SharePoint Server 2007 – Basic vs Advanced Setup

November 19th, 2007 By Vaibhav | 8 Comments » Tags: , ,

As I was contemplating on installing Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007, I suddenly hit a roadblock: which setup type to choose? Basic or Advanced? Is there a feature difference between the two? I couldn’t decide. What I could glean from the documentation is that the only difference between the two are the following:

  • The Basic setup uses SQL Server Express Edition, while the Advanced setup requires a minimum of SQL Server 2005 Standard. Update: I was wrong there because when I installed, even in the Advanced Option, if you choose a Stand Alone installation, it installs with SQL Server Express by default (thanks to Dave, who pointed that out in the comments also).
  • The Basic setup can only be a Stand Alone server and so cannot be scaled up in a Server Farm type of configuration, while the Advanced setup can of course be configured for a much more robust installation in terms of security, reliability, and scalability. It can also be installed standalone of course.

imageAside from these, the only difference is the steps taken to install in the two ways. However, there is one more difference. The basic version of the version faces an inherent limitation, one that arises from the limitation present in SQL Server Express. SQL Server Express can only have a maximum size of 4GB and so any deployment of SharePoint will be limited to that as well.

So, unless you are going to be a very small group and don’t plan to hold too many documents, then go for the Advanced Setup (you may still choose Stand Alone in Advanced Setup of course).

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8 Responses to “SharePoint Server 2007 – Basic vs Advanced Setup”

  1.   Dave Wollerman Says:
      November 20th, 2007 at 12:15 am

    Basic is the same as a “stand alone” installation of SharePoint, this means that it CANNOT be expanded into a multi server SharePoint farm. Also, it does not install SQL Server Express Edition. It installs SQL Server Embedded Edition. This is the same as MSDE in previous versions of SQL Server.

    You can however install the free download of SQL Express Edition with the SQL Server Management Studio Express included and install “Advanced” and tie it to the SQL Express Edition. Advanced doesn’t require standard, you can use express edition when installing “Advanced”. Plus the benefit of installing advanced, as it allows you to expand and build into a multi server SharePoint farm. And in the future migrate to a more robust sql server such as standard or enterprise versions.

    Reply
  2.   Vaibhav Says:
      November 20th, 2007 at 12:29 am

    Hi Dave,

    Thanks for your comments. I will have to try all that you mention. My comments are solely based on the documentation that I found on Microsoft’s website.

    It would indeed be useful for me to be able to install SQL Server Express at this stage with an Advanced configuration. I don’t need my setup to be too scalable.

    My main constraint will be the 4GB size. However, since I will do an Advanced installation now, I think later on I can simply backup my database from Express and restore it on a higher version of SQL 2005, and it should continue to work.

    Once again, thanks for your comments.

    Reply
  3.   Vinay Says:
      January 10th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    Vaibhav,
    Initially I installed Advanced version of WSS 3.0 – it failed. I thought it must be since SQL Express wasnt installed. Then I installed Basic – but still it throws the same error again and again irrespective of how many times I install or uninstall it. Do you have any suggestion?

    Reply
  4.   Vaibhav Says:
      January 10th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    What is the error that you are getting Vinay?

    Also, WSS is different from SharePoint Server…

    Reply
  5.   Vinay Says:
      January 11th, 2008 at 12:18 pm

    Vaibhav,
    Yes I understand that WSS is different from Sharepoint.

    The error reads – “Failed to start database service MSSQL$Microsft##SSEE. Repair this product by selecting it from ADD/Remove programs”.

    I feel that there is some entry in registry or some file that it has stored which it does not remove while WSS 3.0 is uninstalled – hence this problem.

    I have tried removing all the registry entries with no luck but I havent tried removing any files folders etc.

    Let me know what you think.

    Reply
  7.   gary Says:
      January 22nd, 2011 at 11:21 pm

    Hi Guys,

    I have a question, what I’m trying to do is install Moss2007 on a single computer to learn and I also want to install SQL2008.

    what I did is I choose option advanced and then choose first option that says (you can add later to the farm) when I was instaling I gave SQL server name and everying install perfect, but under the admin it shows a message (configure the farm server) and it is asking to configure load server and index server.

    Is there any way I can install MOSS 2007 with SQL 2008 in advanced mode wihtout adding to the farm.

    Thanks

    Reply




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