Using web- host vs company's Outlook server

[- Bobb -]

Any pointers ? Advice from folks that have been there ?
Friends own a small company - 9 users currently using web-hosting company
for website and email. Their equipment is getting old and they're thinking
of upgrading. Speed isn't a factor , just that they have a 7 yr old server
/ disks. ( yikes !) Currently they use a local Win2000 Server in a
peer-to-peer environment ( basically they use the server for QuickBooks).
I was asking a few questions about backups and discovered that currently
they log onto/fetch their email from their host and it save it on each of
their PC's. Once downloaded it is then deleted on the web-host's server -
meaning they have no backup. I looked at what they do, where stuff is,
and I then copied all pst's from laptops/desktops to folders on a spare
system in the office so at least they now have a backup, but ( now to the
question) what exactly is involved in "housing their own email" ? They
have never had an Outlook/Exchange server. They now use Comcast for ISP
but not web-hosting. So if they moved to SBS and Comcast , Comcast would
send all emails to their server. Then they could just back up server
nightly . For a company that has no IT person, what would they need to
know about acct mgmt on a daily basis ? Employee turnover isn't a big
issue and he DOES know how to create a Windows account. Also, they'd need
remote email capability. Is that part of std Small Business Server ? Those
are the 'big picture ' items I could use help on. ( They are gonna have
the person that installed of their current equipment come in for a meeting
to review options, but I could use advice from people that have grown
though this already as to what / what not to do.)

Since they have no clue about IT, another alternative is to just write a
script /procedure for them to follow, to burn pst's to disk / CD weekly
and take offsite - leaving everything else as-is. Or maybe a newer server
but still workgroup setup - not client/server. Or find a web-host that
offers backups. I'm rambling , sorry . Any feedback appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Any pointers ? Advice from folks that have been there ?
Friends own a small company - 9 users currently using web-hosting
company for website and email. Their equipment is getting old and
they're thinking of upgrading. Speed isn't a factor , just that they
have a 7 yr old server / disks. ( yikes !) Currently they use a
local Win2000 Server in a peer-to-peer environment ( basically they
use the server for QuickBooks). I was asking a few questions about
backups and discovered that currently they log onto/fetch their email
from their host and it save it on each of their PC's. Once downloaded
it is then deleted on the web-host's server - meaning they have no
backup. I looked at what they do, where stuff is, and I then copied
all pst's from laptops/desktops to folders on a spare system in the
office so at least they now have a backup, but ( now to the question)
what exactly is involved in "housing their own email" ? They have
never had an Outlook/Exchange server.

It's Exchange server (Outlook is a client).

They now use Comcast for ISP
but not web-hosting. So if they moved to SBS and Comcast , Comcast
would send all emails to their server.

Actually, Comcast wouldn't have anything to do with their mail. Check out
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/MF002.html for info on how it works.

Then they could just back up

server nightly . For a company that has no IT person, what would they
need to know about acct mgmt on a daily basis ?

SBS2003 isn't that big a deal to administer *if* it's set up right. I'd
suggest getting a good consultant in to do the setup, though....this person
can train the in-house person to do the basic admin work.

Employee turnover
isn't a big issue and he DOES know how to create a Windows account.

It's not exactly the same in a domain environment, note....but SBS is
chock-full of wizards to ensure that things get done properly.

Also, they'd need remote email capability. Is that part of std Small
Business Server ?

Yes - they'd get Outlook Web Access, plus remote mail via Windows Mobile if
they like. Also, remote desktop access via RWW (remote web workplace).

Those are the 'big picture ' items I could use help
on. ( They are gonna have the person that installed of their current
equipment come in for a meeting to review options, but I could use
advice from people that have grown though this already as to what /
what not to do.)
Since they have no clue about IT, another alternative is to just
write a script /procedure for them to follow, to burn pst's to disk /

Ugh - I'd discourage that. PST files & POP mail are not a corporate mail
solution. Exchange is much better, as is a centralized server for all data &
security. Workgroups do not scale well.

CD weekly and take offsite - leaving everything else as-is. Or maybe
a newer server but still workgroup setup - not client/server. Or find
a web-host that offers backups. I'm rambling , sorry . Any feedback
appreciated. Thanks.

Hope this helps!

 

[SQL Brad]

WOW.....depending on your budget and resources available....I find that sooo
many little mom and pop hosting companies really have no freaking idea what
they are doing. I may get shot here, but this is why I asked the questions
I did......

If you have a linux resource that knows Sendmail or Qmail really really
well, I would build a cheap linux server that runs either of those programs.
Many, many ISP's use those (yes, even hotmail uses that, so does Yahoo). In
that scenario, you have your own in house hosting and don't need to rely on
the cheap ISP....however you lose some great functionality that Exchange
Server has. Exchange Server is a much more feature rich
email/workgroup/corporate solution than qmail, sendmail, etc. The qmail and
sendmail is more of a mail transfer agent, whereas Exchange is an end
solution. Depending on the size of your company, I would consider Exhange
Server and also build a linux server to run Samba...this would help you avoid
some license issues...but, long and short, Exchange is a nice solution. One
other thing to consider...when it comes to spam, etc. please look up a
company called Postini (now owned by Google) many, many corporattions use
this solution and it sort of acts as an email firewall. You can set up your
firewall to only accept email from postini's server addresses. I know many
who have this solution and have yet to have a problem with their email
service. Just make sure you get the spooling feature with it in case you
need to maintain your server, power outage, etc.

 

[Ben M. Schorr - MVP (OneNote)]

I suspect that with Linux they may be a little more dependent upon
outside help though; and that outside help may be harder to find. IF
they have a friend or trusted consultant who is skilled with Linux (or a
15 year old who quotes Mulder daily) that can be a good way to go. But
it's not for the meek or the uninitiated unless they have the time and
interest to learn a totally foreign OS to manage.



--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
http://www.officeforlawyers.com

WOW.....depending on your budget and resources available....I find that sooo
many little mom and pop hosting companies really have no freaking idea what
they are doing. I may get shot here, but this is why I asked the questions
I did......

If you have a linux resource that knows Sendmail or Qmail really really
well, I would build a cheap linux server that runs either of those programs.
Many, many ISP's use those (yes, even hotmail uses that, so does Yahoo). In
that scenario, you have your own in house hosting and don't need to rely on
the cheap ISP....however you lose some great functionality that Exchange
Server has. Exchange Server is a much more feature rich
email/workgroup/corporate solution than qmail, sendmail, etc. The qmail and
sendmail is more of a mail transfer agent, whereas Exchange is an end
solution. Depending on the size of your company, I would consider Exhange
Server and also build a linux server to run Samba...this would help you avoid
some license issues...but, long and short, Exchange is a nice solution. One
other thing to consider...when it comes to spam, etc. please look up a
company called Postini (now owned by Google) many, many corporattions use
this solution and it sort of acts as an email firewall. You can set up your
firewall to only accept email from postini's server addresses. I know many
who have this solution and have yet to have a problem with their email
service. Just make sure you get the spooling feature with it in case you
need to maintain your server, power outage, etc.


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[\1-SE\]

OMG! Linix are you kidding me?

-Bob.
There are many options the first reply you received so far, by far has been
the best answer. (thank you Lanwench)

SBS has been the Simplest way I've ever seen to setup a small business
network. (I've been supporting small business networks for almost 25 years)
It's also one of the most difficult if it's not done correctly the first
time.
Work groups are a pain once you get over 3 or 4 users. Your description
verifies that; backups, e-mail, file locations, passwords, accesses, on and
on and on. Key thing is that there's no central location for anything.
That's what a server is for.

Money is the Question here to start with.
Can they afford the outlay for a capable server for SBS?
If they're just wanting e-mail hosting then We offer exchange hosting and
I'd be happy to assist you with that. (fully functional exchange and outlook
client shared calendar contacts etc.) We have the server and you just
connect with either your outlook client (which we can provide), mobile
device (palm or windows), or via the web OWA. (outlook web access).

This WILL NOT satisfy your other needs listed if you're looking for VPN or
remote access to shared files etc. SBS IS the best solution here.
And, for the most part, I would refer you back to what 'lanwench' has
informed you of thus far.

In any case you will need good outside support particularly with the setup,
which may be a lot in the beginning but should taper off once things are
running ok.
I've clients setup on SBS that I only see 2 or 3 times a year now. (issues
they can't handle themselves)

-George J. Gingras <><
MA-IS,MCP,MCSA,MCDBA,MCSE
Microsoft Partner
Senior Network Engineer
Queen City Business Networks, LLC.

 

[- Bobb -]

Thanks for the pointers . will do some more homework.
Thanks very much

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"