Microsoft Small Business Server 2003

Editors' rating

Very good

7.8

out of 10

The good: Comprehensive feature set; tight integration with Exchange and SharePoint portal services; wizards and task lists simplify setup and ongoing maintenance; competitively priced.
The bad: Still not quite DIY simple; no server-side antivirus or spam filtering; firewall in Standard Edition is limited.
The bottom line: For small businesses that need a business in a box and want to stick with Microsoft technology, SBS 2003 is the only game in town.

Reviewed by:
David Coursey
Review date: 2/6/04

Performance
Service and support
Ratings explained

Service and support of Microsoft Small Business Server 2003

Setup and ease of use: 8 Features: 9 Performance: 7 Service and support: 7 The service and support options for Small Business Server 2003 are complex and vary depending on how and where you purchase it.

If you buy SBS 2003 directly from Microsoft and install it yourself, you'll have access to Microsoft-moderated support forums for free, but you'll pay for one-on-one phone and online support. Microsoft monitors support forums and promises a response within 48 hours. You can also purchase support plans through Microsoft's certified support partners. These options and exact costs are all described in detail here.

If you purchase SBS with a new server from an OEM, the manufacturer provides the service and support. Dell provides 30 days of free phone support for setup, installation, and troubleshooting issues with each license. Additional phone support is available from Dell on either a per-incident basis or for a period of time (with a maximum number of incidents). HP offers 90 days of free phone or online support for each SBS 2003 license.

Finally, many small businesses will purchase SBS 2003 through a VAR (value-added reseller). Microsoft hosts an online directory for finding a local VAR. The support options will vary depending on the VAR you choose and the partner level.