Small Business Intranet with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services

Small Business Intranet with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services
Improved productivity through knowledge sharing and team collaboration
Windows Small Business Server 2003 provides an internal Web site based on Windows SharePoint Services. This site provides a centralized location that enables users to easily collaborate and share documents in a rich environment. For example, users can post documents into shared document libraries, view the company’s vacation calendar, enter a request to the Help desk, and participate in a survey or discussion group.
The Internal Web Site
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Description
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Shared Document Libraries provide a set of predefined document libraries that can be used out-of-the-box by most small businesses. Included in this default list are General Documents, Projects, Presentations, and Archived Documents. If the sample libraries are inadequate in meeting a particular customer’s needs, new document libraries can be created.
Shared Lists provide a set of lists within Windows SharePoint Services that knowledge workers can use to share information. By default, these lists include announcements, events, links, a vacation calendar, and a Help desk.
Sample and Prepopulated Content includes not only a number of sample lists and libraries, but also sample content populated into each of these libraries. This sample content describes how users can use the features and tailor them to their needs.
Shared Picture Libraries provide a rich graphical interface to share images among the team. These Image Libraries provide previewing and viewing capabilities.
Alerts enable users to subscribe to content stored in lists or document libraries, which will provide e-mail notification if content changes or new files are added.
Fax Routing enables users to route received faxes into the Incoming Faxes document library.
Import Files to SharePoint makes the transition of these documents into the company intranet easier by including an Import Files Wizard, which copies content from the file system into document libraries, where all the features of Windows SharePoint Services can be leveraged.
End User Help Topics include a Web-based set of Help topics targeted at providing assistance for the most relevant tasks in the Windows Small Business Server 2003 environment.
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How It’s Enhanced
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The internal Web site is a new feature in Windows Small Business Server 2003.
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How to Start
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To open the internal Web site, navigate to http://sbsserver/companyweb.
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Remote Access
Out-of-the-box remote access solution
Remote Web Workplace is a dynamically updated Web site that provides a single, simple, and consolidated entry point for authorized remote users anywhere in the world using any computer that can access the Internet. Users can connect to Remote Web Workplace through a simple Internet address and access the Windows Small Business Server network features, such as e-mail, documents, and their desktop.
You can also configure the computer running Windows Small Business Server to allow authorized users to connect to your network and use resources as if they are connected locally. Use the Remote Access Wizard to configure your server for virtual private network (VPN) and dial-in access.
Remote Access
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Description
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The Remote Web Workplace enables designated users to access the following Windows Small Business Server features from any location, using an Internet-enabled computer.
Outlook Web Access. Users can access e-mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks using an Internet version of Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 from the Internet.
Remote Desktop. Users can access the desktop of their computer at work, using the Internet.
Windows SharePoint Services. Users can access their company’s internal Web site from the Internet.
Remote Desktop. Users can access the desktop of their computer at work, using the Internet.
Connection Manager. Users can download Connection Manager, which automates the process of remotely connecting a computer to the company network.
Administrator access. The Remote Web Workplace enables administrators to access additional features.
Remote Desktop. Access the desktops of all servers and client computers on the company network.
Windows SharePoint Services. Administer the company’s internal Web site.
Help Desk. View a list of Help Desk requests generated by network users.
Monitoring Reports. View the performance and usage reports for the company network.
The Remote Access Wizard configures the server to allow remote access via both VPN or dial-in access through a modem. It configures the Routing and Remote Access service for remote access and configures the necessary settings for the firewall on the Windows Small Business Server. In addition, the wizard creates a configuration package that can be deployed to client computers with the necessary connection information already configured. The Set Up Computer Wizard can automatically install this on mobile client computers.
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How It’s Enhanced
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Remote Web Workplace is a new feature for Windows Small Business Server 2003, providing a single location where users can access remote access features.
Remote Access Wizard is a new feature for Windows Small Business Server 2003. The wizard automatically configures remote access features that were manually configured in earlier versions of Small Business Server.
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How to Start
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To access Remote Web Workplace
Connect to the Internet.
Start Microsoft Internet Explorer, and type one of the following URLs in the address bar:
If you have a registered domain name and it points to the computer running Windows Small Business Server, type https://externaladdress.com/remote.
If you have a registered domain name and it points to your Internet service provider (ISP), type https://servername.externaladdress.com/remote.
If you know the external IP address of the computer running Windows Small Business Server, type https://ip address/remote.
To start the Remote Access Wizard, click Start, and then click Server Management. In the console tree, click Networking and E-mail. In the details pane, click Configure Remote Access.
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Mobility
Out-of-the-box remote access solution using portable devices
Users of Microsoft Rich Devices can access their e-mail, calendar, and task information from their Windows Small Business Server 2003 network over the Internet. The mobility solution provided with Windows Small Business Server 2003 simplifies the setup and provisioning of Microsoft Smartphone 2003 and Microsoft Pocket PC Phone Edition 2003 devices.
Mobility
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Description
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Mobility provides a simple way for technology professionals to support their customers’ mobile devices. The Windows Small Business Server 2003 mobility feature is built upon the Exchange Server 2003 Outlook Mobile Access feature.
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How It’s Enhanced
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Mobility is a new feature for Windows Small Business Server 2003.
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How to Start
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When client computers are added to the network, the Windows Small Business Server 2003 Set Up Computer Wizard deploys the ActiveSync® technology to client computers, which enables them to support mobile devices.
To connect a device, the Administrator deploys ActiveSync to client computers. After ActiveSync is installed on client computers, users perform the following steps:
Connect the mobile device to the client computer using the cradle or cable provided with the device.
ActiveSync will start automatically and the user will be prompted to complete the Getting Connected Wizard.
The user must provide a user name and password. Windows Small Business Server 2003 provides all of the other required information.
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Server Administration and Management
Increased flexibility and system reliability at a lower cost
Windows Small Business Server 2003 provides two preconfigured management consoles. The first, Server Management, contains a rich set of management tools for network management. The second, Server Management for Power Users, is provided so that you can delegate basic tasks to on-site power users. Most commonly, power users are assigned tasks such as adding a user or group account or viewing resource properties.
Management Tools
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Description
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Consoles
Server Management is used to configure and manage the server and the network. It contains the tools used to work with user accounts, printers, fax machines, files, shared folders, licensing, networking, e-mail, monitoring, the intranet, and backups. This console also contains advanced tools for working with Exchange, Internet Information Services (IIS), and the Active Directory® directory service.
Server Management for Power Users includes a subset of Server Management tools. This console includes the most common management tools for handling user accounts, group accounts, computers, printers, and shared folders.
Console Customization enables you to grant or deny specific tasks to power users. Server Management for Power Users can be customized and individual tools can be added or removed to meet business needs.
Remote Access
Terminal Services provides remote computers access to Windows-based programs running on the server. As deployed in Windows Small Business Server 2003, Terminal Services enables you to remotely manage the server from any computer, even one outside the Windows Small Business Server 2003 network. You can access the server via Terminal Services from any computer on the Internet.
Remote Web Workplace is a dynamically updated Web site that provides a single, simple, and consolidated entry point for authorized remote users anywhere in the world using any computer that can access the Internet. Users can connect to Remote Web Workplace through a simple Internet address and access the Windows Small Business Server network features, such as e-mail, documents, and their desktops.
Remote Management of Client Computers is possible because of the Remote Desktop, a feature of Microsoft Windows XP Professional. This feature is based on the same technology used in Terminal Services. It enables you to manage client computers remotely, saving trips to the site. If the small business has additional servers running Windows Server 2003, these can also be managed remotely.
User Accounts
The Change User Permissions Wizard provides the ability to change a user’s or multiple users’ access rights and file permissions.
Enable Password Policies increases the security of the network by enforcing strong password policies.
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How It’s Enhanced
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Server Management is more task-oriented and was redesigned for ease of use. New tools to manage backups, the intranet, and additional servers are also now available.
Remote Management of Client Computers Running Windows XP Professional is a new feature in Windows Small Business Server 2003 and is only available for computers running Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003.
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How to Start
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Server Management opens when you log on to the server. If the console was closed when you last shut down and you want to open the console, click Start, and then click Server Management.
To start the Remote Desktop Web Connection on any computer, start Internet Explorer, navigate to www.domainname.com/remote (where domainname is the domain name of the server you can connect to), and then click the applicable link. The Terminal Services Web client will be downloaded and you can connect to the server. To access the server remotely from the Internet, configure Windows Small Business Server 2003 to accept Terminal Services connections as well as publish the Remote Desktop Web Connection Web site. These two configurations can be made by using the Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard.
Terminal Services is installed by default on the computer running Windows Small Business Server 2003 and runs automatically. To connect to the server or client computer running Windows XP Professional by using Terminal Services, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
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Setting Up Additional Servers
Flexible and fast additional server deployment
Windows Small Business Server allows you to add additional servers to your network by using the Add Server Computer Wizard. You can use an additional server to run client or server applications or to enable a Terminal Server connection.
Setting Up Additional Servers
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Description
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Connect an additional Server. Connecting an additional server to the Windows Small Business Server network is as simple as browsing to a Web site. From this site, you can access all of the necessary tools to configure network settings.
Enable Terminal Server. By adding an additional server to your Windows Small Business Server 2003 network, you can enable Terminal Server. Using Terminal Server, you can host your users’ desktops or host line-of-business applications.
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How It’s Enhanced
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The ability to add an additional server to the Windows Small Business Server network is new in Windows Small Business Server 2003.
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How to Start
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To start the Set Up Computer Wizard, click Start, and then click Server Management. In the console tree, click Server Computers. In the details pane, click Set Up Server Computers.
To connect the additional server to Windows Small Business Server, perform the following steps:
From a server computer connected to the Windows Small Business Server network, open Internet Explorer.
In the address bar, type http://servername/connectcomputer, where servername is the name of the computer running Windows Small Business Server 2003.
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Setting Up Client Computers and Adding Users
Flexible and fast client computer deployment
Windows Small Business Server 2003 includes a number of integrated wizards that make deploying applications and adding client computers to the network fast and easy. You can use these tools to create user and computer accounts, deploy software, and configure settings for an entire group of computers, rather than creating accounts and deploying applications on one computer at a time. The Server Management for Power Users console provides a single place from which power users can perform simple administrative tasks like adding users or printers.
Client computers can now join the network by navigating to a Web site. Users’ profile information is migrated to their new user accounts. New user accounts can be based on preconfigured user templates. Using the new Template Wizard, you can create your own custom user templates.
Setting Up Client Computers
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Description
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Connect Client Computers. Connecting a local computer to the Windows Small Business Server network is as simple as browsing to a Web site. From this site, users can access all of the necessary tools to configure network settings. This replaces the floppy disk used in Small Business Server 2000.
Profile migration. When users and computers join the Windows Small Business Server network from a peer-to-peer network, the Client Setup wizard migrates profile settings, such as desktop, screen saver, files in My Documents folders, and Favorites, minimizing disruption to users.
Deploy and Configure Client Applications. The Set Up Computer Wizard deploys the client applications included with Windows Small Business Server 2003. You can run the Set Up Client Applications Wizard to add other applications to the server so they can be automatically deployed to client computers.
Configure Mobile Client Computers. When running the Set Up Computer Wizard, you can configure client computers for mobile use. Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 is configured, making contact information available to users even when they are offline. You can use the Create a Remote Connection Disk option to create a floppy disk that can be used to configure connectivity on a remote computer (such as a user’s home computer), or direct users to the Remote Web Workplace, where they can download Connection Manager. Both options place an icon on the client computer’s desktop that points to the server via a VPN or dial-up connection. Users simply type their user name and password to connect remotely.
Advanced Configurations Option. When running the Set Up Computer Wizard, you can deselect options, such as printer configuration or specific Internet Explorer Favorites. This gives you more control over what is configured on client computers. These options are also available using View Client Computer Settings.
View Client Computer Settings. You can display the applications and settings that were chosen for a specific client computer by clicking View Client Computer Settings on the Manage Client Computers taskpad in Server Management. This information is especially useful after initial deployment to ensure that the proper settings and applications were distributed.
Save Configurations Performed by a Wizard. The configurations performed by a wizard are saved to a file, which you can send (via e-mail) or print. This enables you to create a log of the changes made to server configurations. If a problem occurs, this information can be helpful in troubleshooting the server.
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How It’s Enhanced
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The Set Up Computer Wizard has many improvements since Small Business Server 2000. Computers can join the network from a Web page, the users’ profiles are maintained and migrated to the new user accounts, the wizards have been simplified, and the user interface is more intuitive.
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How to Start
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To start the Set Up Computer Wizard, click Start, and then click Server Management. In the console tree, click Client Computers. In the details pane, click Set Up Client Computers.
To connect client computers to Windows Small Business Server, perform the following steps:
From a computer connected to the Windows Small Business Server network, open Internet Explorer.
In the address bar, type http://servername/connectcomputer, where servername is the name of the computer running Windows Small Business Server 2003.
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Adding Users
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Description
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Windows Small Business Server 2003 includes the Add User Wizard, providing an integrated way to add new user accounts. This wizard creates the user account in Active Directory; creates a mailbox in Exchange; grants access to network resources, such as the intranet, shared files and printers; and creates a home folder on the server to store personal files. This wizard can be combined with the Set Up Computer Wizard to configure a client computer for the new user.
User templates make the process of adding users faster, as common settings can be defined and reused multiple times. You can use the predefined templates or create custom templates using the Template Wizard.
The Add User Wizard can be started in bulk mode, which enables you to add multiple user accounts with one instance of the wizard. It can also be used by power users in simple mode, which restricts the type of accounts that power users can add.
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How It’s Enhanced
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The ability to add multiple users at the same time by using the Add User Wizard is new in Windows Small Business Server 2003.
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How to Start
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To create one user account or multiple user accounts at one time:
Click Start, and then click Server Management.
In the console tree, click Users.
In the details pane, click Add a User or Add Multiple Users.
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Monitoring and Reporting
Efficient monitoring and reporting of server activity and status
Windows Small Business Server 2003 provides tools that enable you to monitor server activity and receive performance and usage reports in e-mail or online. The monitoring and reporting tools enable you to monitor customer sites from remote locations. Remote monitoring helps reduce travel, which saves both the technology consultant and business owner money. It also helps business owners learn about what is happening with their business and how their employees are working–even when they are away from the office.
Monitoring and Reporting
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Description
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The Monitoring Configuration Wizard sets up alert notifications and server performance and usage reports. It also configures application logging. You can choose to receive performance and usage statistics reports on a scheduled basis and to receive immediate alerts when an issue arises on the server. Business owners can be given access to view the usage statistics report on a secure Web page on their intranet.
Alerts are used to send you an immediate e-mail notification when there is a critical issue with the server. When configured, Windows Small Business Server 2003 automatically sends an alert when a service set to start automatically is stopped, when a performance counter threshold is exceeded, or when a critical event appears in the Event Log.
Performance reports provide information about the general health of the server and can replace much of the “simple” monitoring that was performed using earlier versions of Small Business Server. Performance reports can be viewed on the server and can be sent to designated recipients in e-mail. The reports include Health Monitor alerts and critical event log entries from the previous 24 hours. They also include summary information about important performance counters and the top five processes that are consuming memory.
Usage reports for business owners contain information to help owners understand how their network is being used. These reports provide detailed information about employee Internet, e-mail and fax usage, as well as remote connectivity. Usage data is gathered from application logs once a day, and statistics are displayed in a report. Business owners and other authorized users can receive usage reports in e-mail or view the reports from a Web page on their intranet. The latest report can also be viewed in Server Management.
The Monitoring and Reporting taskpad provides a central location for viewing monitoring and usage data and lists tasks for configuring reports and alerts. The taskpad also contains links to more information and other troubleshooting tools, such as Event Viewer, Task Manager, and Service Manager.
The Import/Export Health Monitor Configuration Wizard enables you to export all Health Monitor thresholds and alerts from a computer running Windows Small Business Server 2003 and import them to another computer running Windows Small Business Server 2003. This wizard can be used to quickly save and install a preconfigured set of custom Health Monitor alerts on a customer’s server.
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How It’s Enhanced
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The Monitoring Configuration Wizard, Monitoring and Reporting taskpad, and Usage reports for business owners are new features in Windows Small Business Server 2003. These features simplify the task of setting up, configuring, and distributing monitoring reports and alerts.
Windows Small Business Server 2003 delivers a preconfigured set of Alerts and Alert thresholds. Also, a simple user interface has been added to easily fine-tune the configuration. You do not need to learn about Health Monitor to use this feature.
Performance reports contain a preconfigured list of relevant performance counters and metrics. The reports are enhanced with additional information to give a more complete picture of server status. The reports are clearly formatted so that it is easier to note problems that require action.
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How to Start
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To access these tools, click Start, and then click Server Management. In the console tree, click Monitoring and Reporting. In the details pane, click the desired task.
To set up monitoring reports and alerts, click Start, and then click Server Management. In the console tree, click Monitoring and Reporting. In the details pane, click Set Up Monitoring Reports and Alerts.
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Backup and Restore
Integrated backup and restore solution to help ensure the success of your backup strategy
The Windows Small Business Server 2003 backup solution was created as a direct result of customer and technology provider feedback. This solution is designed to help customers easily and successfully back up their servers and to guide them through the restore process, ensuring the success of their backup and restore strategy.
The backup solution prompts the administrator to create a backup strategy and leads them through the process of deciding what to back up, when to back up, and where to store the backup information. It simplifies the task of redirecting the users’ My Documents folders to shares on the server to ensure that client data is also backed up. By default, it backs up all of the data on the server that is needed to completely restore that server.
Using Windows Small Business Server 2003, you can back up to tape, another hard drive in the server, or a shared folder on any computer in the network. It also reminds the appropriate person when it is time to change the tape and notifies the designated person of the success or failure of each backup. The final part of the backup solution is a simplified document that completely describes the process of restoring individual files or the entire server.
Backup and Restore
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Description
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The Small Business Server Backup Wizard guides a novice administrator through the creation and implementation of a successful backup strategy. By default, it will back up all of the system, application, and data files needed to completely restore the server. This can include file shares, My Documents folders redirected from client computers, and files stored in your company’s SharePoint site. In this wizard, you can configure:
What files and folders to back up.
How often and what time to back up.
Where to store the backup files and how many to keep.
Reminders for the person responsible for changing the backup tapes.
How long to keep items deleted from Exchange.
How much disk space to reserve for previous versions of users’ shared folders.
Allows backup to tape, local hard drive, or a network share.
You can configure the Volume Shadow Copy service so that users can recover a previous version of a file in the event it is deleted or a version is overwritten. Files can be recovered if they are stored in a user’s shared folder on the computer running Windows Small Business Server 2003, or in other shared folders on the same volume.
A success or failure report for each backup is integrated into the Windows Small Business Server 2003 Monitoring and Reporting feature, and is also available in the backup snap-in.
Restore individual items from Outlook using the Exchange deleted item retention feature.
Provides steps to successfully restore the entire server.
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How It’s Enhanced
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The Small Business Server Backup Solution is a new feature in Windows Small Business Server 2003.
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How to Start
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To configure your backup strategy, click Start, and then click Server Management. In the console tree, click Backup. From the details pane you can:
Access the Small Business Server Backup Configuration Wizard.
Redirect the users’ My Documents folders to a share on the server.
Read and print the system recovery instructions.
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Setup
Fully integrated tools ensure a smooth installation
Windows Small Business Server 2003 provides an integrated Setup solution for installing and configuring your small business network. It is designed to guide you through configuring your entire small business network, providing an end-to-end solution. To do this, Setup is optimized for installing and configuring your operating system and installing the server applications and tools based on best practices for a small business network. However, you can customize your installation to fit your business needs. Setup also addresses factors important to successfully completing a Windows Small Business Server installation, such as disk space, system compatibility, and application dependencies.
These installation features are designed for technology consultants who set up the solution for their small business customers and for technically savvy business owners who like to do things themselves. For example, Setup now detects whether the server is connected to an external firewall device. If this device supports Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), Windows Small Business Server will configure it.
Windows Small Business Server 2003 provides original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with the ability to fully preinstall the entire product, giving both royalty OEMs and system builders a streamlined way of installing Windows Small Business Server 2003 on multiple computers. Thus, the OEM customers and channel partners have a simple and fast way to get Windows Small Business Server set up and running.
Integrated Setup
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Description
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Setup for Windows Small Business Server 2003 provides an integrated and complete installation and configuration of Windows Small Business Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003, Windows SharePoint Services, and Outlook 2003. Setup first installs the operating system. Setup then configures your operating system in preparation for installing the tools and applications. The last step of Setup is the To Do List, which automatically appears following the installation of server applications.
Setup configures the operating system based on best practice implementations for installing server tools and applications.
Setup detects the presence of external firewall devices and, if they support Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), can configure them.
Exchange server. Windows Small Business Server 2003 tailors Exchange Server for the small business environment. This includes such options as setting the deleted items retention, setting mail quotas for the Exchange mailboxes, and enabling circular logging.
Windows SharePoint Services. Windows Small Business Server 2003 provides your company with a preconfigured intranet solution using Windows SharePoint Services. This solution includes configuring the subscription service, giving Windows Small Business Server users access to the intranet, and creating an Incoming Faxes document library.
Outlook 2003. During Setup, Outlook 2003 is placed in a shared folder that is used when deploying the application to client computers.
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How It’s Enhanced
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Setup has been significantly improved since Small Business Server 2000. Several wizard pages have been modified and some redesigned to show the progress of Setup. For example, you will know what was installed, what is being installed, and what is left to install. Some pages are no longer displayed because default settings appropriate for a small business have been used. For example, the Directory Services Restore Mode password page is no longer displayed. Instead, the default password is the password of the built-in Administrator account so you do not have to manage two passwords. The Internal Domain Information page has been redesigned to provide default settings and information to help the user choose the DNS name for the internal domain. Also, the To Do List has been completely redesigned since Small Business Server 2000. Customer feedback has been incorporated into the new design, making it easy to use and customizing it for small businesses. Also, the product keys now only have to be entered once.
Exchange Server 2003 incorporates support for the newest features in Exchange and also makes smarter decisions about the format of e-mail addresses.
Windows SharePoint Services is new for Small Business Server 2003. It provides the company’s internal Web site.
Outlook 2003 includes new features, such as the ability to search across multiple folders, the cached mode option, and smarter synchronization.
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How to Start
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The method used to start Setup depends on the type of installation you selected. For more information, see the Windows Small Business Server 2003 Getting Started guide at the Microsoft Web site (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=20122).
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Fully Preinstalled Server Available through OEMs
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Description
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Availability through OEMs provides our channel partners and business owners with a fully preinstalled version of Windows Small Business Server 2003. The result is that all users will be able to have a fully working solution in approximately 30 minutes.
OEMs can now preinstall the full Windows Small Business Server 2003 product before completing the imaging or disk duplication process using the tools provided by Windows Small Business Server.
When users receive the server that the OEM preinstalled using the new method, all that remains is to enter the requested information during Setup and then complete the To Do List.
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How It’s Enhanced
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The Availability through OEM Partners feature has been significantly improved since Small Business Server 2000. In Small Business Server 2000, the solution only provided a preinstallation of the operating system. In this release, the complete preinstallation of Windows Small Business Server 2003 will be supported.
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How to Start
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The Availability through OEM Partners feature will be available at commercial release from OEMs.
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