Deploying Windows Essential Business Server Step-by-Step

Windows EBS is a tightly integrated solution comprised of server software on three separate servers configured to provide optimal performance while following best practices. You must follow the step-by-step deployment process and allow sufficient time to prepare and plan how you want to integrate the Windows EBS components.

Preparation and planning can take several days to complete. We recommend starting this activity at least three to eight weeks before you plan to install the software, depending on the complexity of your environment. Installing and configuring Windows EBS can usually be accomplished in two or three days. While some configuration tasks need to be accomplished soon after you finish installation, most tasks can be completed in the following weeks after Windows EBS is operational in your environment.

Step 1: Prepare your environment

The first step to deploying Windows EBS is to make sure that the applications, server roles, and services running in your environment meet requirements that are critical to successfully integrating the Windows EBS technologies.

Your network environment needs to be functioning properly. If not, you must resolve any issues before installing Windows EBS. The Preparation Wizard assists you in analyzing your current environment and recommends changes that improve its readiness for Windows EBS deployment.

You must run the Preparation Wizard and verify that your network is ready for Windows EBS before you can run the Planning Wizard. One week before deployment, you should run the Preparation Wizard again to make sure your environment is still ready for Windows EBS.

For information on how to install and run the Preparation Wizard, see Windows Essential Business Server Preparation and Planning at the Microsoft Web site https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=122157.

Step 2: Plan your deployment

The next deployment step is to carefully plan how to integrate Windows EBS into your environment. In this step, you determine how Windows EBS will be deployed and collect information that you later use when you install Windows EBS on the three computers. For example, you decide whether to replace your existing firewall with the Security Server or use your existing firewall and the Security Server.

The Planning Wizard assists you in making decisions for your Windows EBS deployment. The tool guides you through identifying your current network topology, deciding how to implement network security, and assigning network addresses for the computers running Windows EBS. After you make these decisions and enter information into the wizard, you save and print the data to use during the Windows EBS software installation.

You must complete the Planning Wizard before you can install Windows EBS. You should complete the wizard no later than 30 days before deployment, preferably one to three weeks before installing Windows EBS, so that your planning information is current.

For information on how to install and run the Planning Wizard, see Windows Essential Business Server Preparation and Planning at the Microsoft Web site https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=122157.

Steps 3, 4, and 5: Install the software

After you have prepared your environment and planned the deployment, you are ready to start installing the Windows EBS software. In these steps, you run the Installation Wizard on each computer in succession: first the Management Server, then the Security Server, and finally the Messaging Server. The Installation Wizard collects your planning data and then performs several tasks on each computer, including:

• Installing Windows Server® 2008 Standard for Windows Essential Server Solutions.

• Downloading and installing required updates for the Windows EBS technologies.

• Verifying that the environment is ready for deployment.

• Installing the Windows EBS technologies.

• Configuring core services.

The Installation Wizards install all of the required technologies for each computer and much more. We recommend that you allow at least two days for installing all three servers.

For detailed information on how to install Windows EBS, see Windows Essential Business Server Installation at the Microsoft Web site https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=108903

Step 6: Complete the configuration and migration tasks

After installation is finished, Windows EBS is operational, but not fully functional. To finish your deployment, you must complete several configuration and migration tasks. The Guided Configuration and Migration Tasks page is an integrated checklist that leads you through the work items required to make the Windows EBS technologies fully functional.

When you start the Administration Console on the Management Server for the first time, the Guided Configuration and Migration Tasks page appears with a list of tasks to finish and guidance for how to do them. As you finish each task, you mark it as complete. Some tasks are dependent on others, so you should complete them in the order in which they are shown on the page.

The time it takes to complete each task varies. Some tasks will take only a few minutes, such as activating the servers. Other tasks can take several hours, such as migrating user logon scripts and profiles. The Guided Configuration and Migration Tasks page provides easy-to-follow instructions for each task or provides a link to detailed guidance that you can read or download from the Microsoft Web site.

Windows EBS deployment is complete when all the tasks are finished. You can then begin using the full functionality of Windows EBS to manage and maintain your network environment.