And now for something completely different, me for once not talking about problems or screwed up stuff in Sharepoint, BUT about something I actually like. Well, I really like Search Server 2008 Express. When customers nowadays want to install Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 I always recommend SS 2008 Express.
Because this is basically in one FREE product:
- Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
- Enterprise Search coming from Office SharePoint Server 2007
The only disavantage of the product is than you can't make it High Available. At least not the Search end of the product. It's still possible to install the Web Frontend part on multiple servers (and configuring it with Network Load Balancing) to provide High Availability. Just your search won't be High Available.
Owkai, since it's in my blood to be annoying, there is a small thing I don't like about the SS 2008.
When you finished your initial configuration (through the Configuration Wizard), then Central Administration opens with the Search Server configuration page instead of the normal Central Administration. I like to configure everything like I'm used to do. Also because through that wizard page, it's not possible to choose the names of your Web Applications.
So basically I skip the Search Server wizard pages by going directly to Central Administation > http://trycatch:10000/default.aspx. From there I start all the services, create the Web Applications and create the Shared Services Provider (aka Search Administration). After you did all the required configuration, next time you go to your Central Administration, you won't be redirected anymore to that darn wizard.
Call me old fashioned, but I like this approach better (MORE control) then following the wizard.
Old School Taking You Back Again (Quote by the genius named The Proxy)
Tom