Installing SBS 2003
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A fully functional and an easy-to-administer IT base is gaining importance even for small to medium-sized companies aiming for expansion. The Small Business Server 2003 operating system platform addresses this need. The Small Business Server 2003 unites the essentially important applications the Windows Server 2003 operating system, the current version of the Exchange mail server, the Share Point Services for synergy within a team and, where applicable, the Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA), and the high-capacity MS SQL Server 2000 database into one package. This package offers a very attractive price-to-performance ratio.
Contents |
[edit] Prerequisite
To install the standard version of SBS 2003 three CDs are required. CD 1 contains Windows Server 2003 for Small Business, CD 2 has Exchange Server, and CD 3 SharePoint Services. To install the premium version you first run these three CDs and then the CD called "Small Business Server 2003 Premium Technologies". Both versions include the CD "Office Outlook 2003", and the premium version additionally has the CD "Office FrontPage 2003".
Before installing SBS 2003 ensure that the hardware used is compatible with Windows Server 2003. To find this out, consult the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).
Automatic hardware detection is carried out during the installation of Windows Server 2003. This can cause problems with a connected UPS. There is a danger of the UPS switching to battery mode and the setup failing. To prevent this problem, you should disconnect the UPS from the server before beginning installation and reconnect it only after installation is complete.
As soon as you insert the first installation CD of SBS 2003, the same setup that you are familiar with from Windows Server 2003 appears. This installation process takes about 40 minutes. Only when you log on to the system for the first time do you see the logo and the legend Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server in the welcome window. After you have logged on to the system, some more installation components are copied and loaded. You will see the corresponding progress bars. When this process is over, you can start the basic configuration of SBS 2003. This configuration and installation process takes about 30 minutes.
If you want to continue the configuration process later, you can always do so by inserting the first installation CD and selecting the Install Small Business Server 2003 Now option.
Default values are offered at many points during the installation. These are usually adequate for small and medium-sized companies. If you want to change these values, click on the FURTHER Information button.
All the paths in the start menu of SBS 2003 assume that the classical start menu has been activated. If the modified start menu has been activated in your environment, the paths given may vary slightly in some cases.
The complete installation and configuration process of SBS 2003 can be divided into three stages. They are:
1. Installation and configuration of Windows Small Business Server
2. Installation of other server components
3. Task list for final configuration
This tutorial covers the first 2 points.
[edit] Installation and Basic Configuration
1. To begin with you see a welcome message. You learn that the following steps will now be carried out one after the other:
o Configuration of the operating system
o Installation of other server applications such as Exchange 2003
o Execution of a task list that completes the configuration of SBS 2003
2. Click on Next.
3. The Setup Requirements dialog box appears. In the Requirements text field you see information about problems that could arise during installation.
The problems are divided into three categories. Double-click a listed requirement to get more information about the problem.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Information | The points listed under this category are things you should be aware of before beginning configuration. They do not necessarily lead to problems during installation. |
| Warning | Points in this category draw attention to possible problems during installation. |
| Obstruction | Points in this category indicate that installation cannot continue due to the problems mentioned. Problems listed here must therefore be removed before installation can be carried out. |
This dialog box appears if there is any information in any of the three categories just mentioned. Then click on Next.
Enter the requested information in the Company information dialog box (telephone and fax numbers as well as address). SBS uses this information to configure its server components. Then click on Next.
4. The next step is the DNS configuration of the server in the Internal Domain information dialog box. Enter the DNS name of the domain, the NetBIOS name of the domain and the name of the server in the appropriate fields and click on Next.
The DNS domain name may consist of the following characters:
- The letters A Z and a z
- The numbers 0 9
- The hyphen character (-)
By default the NetBIOS domain name is the same as the DNS domain name. However, it is possible to have a NetBIOS domain name different from the DNS domain name. The computer name may consist of the following characters:
- The letters A Z and a z
- The numbers 0 9
- The hyphen character (-)
By default the use of .local as the TLD (Top Level Domain) is recommended to you. The use of this TLD has the advantage of clearly separating the internal domain from external Internet domains, which are not allowed to use .local as TLD.
You can also use another TLD such as .de or .com. Just ensure that it does not overlap with a previously registered domain on the Internet. The moment you select a TLD other than .local, a confirmation message appears.
Here the advantages of using .local as TLD are explained to you once again. If you do want to use this TLD, click Yes. If you want to retain the selected TLD, click No.
Once the installation of SBS 2003 is completed, you cannot change the DNS domain name, the NetBIOS domain name, or the computer name. So consider the name you want to use carefully! A change in name requires a reinstallation of SBS 2003.
5. If there is more than one network card in the SBS 2003 machine, select the card to be used for access to the local network in the Local Network Adapters Information dialog box. During setup all network cards on the SBS that have not been selected as the card for connecting to the local network will be disabled. Any existing settings for the disabled cards will be saved and will not be lost.
To ensure that there are no mix-ups between the network cables connecting to the local network and to the Internet, you should label the cables accordingly.
6. The DNS configuration is followed by the DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) configuration. If there is another DHCP server in the same network, you get a confirmation message as shown in the following figure. Here you have the option of installing the DHCP server of the SBS (Yes button) or retaining the existing DHCP server (No button).
Insert image 1493_02_08
7. In the next step the selected network card of the SBS (which may be the only one in the server) is configured. If you have decided to retain the existing server in the previous step, the IP address, subnet mask, and standard gateway are provided by this DHCP server.
If the information is not provided by a DHCP server, a configuration is suggested to you. You should keep these settings. If no address has been specified for the network adapter so far, 192.168.2.1 is suggested (since routers often use the address 192.168.2.1, this should usually not result in an address conflict). If an address has already been given, this will be suggested.
8. In the Login information dialog box you specify whether you want to log in manually or automatically during the setup process (see following figure). Since further configuration will require a number of restarts, you should select the Automatic login option. Automatic login only works if a password is given for the administrator account. Click on Next when you are done.
The password can consist of the characters A-Z, a-z, and 0-9 as well as special characters such as $, *, or !. To make the password secure you should use between eight and 127 characters and combine the various character types.
Automatic login of the administrator is limited to the setup period. As soon as this is over, the administrator will have to log in manually.
The Windows Configuration dialog box (shown in the following figure) displays information about the subsequent configuration. This configuration procedure will take about half an hour. During this period all windows and applications (except, of course, those pertaining to the setup process) should be closed. To start the configuration, click Next.
If the configuration cannot be completed successfully, the message Continue Setup appears on the next restart. The new configuration begins again with step 1.
9. The components are installed after you click on Next. This installation process takes about 30 minutes. During this process you will see the Component status dialog box (see the following figure). This gives you information on the status of the installation and configuration. You also see this information at each restart. If you have selected automatic login, do not make any further adjustments until the configuration is completed.
The configuration of the server should in principle be carried out as soon as the operating system is installed. If you stop setup after installation, SBS will automatically shut down in seven days because the licensing requirements have not been met.
If setup has not been carried out after installation of the operating system, the message Continue Setup appears on the desktop. If you have closed this message dialog box or wish to carry out the setup later, you can run SETUPSBS.EXE from installation CD 1.
If you start setup on a server that is already configured, you can add new components, remove old ones, and even repair or reinstall faulty ones.
[edit] What Happens during Basic Configuration?
During the basic configuration numerous changes are made on the server in the widest variety of applications, services, and components. This section gives you an overview of the changes made in the server configuration according to subject area.
Changing the Computer Name
In the Internal Domain information dialog box, if the computer name has been changed to something other than that given by the operating system, all the data on the server containing the computer name is modified.
Testing the Network Configuration
In this step the configuration of the network cards is first checked. Finally all the necessary network services and protocols are installed and configured.
Installation of Other Components
Internet Information Services (IIS 6.0) is installed during the basic configuration. IIS is required for the web-based portion of the SharePoint Services for the intranet website, Outlook Web Access (OWA), and Remote Workplace. Furthermore, the NNTP service (Network News Transfer Protocol), ASP.NET, RPC over http proxy, and the SMTP service (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) are installed.
Installation and Configuration of Active Directory Since the SBS 2003 domain can only be implemented as a root domain, the configuration of Active Directory is much simpler than for Windows Server 2003. The SBS domain is configured as an Active Directory domain in the standard operating mode of Windows 2000. This operating mode ensures support for the server tools. The password for restoring the directory service is synchronized with the administrator password specified during installation.
Installation of Microsoft Search
Microsoft Search is required for the support of indexes and for searches in Exchange Server 2003.
[edit] Installation of other Server Components
After the basic configuration is over, the server applications are installed along with their corresponding tools. The selection and installation of server components takes about 90 minutes in the standard version of SBS 2003.
1. In the Component Selection dialog box you will see the components that are typically selected in a standard installation.
If you want to modify this selection, click on the small arrow in the Action column. You have a choice between Install and No Action. In the second case the components will not be installed. The Server Tools and Client Deployment components both have a list of sub-features (indicated by the + symbol) that can be separately installed. Using the Change Path button you can specify a different installation path for the Server Tools and Exchange Server components. Clicking the Disk Information button will give you information about the free space available on your drives. Once you have made your choice, click Next.
2. In the Data Folders dialog box you can specify the installation path for the data folders (see the following figure).
If your system has a second NTFS-formatted hard drive, use this drive as a storage location for the data folders. To change the path click Change Folder. If you have selected the paths or accepted the standard settings, click Next. What Are Data Folders?
Data folders are required during installation for applications such as Exchange Server or fax services. If a second drive is available on the system, you should install the data folders separately from the system drive. This improves system performance. This also facilitates backup and restoration of the data. The following default permissions have been specified for the data folder Users Shared Folders:
- Domain user: Read and write
- Administrators: Full access
- Folder Operators: Full access
The following additional standard permissions are also valid:
- Not inheritable by higher-level objects
- Administrators: Full access (inheritable)
- Folder Operators: Full access (inheritable)
- Domain user: Read and execute (not inheritable)
The following standard permissions for the folders of all users are also valid for the folder Users Shared Folders:
- Name of the user: Full access
- Administrators: Full access
- Folder Operators: Full access
You can change these default permissions. However, the moment you reinstall SBS 2003, the permissions for Users Shared Folders are reset to the default values mentioned above. The default values are also restored if you update SBS 2000 to SBS 2003.
3. The Component Summary dialog box appears next. Here you will see a summary of the installation options selected by you in step 1. If you still want to make changes, click the Back button until you reach the desired place. Otherwise click Next.
4. As in the basic configuration, you will again see the Component status dialog box, which will inform you about the progress of the installations and configuration. The installation takes about 60 minutes.
5. After all server applications and tools have been successfully installed, the dialog box Completing the Installation appears. Click on Complete and then on OK. This begins the final restart of the system.
After the server components have been installed, SBS restarts and you see a list of tasks for the concluding configuration of server applications and tools. After you have worked through this final list, SBS 2003 is ready for use.
[edit] Concluding the Configuration
After having SBS installed,you will have to run the server administration program of SBS 2003 to conclude the configuration as given in Configuring_SBS_2003
[edit] Additional References
- For instructions on Troubleshooting Small Business Server 2003, click here
[edit] Source
The source of this content is Chapter 2: Installing SBS 2003 of Windows Small Business Server 2003 A Clear and Concise Administrator's Reference and How-To by JStephanie Knecht-Thurmann (Packt Publishing , 2005).
