Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 - Part 6

by Andy Goodman

Recent Updates The sixth article in Andy Goodman's Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 series covers the various service releases, patches, and updates for Windows 2000, Exchange, and SQL Server that have been released in recent weeks.

In the last few weeks Microsoft has released Service Pack 3 for both Exchange Server 2000 and Windows 2000, and I have some great news as a result. I have installed both of them on my production SBS 2000 System with no problems to report so far. If something should appear, I will post a notice on this site immediately. The installations went incredibly smooth and trouble free, and I even did them via pcAnywhere to make sure I could. A number of my clients are not local and I service them remotely. There is also news about a new program at Microsoft if you sell and support SBS for a living.

Windows 2000 SP3

I downloaded the network install of W2K-SP3 from http://www.microsoft.com/Windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp3/download.asp as I plan on pushing it out to some of the client machines as part of a review I am working on for Executive Software's Sitekeeper. Of course, with SBS 2000 this is not really necessary as you could push it out with a group policy, but there are still folks out there not running Active Directory, hard as that is to believe. You can also get it from the regular windows update site, but you have to do that individually. Not counting the download time, actual install took 50 minutes from start to the reboot screen, 5 more minutes to the logon screen and another 5 minutes until it had completed the startup process. Your time will of course vary based on the system. This system is a P-4 1.7 Ghz with a gig of RAM and dual Raid-5 arrays. On my desktop machine -- a P-4, 2.2 Ghz with 1/2 a gig of RAM and no Raid, just 2 U160 SCSI drives -- the entire SP3 upgrade took about 10 minutes.

Exchange 2000 SP3

I downloaded  the update from http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/downloads/2000/sp3/default.asp the instructions tell you to expand the files into a directory called SP3 at the root of one of your drives. Once they are expanded you start the upgrade by running the update.exe which will be "conveniently" located (buried down about 4 levels) at \sp3\server\setup\I386 

Now don't forget, before you do either of these, make sure you have a good verified backup of the entire system.  I spent 7.5 hours preparing for this hour and a half of work. If you've ever had one go bad, you realize right away all this prep is well worth the time, energy and cost.

SQL Server 2000

Also there are a couple of new patches for SQL Server 2000 which you can find at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-038.asp  and http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-039.asp although I have not installed them, as I don't currently use SQL Server nor do any of my clients.

SBS Channel Program

If you sell and support SBS for a living, check out the details to this new program here. Basically, Microsoft is temporarily offering a $500.00 rebate to get you to support SBS. You have to pass an online test to show you have some specific knowledge of SBS and there are some rules and restrictions but nothing too severe. And if that's not enough motivation, they are also putting up a list of the folks who pass the test and register for the program, so people looking for SBS support can find you.

Additional SBS Resources