What's New for Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2

The Microsoft® Windows® Small Business Server 2003 R2 server software (Windows SBS 2003 R2) is an incremental software update to Windows SBS 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1). Built on Windows SBS 2003 with SP1, Windows SBS 2003 R2 takes advantage of a proven code base while providing the following key benefits:

  • Automated, network-wide patch and update management for products that are supported by Microsoft Update, by using Windows SBS 2003 R2 Update Services.
  • Increased storage limits for the Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition mailbox store. Administrators of Windows SBS now can increase the mailbox store size from the previous limit of 16 gigabytes (GB) to the new limit of 75 GB in Exchange Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 (SP2).
  • Inclusion of SQL Server™ 2005 Workgroup Edition technology in Windows SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition.
  • Expanded rights for client access licenses (CALs), including access to additional servers running Exchange Server 2003 and SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition in the Windows SBS 2003 R2 network.

For an overview of the product features that are available with Windows SBS 2003 R2, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=31194).

Patch and Update Management with Update Services

Windows SBS 2003 R2 Update Services is a new feature of Windows SBS 2003 R2, which provides centralized patch and update management for computers that are on the Windows SBS 2003 R2 network and that are running one of the Windows operating systems that support Microsoft Update.

By using the Update Services snap-in in the familiar Server Management Console, you can help protect the Windows SBS network by keeping Windows–based computers on the network up-to-date with the latest Microsoft software updates.

Increased Mailbox Size Limits with Exchange Server 2003 SP2

Exchange Server 2003 SP2 includes several enhancements to the Exchange Server 2003 messaging environment, including an increase in the mailbox store size limit. Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition has a maximum mailbox store size limit of 16 GB. But SP 2 for Exchange Server 2003 automatically increases the mailbox storage limit from 16 GB to 18 GB, and you can manually adjust that limit up to 75 GB.

For more information about configuring the database size limits for the Exchange Server 2003 mailbox store, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=57029).

SQL Server 2005

Windows SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition includes SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition. You can install SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition as your database for a business application. Additionally, you can upgrade the instance of Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (Windows) (MSDE) used by Microsoft Windows SharePoint® Services if you want to be able to search document libraries on your company's internal Web site.

Expanded CAL Rights

New with Windows SBS 2003 R2, Windows SBS CALs give you the right to expanded access. Previously, a Windows SBS CAL covered access only to the server running Windows SBS as well as to any additional servers on the network running Windows. However, a Windows SBS CAL did not cover access to Exchange Server 2003 or SQL Server 2000 on additional servers and required the purchase of additional licenses.

With Windows SBS 2003 R2, Windows SBS CALs give you the right to expanded access. If you add servers running Exchange Server 2003 or SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition to the Windows SBS network, the Windows SBS CAL now covers access to Exchange Server 2003 and SQL Server 2005 on additional servers as well.