Why use SharePoint Portal _SERVER_?

[CathodeRay]

We have just started using SharePoint, and we were able to access a test page externally without any trouble at all after opeing up port 80. Our question is: what functionality does SharePoint Portal Server add to our basic configuration? Why would one install SharePoint Portal _SERVER_? Security? Licensing? Sharing? Features?

 

[Thomas2000]

Hi,

The Portal Server adds quite some functionality to Windows SharePoint Services. For example, you are able to target contents via audiences, you can use My site, which gives each user a personal site, you have a more advanced search feature, plus lots of other stuff.

Check the below links, which might help you in your decision

http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/evaluationoverview.asp

http://www.onsphere.com/documents/pharmaready/sharepointevaluate.pdf

Also keep in mind that Microsoft are releasing the next version of SharePoint, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, which is a HUGE! improvement to the SPS 2003 and WSS v2. Personally if I was to evaluate SharePoint I would not even look at the 2003 version at this stage I would go for the 2007 directly since it has so much more to offer. There is also a public beta available and I also think that you can try it out in a virtual environment from the Microsoft Website for free.

Cheers,
Thomas

http://www.thompa.se

 

[CathodeRay]

Thanks for the reply... we'll look at those links and SPS2007.