I'm in a tight spot and could use the advice of my peers. A client is currently running a functional but aging SBS 2003 server with a large SQL database. I specc'd out a new setup, since they are growing I proposed two physical servers.
SERVER 1: SBS 2011 Standard
SERVER 2: SBS Premium Add-on (SQL, etc.)
The clencher... naturally my client wants to keep costs down, I don't blame them. My proposal was downsized to a single server. I need to make a decision on how to best implement this by working while these confines. I need help weighing my options for the best outcome:
1. Virtualization. Perhaps for best performance use Hyper-V 2012 core then both SBS and Premium as virtual servers. It seems like this would be the cleanest way to virtualize with the lowest overhead.
2. Virtualization. Run Premium's 2008 R2, then create virtual machines for the SBS 2011 and the 2008 R2 server under the 1+1 licensing. My concern is that this uses more overhead and more software = more complicated.
3. Run SBS 2011 Standard and install the premiums SQL directly onto it, skipping 2008 R2 all together. I am concerned about SQL concflicting with SQL Express, etc. and other unforseen complications.
This client has about 15 users constantly accessing the SQL database, high traffic due to lots of high resolution photos being generated and accessed all day.
Choice 3 sounds the easiest to implement, with the lowest overhead, but I am concerned about having so many roles packed into one server. Choice 1 sounds appealing to me but I have not virtualized servers before, and although it sounds easy enough I'm sure there will be some things to deal with there.
Advice?