SBS 2011 or Windows Server 2008?

[Sn@Ke]

I like your logo, its attention getting.

Like Google chrome

I would go the server 2008 r2, SBS is a pain. Also if you transfer all FSMO to the SBS server (and it all goes correctly) SBS still doesn't like to have any other DC's in it's AD..

I just spent 7 hours overtime doing this at work, so I can tell you in my opinion I'd avoid the SBS route

 

[Frank]

Also if you transfer all FSMO to the SBS server (and it all goes correctly) SBS still doesn't like to have any other DC's in it's AD..

You can just demote or decommission it, then.

I just spent 7 hours overtime doing this at work, so I can tell you in my opinion I'd avoid the SBS route

I really haven't had any issues with any of the migrations I've done so far. So my opinion differs from most. I like SBS.

 

[e2346437]

I think most people overlook the true costs of an Exchange installation, and I see that going on here as well.

Even if you go with the $4200 set of Exchange licenses, you haven't factored in messaging antivirus, antispam, and a backup solution. Barracuda makes some excellent appliances for antivirus/antispam, but you'd be looking to spend $4,000-$6,000 plus $2,000 to $3,000 per year in service renewals. Backup is also not cheap for Exchange, as you will need something that has an Exchange agent.

Now, you're $4,000 project has turned into $10,000 easily with 30% yearly recurring fees.

In almost all cases a hosted Exchange solution is going to be cheaper. I have one small customer on Liveoffice.com and they have 3 1GB Exchange mailboxes for $9.00 a month. Another customer just signed up with TimeWarner's hosted Exchange service and that runs $7/month per user. If I had to recommend anything right now, I'd recommend TimeWarner's service for sure. It's been flawless. Twenty users should cost around $140/month, and the time you'll save not having to mess with the server is priceless.

 

[TenYardFight]

I don't run this place and I don't mind. I just noticed what appeared to be a load of new server related threads to interest me, only to be disappointed to then remember that I'd already read them all months ago!

FYI I'm reading them all tonight because I can't sleep! Thank you both for your contributions!

 

[MobileTechie]

I think most people overlook the true costs of an Exchange installation, and I see that going on here as well.

Even if you go with the $4200 set of Exchange licenses, you haven't factored in messaging antivirus, antispam, and a backup solution. Barracuda makes some excellent appliances for antivirus/antispam, but you'd be looking to spend $4,000-$6,000 plus $2,000 to $3,000 per year in service renewals. Backup is also not cheap for Exchange, as you will need something that has an Exchange agent.

Now, you're $4,000 project has turned into $10,000 easily with 30% yearly recurring fees.

In almost all cases a hosted Exchange solution is going to be cheaper. I have one small customer on Liveoffice.com and they have 3 1GB Exchange mailboxes for $9.00 a month. Another customer just signed up with TimeWarner's hosted Exchange service and that runs $7/month per user. If I had to recommend anything right now, I'd recommend TimeWarner's service for sure. It's been flawless. Twenty users should cost around $140/month, and the time you'll save not having to mess with the server is priceless.

Your giving a worst case scenario for Exchange. You don't need to use Barracuda. There are other options that are much cheaper including hosted anti-spam. There are some decent value AV solutions too including ESET Exchange. You don't need 3rd party backups with SBS 2008 and above since the built in backup is pretty good. If you really think you do then there are options that are reasonable value.

Plenty of people have large mailboxes and so don't qualify for the cheapest deals.

I don't think it's as cut and dried as all that.

From a business perspective, signing up your clients to other firms including support etc isn't exactly a money-spinner

 

[teksquad]

I agree with outside hosting. You have a lot of options these days. Google Apps (I love it), office 365, managed exchange hosting and others. On the anti spam side I just moved my company (900 users) over to postini and its great. I have dealt with exchange in a pretty large environment and its not something that can be looked at once a month. It needs constant monitoring for problems, backups running properly. It requires a lot of storgage (not just mail stores but logs as well) Email is the lifeline for most company's these days. Exchange is expensive, no doubt about it. Like others have said licensing, storage, backups, anti spam solutions etc it adds up quick. There is nothing wrong with giving the customer the option of moving to a hosted solution. Customers and some tech's really don't know how much work exchange is. Do whats best for the customer.

 

[MobileGeeks]

If you are worried about the 75 user limit, I would suggest going standard and not use exchange and go Google Apps.

The standard box can do everything the SBS can with no limits. THe hardware/software requirment will also be a saving. They possibly can use there exisiting AV software too.


Just my thought.

 

[ProTech-MN]

I think most people overlook the true costs of an Exchange installation, and I see that going on here as well.

Even if you go with the $4200 set of Exchange licenses, you haven't factored in messaging antivirus, antispam, and a backup solution. Barracuda makes some excellent appliances for antivirus/antispam, but you'd be looking to spend $4,000-$6,000 plus $2,000 to $3,000 per year in service renewals. Backup is also not cheap for Exchange, as you will need something that has an Exchange agent.

Now, you're $4,000 project has turned into $10,000 easily with 30% yearly recurring fees.

In almost all cases a hosted Exchange solution is going to be cheaper. I have one small customer on Liveoffice.com and they have 3 1GB Exchange mailboxes for $9.00 a month. Another customer just signed up with TimeWarner's hosted Exchange service and that runs $7/month per user. If I had to recommend anything right now, I'd recommend TimeWarner's service for sure. It's been flawless. Twenty users should cost around $140/month, and the time you'll save not having to mess with the server is priceless.

I agree.. the additional components and ongoing costs are often overlooked when considering onsite vs. hosted Exchange. While there may be some cheaper AV and Antispam solutions lowering the cost a bit, don't forget that there is still all of the ongoing admin maintenance, patches, monitoring, etc... and you get to do this all over again when it's time to upgrade.

For smaller businesses, I don't often recommend they host their own mail server anymore - it's just too critical an application for businesses these days. There are plenty of reasonably priced hosted Exchange providers today that offer large mailboxes and 99.99% uptime. (Office 365 starts at what... $6 per user/mo?).

-Randy

 

[MobileTechie]

For people setting up that may be the case. But for people who already have SBS then it's not.

I've clients using SBS and it's not costing them much, if anything at all. I don't find the average small firm's Exchange needs tons of maintenance and I don't find it goes wrong.