Sunday, July 31, 2005

SBS 2003 Service Pack 1


Today I have embarked on installing the service pack 1 for my SBS (Small Business Server) server. I guess that is like an ATM machine!
Anyway...
This information is as much for me to remember later if I need it as it is for you if you just surfed in here on a search for SBS 2003 service pack 1 installation advice and help.
First up I have to say I am not really the one to provide the help, I am just passing on what I have learnt in the process of actually installing it - a definitive user guide for myself and possibly for others.

Specs.
I am running SBS2003 Premium edition on a Celeron 2.67Ghx with 512 Mb RAM and two 200Gb S-ATA in a raid mirror. 10Gb partitioned C drive for OS install. Remaining 180Gb available for data, user directories, exchange and sql databases and client apps. So far the only non standard thing I have done is to turn of the crap backup system. (I do backup though!) I also had Outlook 2003 installed (as a client) on the server but this was removed before the patch was installed - see below for why.

First thing I did before even thinking about whacking the CD in the drive was to start looking to see what needed to be done. The best advice I got was in the form of a written guide on the smallbizserver.net website and more information on Susan Bradley's SBS Diva site. I also chatted with Susan at length about the user guide, and the steps involved, things to be wary of etc. (Susan is availble on MSN and loves to help SBS'ers. Email her (from her site) to be added to her MSN). Additionally I perused the Microsoft release notes. This reading paid off as there were several things I needed to be sure of before starting.

What you need
  • 2Gb free on the server partition (This is why I uninstalled Outlook - additionally it is not a supported part of SBS2003 OS (it is a client app))

  • Small Business Server Service Patch 1 CDs 1-2 for standard edition and also CD 3 for premium

  • A printed copy of the user guide notes - I got mine onto 31 pages

  • 2 hours free time to install and another 30 minutes at least for reading

  • A FULL backup of the server - mine was 79Gb and took 2.5 hours to backup to a USB hard drive

  • Check the following things:

  • Go to Start | Server Admin | Services and then check that there are no services running logged in as [weird name]. If you are not sure check with an MVP

  • Disconnect any UPS and run from mains supply - this also allows you to check that the server will reboot cleanly with no errors also before installing the patch

  • Disable any antivirus apps. I have none on this server as it is not live to the web and does not download any email

  • Ensure you are logged in as the build administrator, not any other user with admin rights, and check that all the admin rights are applied correctly - check the user guide page 2 for this


    • What you don't need
  • A massage while relaxing in front of the server while it smoothly installs (NOT)

  • Any of the following cds:

  • Exchange Server 2003 SP1 (It is included on CD1)

  • Windows Server 2003 SP1 (It is included on CD1)

  • ISA Server 2004 SP1 (It is included on CD 3

  • SQL Server 2000 SP4 (It is included on CD3)


    • Now we get started
    Note if you have the user guide printed then you will have every screen shot in front of you - most useful!
  • CD 1 in the drive for the install of Windows Server 2003 SP1
    Reboot

  • CD 1 in the drive for the install of Windows Sharepoint Services 2.0 SP1 - it was already installed so not needed (as per user guide)

  • CD 2 in the drive for the install of Windows XP SP2 for Client Deployment
    No Reboot

  • CD 1 back in the drive for the install of Exchange Server 2003 SP1
    No Reboot

  • CD 2 in the drive for the install of Small Business Server 2003 SP1
    Reboot

  • CD 3 in the drive for the install of the Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA) 2004 SP1
    Reboot

  • CD 3 in the drive for the install of the SQL Server 2000 SP4
    This was not needed as I do not have SQL server 2000 installed


    • Success! Completed!

    Final tasks

    The user guide suggested downloading and installing the MBSA V1.21. This has since been replaced by MBSA V2
    I downloaded and installed, scanned my domain and then downloaded and installed a security patch for Exchange 2003 SP1 and one missing patch on one of my PCs.

    Test emails done and all seems to be working correctly.
    Now I am going to go and wacth the MOTO GP!


    Posted by: Jethro | 11:11 PM |