment and mainly to small businesses with setups similar to yours. Nine times out of 10, if the network is less than 10 PC's, I will try and talk them out of having Small Business Server unless they really have a specific need for it.
For a small business it can be an expense they can't really afford and frankly most don't need. What I normally steer them toward is making sure that all the machines run XP Pro not Home and then set it up pretty much as you describe yours. The one change I would suggest for you is convert the printers to network printers so that they sit directly on the network not on an individual PC. That way you don't have to leave a PC on just 'cos someone might want to print. An individual print server that will do the job is around £50.
Reasons for having Small Business Server would be if you wanted to more tightly control security and access to files, if you wanted to control internet access, host your own email, use shared Outlook facilities as you mentioned and the ability to pick up your email remotely (say from your home PC) through Outlook Web Access. There are other reasons but that's just a few to start. If you need these functions, get SBS, if you don't, then don't.
For a small business it can be an expense they can't really afford and frankly most don't need. What I normally steer them toward is making sure that all the machines run XP Pro not Home and then set it up pretty much as you describe yours. The one change I would suggest for you is convert the printers to network printers so that they sit directly on the network not on an individual PC. That way you don't have to leave a PC on just 'cos someone might want to print. An individual print server that will do the job is around £50.
Reasons for having Small Business Server would be if you wanted to more tightly control security and access to files, if you wanted to control internet access, host your own email, use shared Outlook facilities as you mentioned and the ability to pick up your email remotely (say from your home PC) through Outlook Web Access. There are other reasons but that's just a few to start. If you need these functions, get SBS, if you don't, then don't.
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