Microsoft's Enterprise Search Line-Up

Search Server Search Federation

On November 6, Microsoft rolled out a new member of its enterprise search line-up: Search Server 2008 Express. This free, entry-level SKU builds on the search technology that is at the heart of SharePoint Server. Microsoft made available today for download a release candidate of Search Server Express.

rnrnThe features and functionality in Search Server 2008 Express is almost identical to what’s in SharePoint Server 2007 and the mid-level Search Server product.

rnrnThis is the interface for importing search federation field into Microsoft Search Server 2008’s administrative back end.

Enterprise Search in SharePoint: People Search

Microsoft’s enterprise search technology is based on what’s available in SharePoint Server. This shot shows how people-search results are displayed in Office SharePoint Server 2007 search.

Search Server: Query information analyzed

Search Server — the rebranded Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 for Search product — can export directly to Excel information about search queries.

Search Server: Reporting Interface

This is a screen shot of SharePoint Server 2007’s reporting interface, showing search queries.

Search Server 2008: Admin Dashboard

Search Server 2008 features an administrator dashboard, allowing users to see a big-picture view of their search-specific data.

Enterprise search offerings compared

This screen capture shows Search Center as it appears in both Microsoft Search Server 2008 and Office SharePoint Server 2008.

Search Center: E-mail Alerts

Search Center — in both Microsoft Search Server 2008 and SharePoint Server 2007 — is set up to show e-mail alerts.

Search Center: Federated search results

Federated search results are displayed in the System Center module in both Search Server 2008 and SharePoint Server 2007.

Search Center: Query Correction

In both Search Server 2008 and SharePoint Server 2007, query corrections figure in the Search Center modules.

Enterprise search results on display

Here’s how search results look in Search Center in both Search Server 2008 and SharePoint Server 2007.

Search Center: RSS Feeds

In both Search Server 2008 and SharePoint Server 2007, users can see RSS feeds of their search results.

Search-term entry

This shot shows the appearance, in both Search Server 2008 and SharePoint Server 2007, the entry of a search term into System Center.