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SBS - situation I'd like comments on

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by jennyn 2 views

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I have a client who need a server - probably with SBS 2k3. They have a volunteer (its a nonprofit) who is a PC tech with minimal network experience.

I put in a proposal for installation, including letting him work with me to learn, and even letting him play with the server for a week before the install so he can learn stuff.

But he wants to do the whole install by himself and is telling the manager that it will save them all the money if they don't have to use me.

I'm not attached to doing the work myself, but my opinion has been that since he has no server/nw background or training, I may end up having to fix his installation anyway.

My experience is with installing full version Server and exchange - not SBS.

Question: is SBS so simple an install that a PC tech with no server/domain experience and minimal peer-peer networking experience could do a successful install? or would that setup the organization for trouble?

17 replies

by leobloom

Yes he could probably do the install himself. I havent worked with sbs 2k3 but I did work with previous versions. As long as the hardware is decent it should load seamlessly. After the install there is screen that pops up that walks you through the setings for exchange and creating user accounts.

Having said that, they still might call for support because it is not completely idiot proof and I think they only get 1 free support call into MS.

by sgt_shultz

if he runs the client setup wizard like he is supposed to he should have minimal problems. are they setting up exchange? sql server? web server? SBS big mistake imho...
let him do it. you can't win otherwise so this only possible way. if makes it thru the install he will need you later for verifyable backups, antispam antivirus protection and 'hardening' the os and sql server and exchange. and the printer installs. and the webserver. and probably dns. just offer lots of free advice and try to be the good guy here. you will reluctantly have to charge them of course. don't take this personal. guys are so territorial. just keep on truckin...be sure to advise putting ALL patches and updates. starting with BIOS and motherboard drivers...

by hereinoz

If he is so intent on being the hero, all you can really do is gracefully allow him to do the job, and always be there to help out if or when the situation gets out of hand.

Let's face it, Microsoft released SBS telling everyone that a trained monkey could do the set up and maintenance, but I know of one installation where all the lovely wizards ceased working and the server could no longer be administered at all.

Will they initialise the firewall? Who knows? Will they do many things that they should do? Who knows? The only way that they will find out your value is to try it themselves. If they can do it, they don't need you. If they fail, they will certainly need you, so don't burn any bridges with these people.

It is a bit like someone doing an engine overhaul on their car. If they get it right, they didn't need the mechanic, but if they get it wrong, they most certainly do. But the mechanic can never force them to bring the car to him.

Let them do it, and stay "pleasantly close" so that you get the call when it all goes belly up.

Oh, and tell the bloke to drink plenty of water - if the installation doesn't go smoothly, or they have trouble down the track, he is sure as hell going to be sweating! :)

by jennyn

Useful answers so far, just a couple of things
1.
>SBS big mistake imho...
Tell me why - this is not a final decision. I was feeling hardpressed to not recommend SBS for a small organization - but like I say - I'm not experienced with its up/downsides. We'll be installing Exchange.

2. Here's the conundrum The manager trusts me very much. If I say "yes he can do the install" that will be my recommendation, so if he screws up it's me that made the bad recommendation. On the otherhand - perhaps he's right and it will save them money. I'll feel like an idiot if we breeze through the wizard together and it's so easy he passes on up the line that an ameoba could have done the install and saved them the bucks.

by bfilmfan

It depends. Yes there are wizards, but setting up Active Directory and Exchange is still a great deal more than just choosing to fill in some boxes.

Once the name for the Excahange organization is put in and OK is pushed, a reinstall is required to change it.

SBS can only support ONE Active Directory domain. Best make sure they get it right.

Will this server be exposed to the Internet? If so, is he ready to have Exchange configured to operate properly with any firewalls they may have?

It is possible for a beginner to do everything right and it to work.

There are far more cases where they do everything wrong and it crashes and burns. I'd advise your client to look at ALL the SBS related messages in this tech forum as examples of where it can go very bad, very quickly.

My advice is to let him do it himself and be available to rescue them when it goes south. That way they the opportunity to learn your real value.

by cg it

well my opinion is no. a tech newbie shouldn't install SBS. While the initial installation is quite easy with the wizards, SBS is an Active Directory environment with the same functionality as an enterprise level Active Directory environment sans the ability to assign roles and create trusts. Therefore SBS requires additional configuration than just installation.

by cg it

remember SBS is an all-on-one box- enterprise level Active Directory Services. It has Exchange Server which requires seperate, manual patching and service pack installation, it has SharePoint Services that also requires seperate, manual patching and service pack installation, Standard Edition has no firewall, Premium has ISA 2004 which again requires seperate patching and is quite complicated in troubleshooting.

Can not stress this point more, SBS has all the functionality of an enterprise level Active Directory Services environment sans creating trusts between domains, and assigning roles to other servers.

by cg it

one answerer said there were a lot of problems posted on this forum about SBS and in my experience, with someone who knows enterprise level Windows Active Directory networks, SBS is easy. Where people run into problems is that they dont have a clue about what the different components do and how they need to be configured. Examples are: DNS, DHCP, IIS, WINS, Exchange, AD services, domain controllers, DFS, SharePoint Services, Certificate Services, security templates, Group Policy, WSUS, client/server communications, RRAS.

by cg it

because newbies don't have any background with those components, they may do something in DNS or DHCP, or in AD that breaks SBS. Often not having an understanding of Group Policy and application of Group Policy causes untold problems with those that dont' know it.

by jennyn

Thanks all - that was helpful. I had a meeting with them today and I felt well armed from your comments. I especially liked CG ITs answer - perhaps cos it's what I wanted to hear! but you all contributed... a funny story - before the meeting he told me he got the 90 trial of SBS and installed it at home "it was easy" he said, followd by; "and then I tried to connect a client - but that didn't work". So it all depends what you mean by "install" right?! At least he's taking some initiative. Hopefully he'll swallow his pride and take advantage of the training opportunity.

by jennyn

TechRep "close question" mechanism crashed when I clicked to allocate points. Did anyone get them?

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