Small Business Server FAQ

Microsoft Small Business Server is a special version of Windows Server for businesses with 75 users or less.  It’s popular amongst Small Businesses because it provides access to several of Microsoft’s Enterprise tools such as Exchange and SQL Server for around the same price as a regular Windows Server license.  There  are, however some additional restrictions placed on how you setup and use Small Business Server which is why it is important to use IT Provider like New Age Solutions who have a long history of selling and supporting it.

The current version is Small Business Server 2011. We are also able to sell and install the previous version: Small Business Server 2008. If you already have Small Business Server 2003 or 2000 we can help you to support this too.
We find that SBS Standard is right for most of our clients. It includes Microsoft Exchange Server. If you need SQL Server, then the SBS 2011 Premium Add-on provides this and the ability to have two servers for your network.
Yes, we provide Hosted SBS Servers to a number of our clients.
SBS Server 2011 supports a maximum of 75 users or devices. If you will need to support more than this number of users, then you will be better served by the full versions of Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server
Previous versions of Microsoft Small Business Server supported faxing. The current version, 2011, still does, although it is different to previous versions. We find for a lot of our clients that diverting their incoming faxes through a fax-to-email gateway service.
Small Business Server includes a basic backup facility. It is designed to do an image backup to an external hard disk. We recommend ShadowProtect backup software to most of our clients because it provides better facilities for notifying you of backup success/failure, testing backups, and making the best use of your backup space by deleting old backups.
Microsoft SharePoint Foundation is included in Small Business Server Standard (and in Windows Server 2008 too). It provides a platform for collaboration, file sharing and web publishing
We can help you to upgrade from a previous version of Small Business Server. Usually this is done in conjunction with replacing your server hardware as there is no “in place” process to Install Small Business Server 2011 over the top of your Small Business Server 2008 for example. We have tools and processes that enable us to transfer all of your, users, emails, files, groups, and public folders to a new Small Business Server
Absolutely. Just as with the “full” version of Microsoft Exchange Server, the version in Small Business Server can support multiple email domains. In addition, each mailbox can have multiple aliases, or different names that are delivered to the one mailbox. Distribution lists, or email groups are also fully supported.
There are multiple ways to do this. When setup correctly, your email can be accessed using Outlook Web Access (OWA) from any Internet connected computer. In addition, if you have a desktop computer attached to your Small Business Server then we can show you how to remote control your desktop computer from any Internet-connected computer. Finally, your Small Business Server can be configured to operate as a Terminal Server, allowing you to access it using Terminal Services to provide an experience very close to using a desktop computer on the network with your terminal server, even when you are away.
Outlook Web Access is service that runs on your server. It enables you to access your mailbox from any Internet-connected computer in a way that looks very much like the Microsoft Outlook mail client that most people use.
Yes. We can easily setup your iPhone or Android smartphone to receive and send your emails too. Blackberry devices are also supported and require an extra piece of software to be installed on the server or a desktop in your office.
Kind of. Officially your Small Business Server can’t be used like a traditional Terminal Server. However, we can help you to:

  • Install Terminal Server in remote-administration mode if only 1 or 2 people need to use it
  • Install a second server on your network to act as the Terminal Server
  • Use a third party add-in to make the Small Business Server behave like a Terminal Server
  • Achieve a similar outcome with the inbuilt service to enable you to remote-control other computers on your network