Apple OS X
w/ XServe: |
- You have a business with 1-500 or so users.
- This platform can likely be the least expensive initially. *
- You have an all Apple Mac environment that can better utilize the Apple software specific server-based iCal and Address Book services, along with the iPhone mobile device services.
- You don't need corporate level e-mail and collaboration applications.
ex: meetings, room reservations, calendars, etc, and work-group/enterprise applications
- You know the Mac OS well including using Terminal and don't want to learn how to run a Microsoft Windows server (SBS 2008).
- You want a server that easily supports more than 75 users (SBS 2008 limit).
- You don't need ability to run other virtual machines on the server.
ex: no XEN, and no VMware.
- You want an included off-site warranty and start-up phone support. **
- You want Mac regardless of the business case.
|
Lotus
Foundations: |
- You have a business with 1-500 or so users.
- You have no staff with admin skills and need something a "regular person" could use.
Foundations uses a web browser-based management that is very simple to use.
- You want enterprise class collaborative e-mail and applications.
- You want the largest flexibility in e-mail clients.
ex: Notes, Outlook (DAMO), POP/IMAP, and web mail with both "lite" and full versions.
- You want simple "one-click" installs of client software on the users' machines.
- You want integrated anti-virus, anti-spam, firewall, proxy services to forward face your existing web site(s) and applications.
- You want the flexibility, or need, to run other Windows or Linux based operating systems and applications in the included VMware-based virtual server environment.
- You want to server that easily supports a large number of users, well over 75 users (SBS 2008 limit).
- You want to scale multiple geographic locations who each would have a Lotus Foundations server. You also want to tightly group these appliances so that you can control multiple locations/groups with one master Foundations server.
- You want the O/S with the smallest footprint/overhead that leaves the most room for work data.
- You want the easiest/most automated backup and restore.
- You need managed VPN and remote desktop access.
- You want an included off and on-site warranty and unlimited phone support for 1 year or more. **
- You want Lotus regardless of the business case.
|
Microsoft SBS 2008: |
- You have a small number of users (75 users max). Beyond that you need Microsoft Essential Business Server 2008 which requires 3 hardware servers typically.
- You want the enterprise class features of collaborative e-mail, an Active Directory Domain and other core services offered by the SBS server.
- You are an experienced administrator and are comfortable with administrating the services and management consoles of Microsoft Windows servers.
- You like the MS Hypervisor over the VMware product.
- You need VPN and remote desktop.
- You want your Windows machines to use your SBS server for the weekly security and software updates (WSUS).
- You want the server with the highest overhead in resources in the group. ***
- You want local disk or tape backup only.
- You want the option without phone support beyond the first call or want to pay extra for it.
- You have existing .Net applications/VB code or other applications, and you don't want to run a Windows XP/7 or Windows server as a virtual machine on a Lotus Foundations server.
- If you need a back-end SQL database, you are willing to pay the premium for SBS Premium to get it and the higher user CAL premium for SBS Premium user CALs.
- You want Microsoft regardless of the business case.
|
Item |  | | Apple XServe (Apple Server) | | Lotus Foundations Start (1.1) | | Microsoft SBS 2008 |
Form Factor: | | |
- Server and Software
- Software Only
| |
- Server Appliance and Software
- Software Only
| |
|
Price: | | | Server w/software: $2999 and up.
(unlimited user limit).
Software: $499 (unlimited user limit) | | Appliance w/Software: About $2,700 and up.
Software: About $900 w/5 users.
Users are about $120/user but cost/user declines as number of seats increases. | | Standard Edition: $1,089 for 5 users.
Premium Edition: $1,899. |
Users: | | | 1-500 (maybe more) depending on user activity. | | 1-500, maybe more depending on user activity - the limit is an average of the number the appliance will support. You can also scale by having a master server and slave servers at various locations/departments where all configuration is done at the master server.. | | 1-75 max.. Beyond this you will have to do a migration to another product.. |
Setup Time: | | | 5-15 minutes w/server.
2-4 hours installing from media. | | 5-15 minutes w/appliance.
2-4 hours installing from media to third-party hardware. | | 5-8 hours installing from media.
2-4 days for migration from SBS 2003 or NT/2000. |
Hardware Warranty: | | | Included: Base term is 1 year. 3 years is available. Service warranty is 90 days from service with base warranty. Warranty is provided by a local authorized repair or by taking server to an Apple Store. | | Included: Base term is 1 year on-site and/or delivery. 3 and 5 years are available. | | n/a |
Support: | | | 90 days up-and-running support included. Additional support can be purchased. | | Included: Base term is 1 year, Unlimited on-line and phone 8x5 type support. Other levels are available. First level support is through the IBM business partner. | | Support via forums is free. Up-and-running first call is free --make it a good one. |
Management: | | | Local and remote management GUI. Telet/SSH to shell for advanced configuration. | | All GUI management via web browser remotely on internal network or external if desired. | | Managed locally and via Remote Desktop. |
Identity Management: | | | NT/200 Style Domain Logins.
LDAP-based, supports Mac, Windows, and Linux clients. | | NT/200 Style Domain Logins.
LDAP-based, supports Mac, Windows, and Linux clients. | | Active Directory Domain Logins.
Supports Windows, Mac, and Linux clients. |
File Services: | | | Microsoft, Apple, and UNIX types (SMB/CIFS, FTP, AFP, NFS) | | Microsoft and UNIX types (SMB/CIFS, FTP, NFS) | | Microsoft type and some Internet (SMB, FTP) |
Print Services: | | | Microsoft sharing (SMB) and UNIX (e.g. CUPS) | | Microsoft sharing (SMB) and UNIX (e.g. CUPS) | | Microsoft type (SMB) |
Backup: | | | Time Machine, and UNIX Utilities (RSYNC, GZIP, TAR) | | IBM IDB (Hot-swap disk based backup) | | Backup to Local Disk or Tape Only. |
Restore: | | | Reload O/S, Restore via Time Machine or manually via backup files. | | Stick in backup drive. Click restore completely automatic. | | Reload O/S, Restore via Backup on SBS Console semi-automatically via backup files. |
Firewall: | | | GUI managed. | | GUI Managed.
Can do manual changes, however, firewall is automatically updated when server services are enabled/disabled. | | GUI managed for the most part. |
E-mail | | | POP, IMAP (iMail), and web-mail included.
All managed via GUI and O/S shell. | | Notes Client, IMAP, POP, web mail.
All managed via GUI. | | Outlook, IMAP, POP, web mail.
All managed via GUI and Exchange shell. |
Spam Control: | | | Included (open-source SpamAssassin & ClamAV). | | Included (except for Branch version of software). | | Sort of, via "Forefront Security" trial. |
Anti-virus: | | | Included (open-source SpamAssassin & ClamAV). | | Included (except for Branch version of software). | | Sort of, via "Forefront Security" trial. |
Other Primary Server Software Included: | | | Apache (w/PHP, mySQL)
Podcast Producer 2
Wiki Server
iChat Server
(Mail, calendar, contacts covered under mail and mobile access) | | Apache (w/PHP, mySQL)
Lotus Domino applications:
Discussion, Wiki, Team rooms, Blog, etc.
VMware virtualization server
(Mail, calendar, contacts covered under mail and mobile access) | | IIS (ASP, .NET)
SharePoint
SQL "Express type" w/ Premium.
Microsoft Hypervisor virtualization.
(Mail, calendar, contacts covered under mail and mobile access) |
Accounting / Payroll & Other Line-of-business Applications: | | | n/a
Can be run from local workstations to shared drive but not server-based unless a web application using PHP/mySQL.. | | n/a
Can be run from local workstations to shared drive.
Can also be run from VMware Server included as the "Run" feature with an O/S application supported by VMware.
Can also run native Domino Notes/web based applications.
Can also run web application using PHP/mySQL. | | n/a
Can be installed on the server directly.
Can be run from the MS Hypervisor with any O/S application supported by MS.
Can also be run as an IIS .Net / ASP web-based application. |
Productivity Applications: | | | n/a
(iMail, iCAL are included with Mac workstations purchased. Office suite purchased separately. However, you can install Open Office and Lotus Symphony on Macs.) | | included as a server deploy to Windows, Mac, and Linux workstations. Programs included, Lotus Notes (mail, calendaring, applications), Symphony: Documents, Spreadsheets, and Presentations. | | n/a
Office is purchased separately. However, Lotus Symphony and Open Office are free. |
Mobile Access: | | | Mobile Access server - iPhone support to mail and calendar. | | Lotus Traveler server native support (Nokia, iPhone, Windows Mobile devices) - feature add-on available 1H 2010. | | n/a
(however ActiveSync is expected in fairly near future) |
Proxy Server: | | | Yes, but not easily w/GUI. | | Managed via GUI, "Fast Forward". | | Managed via GUI |
Multiple Web Sites: | | | Yes | | Yes | | Yes |
Remote Access/VPN: | | | Yes. | | Yes. IPSEC, PPTP. Server configuration is enabling service and enabling user to use. | | Yes. IPSEC, PPTP. Enablement for users is a little more complicated than with Foundations. |
DHCP &
Internal DNS: | | | Yes. | | Yes. | | Yes. |
External DNS: | | | Yes. | | Yes. | | Yes. |
Software Update: | | | Yes, system alerts. May require a restart. Restart time is brief. Less than 2-3 minutes generally. | | Yes, system alerts and can update. Extremely rarely requires restart. Individual services are restarted/reconfigured with system up. | | Yes, system alerts and auto updates. WSUS restarts are generally weekly during the evening and down-time/restart is usually 10-20 minutes for Windows to shutdown and restart. |
Remote/Terminal Access: | | | n/a | | Yes, managed via GUI, uses open-source VNC. | | n/a - SBS 2008 Standard
yes - SBS 2008 Premium via Terminal Services. |
Minimum Requirements: | | | 2GB memory
10 GB Available disk space
Assuming you have a 10-15 users, you can run it on a Mac mini if you want.
Otherwise you are probably running on a stock Mac Pro workstation or Mac XServe which as whatever it has when you click "Buy".
Since we all hate mail quotes, buy the largest drives you can afford.
A comprehensive back-up is not really included. Have off-server storage/back-up available.
* Apple requires their software to only run on a Mac even if it runs on regular PC-type hardware.
Server hardware cost:
$700 (Mac Mini) - 3K (Mac XServe starting price which includes server software) | | 1GB Memory
1 Processor (2Ghz or higher)
1 CD/DVD drive.
1 Hard Disk
1 Network card (NIC)
1 Monitor and Keyboard (optional)
1 GB Available disk space + for Start (Domino add-on)
If you buy the appliance, the O/S comes on basically a memory stick. It can also boot off a CD, but I'm not much on that unless it is a virtual machine booting off a ISO.
We generally have to increase memory by 1GB for Domino 8.x for 10-250 users or so. Increase accordingly for virtual machines you host. (e.g. If VM needs 1GB increase the host that much.)
The disk has a small amount of overhead for configuration until you install the "Start" Domino add-on. That requires about 500MB of free hard disk space. You need a second drive for the intelligent/automatic backup software (IDB). You would need a third drive if you wanted a second off-site backup or to mirror (RAID 1) the data drives.
You need 2 NICs if you want the server to be a gateway/network firewall or be hooked up to redundant networks.
Since we all hate mail quotes, buy the largest drives you can afford.
Server hardware cost:
$1k to 1.5k
(Third-party, not the Foundations appliance) | | 4GB Memory
2 Processors (2 Ghz or higher)
1 DVD drive
1 Hard Disk (60 GB if you have 1 user with a really tight quota)
1 Network Card (NIC)
1 Monitor and Keyboard
We generally have to increase memory by 1-2 GB for 15 users and disk space to 120GB minimum. Increase memory accordingly for virtual machines you host. (e.g. If VM needs 1GB increase the host that much.)
A 4 processor server with 8 GB memory should be able to support the 75 user maximum. *
Server can only back to local disk or tape. Additional disks and/or tapes are necessary for backup.
Since we all hate mail quotes, buy the largest drives you can afford.
Server hardware cost:
$1.5k to 4.5k
* Companies generally off-load services (e.g. SQL) to a second hardware (e.g. SBS 2008 Premium w/second server box) as they add users. They also can upgrade/migrate to Microsoft Essential Business Server 2008. This upgrade requires three 64-bit physical servers with 4GB, 2GB, and 4GB memory each, with at least 60GB disk space each. with drives of 10K speeds or better.
(hardware cost: $7k - 10K) |