Comments on SeanDaniel.com: Preparing your Network for Small Business Server 2...

The best way I have seen to do this is to replace ...

2009-10-08T09:29:08.967-07:00

The best way I have seen to do this is to replace your router with an ISA server. If it's important to the customer to track internet usage, then the cost of ISA is justifiable. There are lower end routers that can do the same too. I would start there.

Hi Sean With the ability for 2 NICs being unsuppo...

2009-10-07T22:02:50.133-07:00

Hi Sean

With the ability for 2 NICs being unsupported I have a question - for our clients we use a 2 NIC setup in SBS2003 (default gateway) along with ethereal packet capture to detect things like PCs that may be infected with SPAM engines etc. What would you suggest as a suitable alternate?

Darryl

Thanks for all your comments. Customers under SA ...

2008-07-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all your comments. Customers under SA will get a copy of ISA to use on a secondary server in the network. And if you don't get an SA copy of ISA, we actually recommend a higher quality router then the $50 home class routers, something like a sonicwall or watchguard.

As usual it's one step forwards and two backwards ...

2008-07-27T00:51:00.000-07:00

As usual it's one step forwards and two backwards for Microsoft! Almost all our current networks are SBS Premium 2003 Dual NIC with ISA server. Works well, is a complete integrated system and is modular! So what if most users only use a single NIC solution? With 2003 it doesn't matter. You can either do it either way!! Purchasing ISA server separately (per CPU count and user count etc) PLUS an additional server box in my opinion is just completely ridiculous. More expense, more to go wrong etc. etc.
The REAL cost will be more. If it's not I'll eat my shoes.
It's the same when they went from SBS 2000 to SBS 2003. Take out the terminal server licences and only allow 2 simultaneous connections.
Come on people! Microsoft only give the ILLUSION they're really offering more. 2008 may be easier to set up, easier to configure and easier to implement but it ain't better value for money!
And no, I'm not going to use a $50 router to do the job of ISA server.

Thats my little rant for the day. I feel better now.

I wonder which customers Microsoft asked about thi...

2008-07-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

I wonder which customers Microsoft asked about this? Like others, all of our SBS customers use a dual-NIC configuration. SBS even replaced some hardware firewalls since the customers liked/wanted the consistent Windows management interface. This is very disappointing. The cost to small business just went up.

Seems a second server will be required for 2008 Pr...

2008-06-29T20:44:00.000-07:00

Seems a second server will be required for 2008 Premium's firewall. Why not just buy Standard edition and use a free firewall like IPCOP, Endian, or Untangle on a cheap Linux box?

http://www.synergymx.com/page.php?Title=Review_-_IPCop_Firewall_1.4/

Hi Philip,

ISA can still be run on the seco...

2008-06-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hi Philip,

ISA can still be run on the second server you get with Premium. It just has to be purchased seperately.

Thanks for your comment!
Sean

I too am disappointed with the loss of ISA.

2008-06-07T10:01:00.000-07:00
I too am disappointed with the loss of ISA.

We are at 99% SBS 2K3 R2 Premium level with our clients.

ISA was a huge selling feature for our clients. Especially those in the professional services industries that are covered by compliance regulations and liability rules for their workers.

The protection offered by ISA was second to none and, in the case of our smaller clients will be sorely missed.

Philip
MPECS Inc.

No more ISA in SBS? That sucks. All my clients h...

2008-05-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

No more ISA in SBS? That sucks. All my clients have dual NICs and ISA is the gatekeeper of their network.

In-my-not-so-humble-opinion, ISA is also the way to go. Other firewalls, such as Sonic, require a yearly subscription. And now I have to push that down my client's throats.

JamesNT

Unfortunately the ISA version that comes with SBS ...

2008-05-03T17:57:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately the ISA version that comes with SBS 2003, is only licensed to run on SBS 2003, that copy cannot be used on another server other than SBS 2003.

Sorry.

If the SBS 2003 Premium License isn't OEM then ISA...

2008-05-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

If the SBS 2003 Premium License isn't OEM then ISA 2004 can be used on the 2nd Windows 2008 server after migrating SBS 2003 to SBS 2008, correct?

But what's the advantage of changing a working con...

2008-05-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

But what's the advantage of changing a working configuration now? Why not just wait until it's time for migration? If it's as simple as you say, then doing it now saves you only a few minutes at migration time. On the other hand, if it doesn't go smoothly (and believe me, I've been there) then you've taken a working system and broken it.

A reward? like saving time on your next migration?...

2008-05-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

A reward? like saving time on your next migration? That's a pretty good reward...

It's actually not as difficult as you think. The team is still working on exact steps, but you setup your firewall device, and plug it into the LAN with the LAN nic. Then you unplug the WAN link from your SBS WAN link to the WAN link of the firewall device, then run CEICW on the 2003 box, and switch it to a single-nic.

Sean, please clarify what steps, if any, are recom...

2008-05-02T06:10:00.000-07:00

Sean, please clarify what steps, if any, are recommended for existing dual-NIC SBS03 installations, and why these steps are necessary. Moving a production server from dual-NIC to single-NIC is no small affair, and I think I speak for most in the community when I say we only want to do this if there's going to be a big reward for doing so.

Paul,

Thanks for your comment, I have appen...

2008-05-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

Paul,

Thanks for your comment, I have appended the post above. Essentially Microsoft will make-good on the software assurance customers. This will be announced in the next few months along with the product as it goes public.

Stay tuned ....

Any word on whether current SBS2003 Premium custom...

2008-05-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

Any word on whether current SBS2003 Premium customers with Software Assurance will get something to allow them to continue using ISA?