What is Small Business Server?

Microsoft® BackOffice® Small Business Server combines the members of the BackOffice family — Microsoft Windows NT® Server 4.0 operating system, Microsoft Proxy Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Internet Information Server, and Microsoft SQL Server™ — with an easy-to-use graphical interface to provide a total business solution for small companies. It’s an integrated solution for sharing files, databases, printers, e-mail, fax services, applications, and other resources with anyone, anywhere, at anytime — all from one integrated server. The small business customer gets advanced communication services and fast, flexible access to the Internet. Best of all, the server is exceptionally easy to set up, manage, and use, so the small business customer can get up and running with it right away.

Small Business Server contains the following products, all of which are optimized for integration, ease of use and centralized management to meet the unique needs of the small business market in terms of features and benefits.

Microsoft^® Windows NT^® Server 4.0, the leading server operating system, is a secure, reliable network operating system on which small businesses can easily share files, back up critical company information, share equipment such as printers and modems, and reliably run business applications.

Microsoft Internet Information Server 3.0 is tightly integrated and designed to deliver a wide range of Internet and intranet server capabilities so that small businesses have all the tools they need to create powerful and professional Web sites. Internet Information Server also provides the most comprehensive platform for building a new generation of Web applications.

Microsoft SQL Server™ 6.5 provides a powerful, secure relational database for running business applications.

Easy and Powerful Communications

Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0, an Internet mail and collaboration server, includes business solutions to help get customers connected and coordinated; it provides a solid foundation built on Internet and other open standards.

Microsoft Outlook^™ 97 desktop information manager helps users manage their messages, appointments, contacts, and tasks, as well as track activities, open and view documents, and share information.

With the Exchange Server and Outlook combination, the small business can build community through rich electronic messaging, discussion groups, list services, and other groupware capabilities.

Microsoft Fax Server allows companies to communicate by fax more efficiently. Microsoft Fax Server enables users to fax any document from any program right from their desktops, automatically route faxes via electronic mail, and manage fax devices. Companies can control who can view and send faxes and even determine how faxes are distributed within their company.

Microsoft Modem Sharing Server allows small businesses to share modems installed on their server, eliminating the need for each workstation to have its own modem. In addition, Modem Sharing Server reduces wait times because the server automatically uses the next available modem in the pool to handle dial-in or dial-out requests.

Easy Access to the Internet

Internet Connection Wizard automates location, selection and connection to an Internet Service Provider. It automatically configures Microsoft Exchange to send and receive electronic mail across the Internet, enables online registration of a second-tier domain name and takes advantage of Microsoft Modem Sharing Server, making it easy for small businesses to be connected to the Internet.

Microsoft FrontPage^® 97 Web site creation and management tool makes it easy to create and manage professional-looking Web sites without programming.

Microsoft Proxy Server creates a single, secure gateway to the Internet, eliminating the need for each workstation to have a modem. Auto-dial is automatically enabled during installation, providing seamless Web browsing for all clients.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02 provides the best Internet browser for Windows clients, allowing for a rich user experience in navigating intranets or the Internet.

Easy to Set up, Manage, and Use

Integrated Server Setup silently installs all server applications, eliminating the need to install each application separately. The server setup automatically configures the applications, minimizing user input and helping ensure a successful server installation. The integrated setup and autoconfiguration allow businesses to be up and running in less than 60 minutes.

To Do List walks the small business "administrator" through the steps of connecting printers and workstations, creating user accounts, and connecting them to the Internet, ensuring that the small business has a complete network.

Wizards use plain language to guide users through the key tasks in managing users, peripherals and devices on the server.

Setup Computer Wizard (SCW) provides the simplest way to add new machines to a network. SCW makes it easy to connect the Windows^® 95 or Windows NT Workstation operating system to the Small Business Server. SCW configures the network settings, installs the appropriate protocol, adds the appropriate client applications for the user, and creates shortcuts to shared folders on the server from the user’s desktop, increasing the success rate of getting the client up and running.

Small Business Server Console offers a centralized, easy-to-use interface that places all of the common management tasks in one location.

Online Guide provides just-in-time training to the small business "administrator." It includes tutorials, comprehensive help, and trouble-shooting tips, along with a fast search engine to ensure that help is available when users need it.

Default Intranet Page provides just-in-time training to the users connected to Small Business Server. Users can obtain comprehensive tutorials and trouble-shooting tips on topics such as printing, electronic mail, the Internet and much more so they can become productive more quickly. Intranet Default Page is automatically set up as the Microsoft Internet Explorer default page on the Small Business Server and each workstation.

Since this version of BackOffice is optomized for small business customers, functionality specific to Enterprise customers such as Systems Management Server (SMS) and SNA Server are not included.