Complete the Getting Started Tasks

Published: March 10, 2011

Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard

The Home page of the Windows SBS Console lists the Getting Started Tasks, which you should complete immediately after you install your server. By performing these tasks in the order that they are listed, you can help protect information that is stored on the server and fully enable the features that are available in Windows SBS 2011 Standard.

If you choose not to perform the Getting Started Tasks, users might not have access to some network features. To return to these tasks later, return to the Windows SBS Console Home page.

The following tables define each of the items that can appear in the list of Getting Started Tasks.

Finish installation

Task Description

View installation issues

Displays a list of issues that were encountered during installation. Double-click an issue to see detailed information about it.

Using the Windows SBS console

Opens a Help topic that explains the administrative tasks you can accomplish by using the Windows SBS Console.

Connect to the Internet

Task Description

Connect to the Internet

Helps you connect your server to the Internet by using the information that your Internet service provider (ISP) provides to you.

Customer feedback options

Enables you to participate in the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program, which collects anonymous information about computer hardware and how you use Windows SBS 2011 Standard, without interrupting you. This helps Microsoft identify which features to improve. None of the information that is collected is used to identify or contact you, and you can opt in or out of the program at any time. Click the Customer feedback options task to opt in or out of this program.

Set up your Internet address

Enables you to register and configure a public Internet address for your server.

Configure a Smart Host for Internet e-mail

Enables you to configure advanced settings for sending Internet email.

Add a trusted certificate

Enables you to request and install web certificates from non-Microsoft certificate providers. This helps ensure secure traffic to Remote Web Access, and it helps alleviate the need for users to install the Certificate Installation Package on non-domain joined computers.

Protect your data

Task Description

Configure server backup

Helps you create and manage backups of your server data.

Add users, computers, and devices

Task Description

How can users access computers on the network?

Opens a Help topic that describes how Windows SBS 2011 Standard enables users to access the network from any computer that they have permissions to log on to.

Add a new user account

Helps you add a new user account to the network.

Connect computers to your network

Helps you connect computers to the network.

How can I add a shared printer to the network?

Opens a Help topic that describes how to add and share network printers.

Additional Getting Started Tasks

The following tasks do not appear on the Windows SBS Console Home page.

  • Reset the SharePoint Foundation 2010 passphrase

    If you use SharePoint Foundation 2010 on your Windows SBS 2011 Standard network, you should reset the random SharePoint Foundation 2010 passphrase that is created during installation. For more information, see Reset the SharePoint 2010 Foundation passphrase.