Re: SBS2000 Implementation by Jeff
Jeff
Tue Sep 16 15:55:33 CDT 2003
This is a pretty complicated scenario.
SBS 2003 moves the limit to 75, if that's a help.
Combining orgs is a pain, and running separate is more of a pain.
You probably need to start by forgetting everything about what you actually
have, and decide what would be the practical way to do this from scratch. Do
you really need a DC and Exchange at each site? Do you really want to ignore
the use of a TS Apps server at one site? What is it going to cost to deploy
and reconfigure all this at three locations, rather than one?
It leaves me wondering if you shouldn't pass some really rough numbers past
the customer to find out if they are thinking $10k, 30k or 60K is reasonable
budget? Before you are done, calculate the annual operations management
fees for different scenarios. If you go after this like it's just a
technology problem, you aren't really doing everyone a good service.
You might even want to call MS for advice. They will do consulting /hr fee
based to give you a better idea what you might face and options you have.
I'd suggest you do that one on one, not with the customer on the line so
that you can ask painful questions and get direct, not necessarily just
diplomatic answers back.
"Iain Catto" <iain.catto@nospam.binac.com> wrote in message
news:652a01c377b4$88dc3f60$a501280a@phx.gbl...
> I'm working with a business who have two, shortly to be
> three, locations. For reasons unknown to me they are
> currently running two separate installations of SBS2000
> (one for each site). The three locations will all have
> broadband connections to the internet. The servers are
> currently used for file serving and email through exchange.
>
> The choices I can see are:
>
> 1) That they consolidate to one copy of SBS 2000 at the
> main site and have win2k servers configured as additional
> domain controllers at each of the other sites. (The
> additional servers will also require ISA server for proxy
> control). Each of the sites will be linked by VPN. The
> additional domain controllers will allow local login and
> centralised admin via AD.
>
> 2) They implement Win2k server at each of the three sites.
> One server will also run Exchange server for clients at all
> three locations. Each server will also have ISA server for
> proxy controls. Each site will be linked by VPN. AD
> replication will allow local logins and cetralised management.
>
> I know the second option is more expensive but the customer
> is getting close to the 50 user SBS threshhold. Any
> thoughts would be appreciated.
>
> Iain
>