Planning a Windows SBS 2011 Deployment

1. Selecting Server Hardware

Obviously, you must have at least one server before you can install Windows SBS 2011. Table 1 lists the official system requirements for a server running Windows SBS 2011.

The main requirement to consider is that the server running Windows SBS 2011 must have a 64-bit processor. In its default configuration, Windows SBS 2011 can run reasonably well on a computer with the minimum recommended hardware.

The actual hardware resources that a server running Windows SBS 2011 needs are based on a multiplicity of factors, including the following:

• Number of users The more users who access the server, the more likely it is that you need additional hardware resources to support them.

• Pattern of use Resource utilization increases when multiple users are working simultaneously. Therefore, an organization running a single shift of 30 clients will require more server resources than an organization running three shifts of 10 users each. Resource utilization also spikes if many users perform the same task at the same time, such as if 30 users log on to the domain at the same time each morning.

• Request types Different types of client requests can require different server resources. For example, file services can benefit from increased storage subsystem performance, while Microsoft Exchange Server can benefit from both storage performance and memory upgrades.

• Storage requirements The amount of storage that your applications and users require depends on their number and their activities. Users who work with video files require more storage than users working with still images, and both require much more storage than users who work primarily with text documents.

• Additional applications If you plan to install additional applications on your server running Windows SBS, you must account for their hardware requirements in addition to those for the default server functions.

1.1. Processors

When selecting a processor for a server running Windows SBS 2011, you certainly do not want to skimp, but you should also be aware that the performance boost you realize from a faster processor might not be worth the expense. This is particularly true at the high end of the market; the latest and fastest processors are often a great deal more expensive than those a few steps down from the top of the line.

1.2. Memory

In a server configuration, it is more important to consider the amount of memory in the computer and the maximum amount it can hold instead of comparing memory types or speeds. Memory is usually the most inexpensive way to increase the performance of a server, or indeed any computer. For a server running Windows SBS 2011, 8 GB of memory is adequate, but 10 or 12 GB would be better. You should also make sure that your server supports at least twice as much memory as you have installed initially.

Tip:

When evaluating servers, you should consider the configuration of the memory modules as well. If the computer has 8 memory slots and you plan to install 8 GB initially, do not purchase a model that comes with eight 1 GB modules, as you will have to replace some of them when you upgrade.

1.3. Storage

Hard disk storage, like memory, is relatively inexpensive, and it is always a good idea to have more disk space than you think you need. However, for a server, you must consider not only the amount of storage space but also the configuration of the storage subsystem. Once you have decided how much storage space you need in your server, you must consider the nature of the data and its value to your organization.

Depending on the sensitivity of the data you plan to store on your server, and how critical the continued availability of that data is to your business, you might want to invest in a disk array that uses redundant array of independent disks (RAID) or some other high-availability technology. RAID is a system that uses two or more hard disk drives to store your data, along with duplicate or parity information that enables the server to survive a drive failure without data loss. Many servers are available with drive arrays that include RAID controllers, as well as other fault-tolerance features, such as hot-pluggable drives (drives that you can remove from the server and replace without having to shut the server down).

There are many different types of RAID, which are defined in numbered levels. Table 2 lists the RAID levels most commonly found in today’s servers and storage products. There are many other RAID implementations, some of which have rarely, if ever, appeared in the market, and others that are proprietary technologies of a specific manufacturer.

As long as you have the appropriate number of disk drives in the computer, Windows Server 2008 R2 can create volumes using RAID levels 0, 1, and 5. This is an inexpensive solution, but software-based RAID implementations can impose a penalty in system overhead. When you create a RAID 5 volume, for example, the same processor that performs all the other roles on your server must also calculate parity information for each block the system writes to the RAID array.

Note:

In Windows Server 2008 R2, RAID level 0 is referred to as a striped volume and RAID level 1 as a mirrored volume. Only RAID level-5 volumes use the RAID designation in Windows.

Hardware-based RAID takes the form of a dedicated host adapter, either integrated into the computer’s motherboard or implemented as an expansion card. The host adapter performs all the necessary functions, including parity calculations, so there is no additional burden on the system processor.

High-availability hardware products, such as RAID arrays, can add significantly to the cost of a server, and it is important to understand that this technology does not eliminate the need for regular system backups. Manufacturers design high-availability products for organizations that cannot tolerate server downtime. For example, if you run an order-entry application on your server, a hard disk failure can mean lost business and lost income, so the additional expense of a RAID array might be worthwhile. However, if a server outage due to a disk failure would be no more than a minor inconvenience to your organization, then standard hard disk drives might be a more reasonable and economical solution.

1.4. Other Server Components

In their basic components, servers are different from workstations only in matters of degree; they tend to have faster processors, more memory, and larger amounts of storage space, for example. They also have no more than rudimentary graphics and sound systems, as servers have no need for high performance in these areas.

However, as you can see in the case of the RAID storage solutions, server technologies are available that greatly enhance the performance and fault-tolerance capabilities of the computer. You can also purchase servers with redundant power supplies and fans, multiple processors, and many other elaborate and expensive components. In the case of a small-business server, however, most of these components are usually not necessary, and avoiding them can save you some money.

1.5. OEM or DVD?

You have two ways to purchase Windows SBS 2011: as a retail product, in which case you receive the product on DVDs, or as part of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) package, in which case the product comes preinstalled on a computer. The OEM option is one solution to the problem of purchasing a suitable server to run Windows SBS 2011, but it does not save you a great deal of work. The Windows SBS installation process is quite simple, so if you can conceivably save money by purchasing the computer hardware and the Windows SBS 2011 product separately, you should do so.

2. Selecting Clients

The clients on a Windows SBS 2011 network must be running one of the following operating systems:

• Windows 7 Professional

• Windows 7 Enterprise

• Windows 7 Ultimate

• Windows Vista Business

• Windows Vista Enterprise

• Windows Vista Ultimate

• Windows XP Professional with SP2 or later

• Windows Mobile 5.0 or later

Table 3 lists the published system requirements for the Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP operating systems.