Planning Your Search Server 2008 Implementation

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:

Unsupported Upgrade Paths:

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.