Win Server Web Edition

LeaUK · 21st December 2006

A quick question, anyone using the web edition? My server is a dual core so the SMP limit is fine, but on MS site http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...efeatures.mspx ASP .NET 2 isn't supported! Surely that cant be right.

On MS's TechNet site they say it is! Confused...any thoughts?

Also any thoughts in general about using the web edition?

Much appreciated
Lea

JamieBeeston · 21st December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeaUK2

Also any thoughts in general about using the web edition?

Just don't, use the Server edition, it's only a few quid a month more and it doesn't have any of the pesky limits / restrictions.

J

philb · 22nd December 2006

My last SPLA price list didnt even have 'web edition' on anymore. I just have Server "unauthenticated" (eg: no windows user account based authentication permitted)

LeaUK · 22nd December 2006

Hi Guys

Appreciated. And I think more importantly I now realise I need SPLA, period! Off to check pricing...

Cheers
Lea

BTW - If I run Plesk which creates windows User Accounts, can I still run Un-authenticated, also I need RDC for one user, now I guess Un-authenticated is unsuitable....oooooh, so many questions sorry..

LeaUK · 22nd December 2006

Quote:

Q. Are there any types of applications running on Windows Server 2003 that will prevent the use of Anonymous “Un-authenticated” Processor License?

A. Windows Servers used as platform for applications that have direct or indirect interaction with Windows authentication services are excluded from the use of the Windows Anonymous Processor License. When Windows Server 2003 is used as the platform for Microsoft server products like Exchange 2000, SharePoint Portal Server, and Microsoft Provisioning System, Windows Server 2003 cannot be licensed with the Anonymous Processor License.

I think this sums it up!

dotNetFreak · 22nd December 2006

You can use unauthenticated processor licensing if the accounts Plesk creates are for uploading Web sites. RDC is fine.

LeaUK · 23rd December 2006

Thanks DotNetFreak, that's the conclusion I came too also. Now off to locate some sellers and check pricing however that's appears a little more difficult than expected - rather strangely.

Would appreciate some advice on SPLA resellers...

Cheers
Lea

catalyst2 · 23rd December 2006

I think the only two in europe are Softcat and Software Spectrum (althight I could be wrong), we use software spectrum and havent had too many issues

Jeff - Exceed · 24th December 2006

As everyone has said, do not use the web edition. There are many limitations and you'll only find yourself needing to upgrade in due course.

LeaUK · 26th December 2006

Cheers guys

Happy New Year

LeaUK · 2nd January 2007

After reading the mammoth ToC for SPLA I discover the proof that unauthenticated (anonymous) is find as long as it's for web serving only. So in layman's terms - although Plesk creates and individually authenticates users, it's for web serving so it's OK. Here's a quote from MS 2007 Service Provider User Rights (SPUR) document for others in the future.

Quote:

For Windows Server 2003 R2 Anonymous, Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter Editions:
User Restrictions. You may allow only the following users to use or access the server software:

(i) Users who access your instances of the server software through the Internet without being authenticated or otherwise individually identified by the server software, or a multiplexing or pooling software or hardware,

(ii) Users who access and use the server software only as a platform for server applications (excluding applications that have direct or indirect interaction with Windows authentication services (when user or application credentials are exchanged between the server software and a user or device), such as Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services and Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server), and

(iii) Users who access your instances of the server software when those instances are used exclusively for web hosting. An instance is used for web hosting if:

a. The sole purpose of the server upon which the instance is running is to run websites that directly interface with the Internet and the primary functionality of the server is publicly accessible, AND
b. You permit and enable users of the websites to upload custom code, content, and data to their websites, without restriction. You may, however, restrict use for security reasons directly related to spam or other similar commercial email abuse as provided in your acceptable use policy. Your acceptable use policy must be reasonably based on web hosting industry standards.

Now the problem is that the web edition is only half the price of the full anonymous version.

Here are the limitations of the web edition that may effect me:

<=2GB RAM
No virtulization (maybe future only)
.NET2 is not supported (don't believe)
No Windows Media (not worried about streaming)
No Internet Connection Firewall - (ICF) is this true? If so if can't work with Plesk8.1 as this depends on ICF!?? Major issue.

Any thoughts? Appart from forget Web edition...

Cheers
Lea

Lea

Jon-NC · 2nd January 2007

Forget web edition. Full stop. The above will limit plesk and the products you can offer. There is no upgrade from Web Edition to Standard.

LeaUK · 2nd January 2007

Quote:

Forget web edition. Full stop.

I understand, but what in Plesk will it limit exactly, would you care to expand?

the 2GB limit is an issue...

.NET2 is not supported (can't believe that) if this is true I can't run SiteBuilder...that's an issue for me!

Quote:

There is no upgrade from Web Edition to Standard.

That's plain daft!

Jon-NC · 2nd January 2007

.NET2 is used with plesk.

Web edition is a cheaper edition hence the limitations and lack of upgrade functionality. There's nothing really I can add. Unless you plan to run a pretty static website or a customised web app web edition is useless.

LeaUK · 2nd January 2007

Hi Jon

If web edition cannot run .NET2 that's it, all over and as you say that renders the platform useless. I wonder on earth why it doesn't support it..?

Cheers
Lea