Which Microsoft search product is for you?

When I first heard about all the flavors of Microsoft enterprise search, I couldn't keep them straight so thought it might help some other folks to know what products are available and why an organization might choose one flavor over another.

 

Microsoft enterprise search offerings

Microsoft currently offers three distinct enterprise search solutions:

  • Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express (MSS Express)
  • Microsoft Search Server 2008 (MSS)
  • Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS)

All three products rely on Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (WSS) and must be installed on top of Windows Server 2003 SP 1 or Windows Server 2008.

 

Which one is for you?

Here's a summary of things you might want to consider when choosing a search solution.

  • MSS Express
    Consider using the Express version if you're looking for an entry-level departmental solution where a single index and query server will meet your needs. MSS Express is a free stand-alone server product. It provides all the search features available in Microsoft Search Server with the exception that it can only scale to a single index and query server.
  • MSS
    Consider using MSS if you need an entry-level search solution that supports multiple index and query servers. MSS is suitable for deployment in a large network.
  • MOSS
    Consider using MOSS for your enterprise search needs if you're planning to deploy or have already deployed MOSS in your network. With the Infrastructure Update released on 7/15/08, MOSS now integrates all the search features available in MSS and provides the additional advantage of being tightly integrated with SharePoint productivity tools such as the Business Data Catalog and content management.

Details, details, details

If you're like me and need lots of data before you make decisions, the following table might help.

 

Search Server Express 2008

Search Server 2008

Office SharePoint Server 2007

Cost

Free

180-day trial version available

Included

Solution type

Entry-level

Entry-level

Infrastructure

Target deployment

Departmental

Organizational

Organizational

Scalability

Single query and index server

Multiple query and index servers

Multiple query and index servers

Connects with current business and information systems

Ö

Ö

Ö

Uses SQL Server or SQL Server Express

Ö

Ö

Ö

Central administration dashboard

Ö

Ö

Ö

Search Center for end users

Ö