Microsoft Ships Small Business Server 2000

Yesterday, Microsoft announced the general availability of its Small Business Server 2000 (SBS2K) product, the third generation of its integrated suite for businesses that have 50 or fewer PCs. SBS2K includes Windows 2000 Server and a selection of .NET Enterprise Servers, such as SQL Server 2000 and Exchange 2000 Server. The company says it designed this third generation of SBS with input from small-business customers and technology providers.
  
"Small-business owners and their technology providers have told us that they need a Windows-based networking solution that lets them operate efficiently and effectively in today's rapidly changing marketplace, which includes an increasingly mobile workforce and demanding customer base," says Microsoft Senior Vice President Brian Valentine, who runs the Windows Division. "The new SBS2K release is the best way for small businesses to get Win2K Server because of the additional functionality provided by the .NET Server applications."
  
SBS2K includes a single setup that integrates the installation programs for all the servers in the suite and a simplified, centralized management console. In addition to Win2K Server Standard Edition with Service Pack 1 (SP1), SBS2K includes SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition, Exchange 2000 Server Standard Edition, Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 Standard Edition, FrontPage 2000, Windows Terminal Services, and shared fax and modem services. SBS2K costs about $1500 for a five-client package.