Help with Small Business Server 2003

Bradmax57

Bradmax57

Bradmax57

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Joined
13 Dec 2002
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Newcastle upon Tyne
Currently our SBS server isnt Service packed, we asked the IT company we use about getting it done and they wanted something like £150 an hour for someone to come in and install the service pack, not having any experience with servers I am just presuming it would just be like service packing any os?

The only reason we want it doing is so I can run exchange mail on my desire.

They have said there are 2 difference service packs for sbs2003 and its vital that its the correct one needed, how would I go about finding out and are there any other details I need to know before I attempt to service pack it?
 
Bradmax57 said:
Currently our SBS server isnt Service packed, we asked the IT company we use about getting it done and they wanted something like £150 an hour for someone to come in and install the service pack, not having any experience with servers I am just presuming it would just be like service packing any os?

The only reason we want it doing is so I can run exchange mail on my desire.

They have said there are 2 difference service packs for sbs2003 and its vital that its the correct one needed, how would I go about finding out and are there any other details I need to know before I attempt to service pack it?
Click to expand...

I've not used SBS but I thought it was just a "minimal" version of Server 2003.

Either way, I'm sure working out which service pack to use isn't hard at all.

Windows Update will show the correct one.
 
Bradmax57 said:
which is the only bit im the slightest bit concerned with.... :D
Click to expand...

thinking about it however, they will charge you how ever long it takes to fix the server even if they service pack it and it breaks......

If its your business, id jsut do it myself, there is not much chance of it going wrong, however if its not your business i would

1) explain to the boss, that its a simple process, however if it goes wrong (which is a 1 on 100 chance) a 3rd part will need to come in and fix the issue as you dont have the experience

2) tell the boss its supposed to be a simple process and it should be easy for you to do, give him the option of paying a 3rd party or getting you to do it.

3) make sure you have the windows disks and serial number, make sure you have backups of any SQL / exchange data

4) tell the boss its going to take about two hours BUT if there is an issue it could take a few days to get someone out and get HIM to suggest a time to do the job.

bish bash bosh your ass is covered....
 
edscdk said:
some unexpected issue, server down for 2 weeks, engineer on site for 2 days, £1500 and no server for half a month... - is the other senario (all be it not likley)
Click to expand...

Ill ammend then:

Full system backup > Start > All Programs > Microsoft Update > Express > Download > Sit around

£150 please

I should add i have SBS 2003 in a VM right next to me. Last night i ran Microsoft Update and went to bed. In the morning 120 updates (including SP2) had been successfully installed.
 
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IIRC there is a whole set of instructions that need to be followed to sp sbs. There are something like 5 updates of which the service pack is the last. Can take a couple of hours.

1. Service Pack 1 for the Windows Server® 2003 operating system
2. Windows SharePoint® Services 2.0 Service Pack 1
3. Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 1
4. Windows XP SP2 for Client Deployment
5. Windows Small Business Server 2003 SP1

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...c0-b707-4161-adeb-44f1b756119f&displaylang=en

Important If you are running the Premium Edition of Windows SBS 2003, you can still download the Standard Edition of the service pack. However, you must also order the CD package to install the additional service packs necessary for the Premium Edition.

I believe that microsoft have developed a wrapper that will do the job for you but it's certainly not something you really want to do on a critical server without understanding the process.

150gbp seems a bit excessive - I would charge 75, but i would also have run through it on a test image first so I wasn't wasting clients 'on site' time.
 
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gt74 said:
IIRC there is a whole set of instructions that need to be followed to sp sbs. There are something like 5 updates of which the service pack is the last. Can take a couple of hours.

1. Service Pack 1 for the Windows Server® 2003 operating system
2. Windows SharePoint® Services 2.0 Service Pack 1
3. Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 1
4. Windows XP SP2 for Client Deployment
5. Windows Small Business Server 2003 SP1

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...c0-b707-4161-adeb-44f1b756119f&displaylang=en

Important If you are running the Premium Edition of Windows SBS 2003, you can still download the Standard Edition of the service pack. However, you must also order the CD package to install the additional service packs necessary for the Premium Edition.

I believe that microsoft have developed a wrapper that will do the job for you but it's certainly not something you really want to do on a critical server without understanding the process.

150gbp seems a bit excessive - I would charge 75, but i would also have run through it on a test image first so I wasn't wasting clients 'on site' time.
Click to expand...

Cheers for the advice
 
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