RWW Printing – a SBS 2003 Workaround

If every you have run into issues getting printing to work for a RWW worker, you know that the solution requires end user cooperation so that the same driver gets installed on the server and the accessing laptop or workstation.  ThinPrint has a solution, use their universal driver mechanisms as a man in the middle.

While SBS 2008 promises to remove this issue there are still going to be a lot of SBS 2003 systems in place for some time.

http://www.thinprint.com

print for Remote Web Workplace includes the following components:

• .print Desktop Engine on every workplace computer
• ThinPrint .print for SBS on the Small Business Server
• .print Client Windows (RDP) on the notebooks or home PCs

All three installation programs are Plug & Play.

Illustration: Installing ThinPrint .print components in an SBS environment with Remote Web Workplace (example)

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008

Noticed this in the small print of today’s breaking announcing detailing SBS 2008’s release later this year:

“Windows Small Business Server 2008 will include the option to purchase a single CAL (in addition to 5/10/20 CAL Packs) in all channels.”

This is a fantastic change for the sweet spot and slow-growth under-15 seat small businesses which compose the greatest consumer segment of SBS.

Editions

Windows Small Business Server 2008 comes in two editions: Standard and Premium.

A Client Access License (CAL) for all included products simplifies license management.

Review the different technologies included in each edition and determine which version makes the most sense for your business.

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008

Pt 3 -OS Downgrade Overview – Microsoft OEM Partner Center Web site

What are Downgrade Rights?

Downgrade rights are an end-user right and are documented in the product End-user license agreement. Downgrade rights refer to the ability of your customers to acquire the most recent version of Microsoft software but continue to run a previous version until they are ready to upgrade.

When and Why Would Customers Use Downgrade Rights?

Your customer is purchasing a new computer system and it needs to run the same operating system as their existing 10 systems—Windows XP Professional. You can preinstall Windows Vista Business on the new computer system, then offer your customer the added service of installing Windows XP Professional on your customers’ behalf. The downgrade media must be supplied to you from the end user and must come from a legally licensed version of Microsoft retail, OEM/System Builder, or Volume License channels.

If the end customer decides to downgrade, they can use one legal version of the downgrade media for multiple installations. The end customer does not need to have one set of Windows XP Professional media for each PC they are downgrading because they have acquired legitimate full operating system licenses for Windows Vista Business , which gave them the right to downgrade. Your customer can run Windows XP Professional until they are ready to upgrade the system to Windows Vista Business—and at that time they would already be licensed for the Windows Vista Business they purchased with this new machine.

When an end user is using their downgrade rights offered under the License Terms in Windows Vista Business and Ultimate versions and they use both Windows XP media and a product key that was previously activated, they will fail activation due to the hardware configuration change when installing on the Vista system. In these cases the end user will be prompted to call the Activation Support Line and explain their circumstances to the Customer Service Representative. Once it is determined that the end user has a valid Vista Business or Ultimate license, the Customer Service Representative will help them activate their software.

Get more information about downgrade rights and answers to frequently asked questions.

What Software Qualifies for Downgrade Rights?
What Software Can They Be Downgraded To?

Desktop:

The OEM versions of Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate include downgrade rights to Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, and Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.
No downgrade rights are included in other Windows Vista products licensed in the OEM channel.
For more info on Windows Vista downgrade rights, click here.

Server:

Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition to Windows 2000 Server or Windows NT Server 4.0

Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition to Windows 2000 Advanced Server or Windows NT Server Enterprise 4.0

Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition to Small Business Server 2000 or Small Business Server version 4.5

Note that Windows Small Business Server 2003 Standard Edition does not have downgrade rights.
For more info on Windows Server downgrade rights, click here.

Microsoft OEM Partner Center Web site

Straight from the boss – OEM Vista Biz & Ulimate downgrade steps

There is a nice downloadable and publicly available one page .PDF document available from Microsoft here: 

(below copied from OEM Partner site)

When and Why Would Customers Use Downgrade Rights?

Your customer is purchasing a new computer system and it needs to run the same operating system as their existing 10 systems—Windows XP Professional. You can preinstall Windows Vista Business on the new computer system, then offer your customer the added service of installing Windows XP Professional on your customers’ behalf. The downgrade media must be supplied to you from the end user and must come from a legally licensed version of Microsoft retail, OEM/System Builder, or Volume License channels.

If the end customer decides to downgrade, they can use one legal version of the downgrade media for multiple installations. The end customer does not need to have one set of Windows XP Professional media for each PC they are downgrading because they have acquired legitimate full operating system licenses for Windows Vista Business , which gave them the right to downgrade. Your customer can run Windows XP Professional until they are ready to upgrade the system to Windows Vista Business—and at that time they would already be licensed for the Windows Vista Business they purchased with this new machine.

When an end user is using their downgrade rights offered under the License Terms in Windows Vista Business and Ultimate versions and they use both Windows XP media and a product key that was previously activated, they will fail activation due to the hardware configuration change when installing on the Vista system. In these cases the end user will be prompted to call the Activation Support Line and explain their circumstances to the Customer Service Representative. Once it is determined that the end user has a valid Vista Business or Ultimate license, the Customer Service Representative will help them activate their software.

Get more information about downgrade rights and answers to frequently asked questions.

Microsoft OEM Partner Center Web site

Downgrade Rights Q&A – from Microsoft OEM Partner Center Web site

as copied today 10/23/2007

Q. What are downgrade rights and how would my customer benefit from downgrade rights?

A. Downgrade rights refer to the ability of your customers to acquire the most recent version of Microsoft software but continue to run a previous version until they are ready to upgrade. Downgrade rights are an end-user right and are documented in the product End-user license agreement.

Q. Where can I find out more information on downgrade rights?

A. Please visit http://oem.microsoft.com/downgrade for more information.

Q. Who can install the downgrade software or reinstall the original software?

A. A System Builder (when authorized by end user), or the end user. Because downgrade rights are an end user right granted in the end user license agreement (EULA), the end-user must first be able to accept the (EULA) associated with Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003 or Windows Small Business Server 2003 software, so this software must be installed first before the downgrade software is installed.

Q. Where do customers get the CD/media to install the Downgrade Software?

A. End users must use a legally licensed version of the specified previous version of the Windows desktop or server operating system to install the Downgrade Software. The Downgrade Software may be from the retail, OEM/System Builder, or volume licensing channels.

Q. Can end users use both the latest version and the downgrade software at the same time?

A. No. End users may only install and use one Microsoft operating system (either the downgrade software or the applicable Windows Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Small Business Server software) at any given time.

Q. Can end users return to Windows Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Small Business Server 2003 software after they downgrade?

A. Yes. End users who downgrade may reinstall the original software when they are ready to migrate. For example, an end user who downgrades to Windows XP Professional may later return to Windows Vista Business software provided that the end user deletes the Windows XP Professional software from the PC.

Q. How do end users reinstall the original software after downgrading to a previous allowed downgrade version?

A. End users must use the original System Builder media that was included with the PC or server for reinstallation. The Downgrade Software must be deleted from the hard drive before the original software is reinstalled.

Q. Does the Office 2003 or 2007 OEM license contain the downgrade rights to a previous version?

A. No, OEM System Builder licenses of Office do not contain downgrade rights. Currently, Windows Vista Business, Vista Ultimate, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet, Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, and Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition are the only OEM System Builder Licenses that contain downgrade rights.
Please see the Downgrade Rights Overview page for more information on downgrade rights.

Microsoft OEM Partner Center Web site