Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system developed by Microsoft and the successor of Windows 2000 Server. It was released on 24 April 2003, and its updated version Windows Server 2003 R2 was launched on December 6 2005. Its next version, Windows Server 2008, was launched on February 4 2008.

Windows Server 2003 has some improved features as compared to its predecessor, Windows 2000 server and gives better performance than the later. Windows Server 2003 has many versions and each of them is focused for a specific size and type of business. In general, all versions of Windows Server have the facility to share files and printers, behave as an application server, and host message queues, give email services and to perform many other server-pointed functions.

Windows Small Business Server comprises of the Windows Server and many other technologies, which are focused at supplying a small business with a perfect technology solution. The technologies are incorporated to enable small business with directed solutions like the Remote Web Workplace, providing management profits like integrated setup, improved monitoring, an integrated management comfort and remote access.

The Standard Edition of Windows Small Business Server has Windows SharePoint Services for collaboration, Microsoft Exchange server for e-mail, Fax Server and the Active Directory for user direction. The Premium Edition of Windows Small Business Server comprises of the above mentioned services and in addition to it, Microsoft SQL Server 2000, Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 are also included in it. Windows Small Business Server has its different type of Client Access License which is dissimilar and costs somewhat more than Client Access License for the other versions of Windows Server 2003.

However, the Windows Small Business Server Client Access License covers the user Client Access License for Windows Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and ISA Server, and hence is less valuable than purchasing all other Client Access Licenses separately. Windows Small Business Server has the following design restrictions:

Its restrictions includes only one computer in a domain can be executing Windows Server 2003 for Windows Small Business Server. Windows Server 2003 for Windows Small Business Server should be the source of the Active Directory forest. Windows Server 2003 for Windows Small Business Server cannot believe any other domains, it is fixed to 75 users or devices based on the type of Client Access License and is restricted to 4GB of RAM only. A Windows Server 2003 for Windows Small Business Server domain should not have any child domains. Terminal Services only functions in remote administration mode on the server executing Windows Small Business Server 2003, and only two concurrent RDP sessions are permitted. To take away the boundaries from Windows Small Business Server and improve it to regular Windows Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, SQL and ISA server editions, there is a Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Transition Pack.

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