One of the biggest drawbacks to Microsoft products, in my mind, is how easy it is to install them. So easy that one frequently forgets to think about the long range implications of one's choices during installation.
This is very much true with the new Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express installation. In this case, however, the planning starts with the installation on the prerequisite, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.
If WSS 3.0 was installed using SQL 2000 or 2005, then you will get more choices during the installation of MSSX. See Bill English's blog at http://admincompanion.mindsharp.com/BillBlog/default.aspx.
Remember Search Server 2008 (MSS or MSSX) is built on WSS 3.0. Installing on a Windows SharePoint Service 3.0 server will:
· Upgrade WSS 3.0 to Search Server
· Enable existing WSS 3.0 site search to be flipped on a per site basis to use Search Server search
· Allow you to continue to use WSS 3.0 as before
· Enable cross-site search in WSS 3.0
A clean install of Search Server will:
· Install WSS 3.0
· Allow you to use all the features of WSS 3.0
· Automatically enable cross-site search in WSS 3.0
Your choices will also impact your upgrade paths later. Here is some information to help you plan for upgrades:
Suppported upgrade paths:
|
From |
To |
|
Windows SharePoint Services v3.0
with Full SQL Server |
Search Server 2008 or Search Server 2008 Express
with Full SQL Server |
|
Windows SharePoint Services v3.0
with Windows Internal Database |
Search Server 2008 or Search Server 2008 Express
with Windows Internal Database |
|
Search Server 2008 Express
with Full SQL Server |
Search Server 2008 with Full SQL Server
SharePoint Server 2007 with Full SQL Server |
|
Search Server 2008 Express
with Windows Internal Database |
Search Server 2008 with Windows Internal Database |
|
Search Server 2008
with Full SQL Server |
SharePoint Server 2007 with Full SQL Server
|
Unsupported Upgrade Paths:
|
From |
To |
|
SharePoint Server 2007 for Search Enterprise or Standard Edition |
Search Server 2008 or
Search Server 2008 Express |
|
Search Server 2008 or
Search Server 2008 Express RC |
Search Server 2008 or
Search Server 2008 Express RTM |
|
SharePoint Server 2007 or
any previous versions of SharePoint |
Search Server 2008 or
Search Server 2008 Express |
|
Search Server 2008 or
Search Server 2008 Express
with Windows Internal Database |
SharePoint Server 2007 |
|
Search Server 2008 or
Search Server 2008 Express
with Windows Internal Database |
Search Server 2008 or
Search Server 2008 Express
with Full SQL Server |
DO NOT attempt to install MSSX on an existing MOSS07 implementation.
You may install it on a separate server and use the Federated Queries by adding tabs to your sites or wait for the patch later in 2008 which will upgrade your MOSS07 search functionality. This upgrade will also be included in MOSS07 SP2.