Microsoft BackOffice Server was a computer software package featuring Windows NT Server and other Microsoft server products that ran on NT server. It was marketed during the 1990s and early 2000s for use in branch operations and for small businesses to run their Back office operations. The small business edition of BackOffice Server was spun off by its third release, becoming a variant of Windows Server branded as Windows Small Business Server and available in a standard and a premium edition. BackOffice Server itself was discontinued on October 1 2001.

Software included

Besides Windows NT Server, versions of BackOffice Server suite also included Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft SNA Server, Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), Microsoft Mail Server or Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Proxy Server or Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server, and Internet Information Services (IIS).

Versions

• late 1994 — BackOffice 1.0

includes Windows NT Server 3.5, SQL Server 4.21a, SNA Server 2.1, SMS 1.0, and Mail Server 3.2.

• late 1995 — BackOffice 1.5

includes Windows NT Server 3.51, SQL Server 6.0, SNA Server 2.11, SMS 1.1, and Mail Server 3.5.

• April 25 1996 — BackOffice 2.0

includes Windows NT Server 3.51, SQL Server 6.0 or 6.5, SNA Server 2.11, SMS 1.1, IIS 1.0, and Exchange Server 4.0.

• December 1996 — BackOffice 2.5

includes Windows NT Server 4.0, SQL Server 6.5, SNA Server 3.0, SMS 1.2, IIS 2.0, Exchange Server 4.0, Proxy Server 1.0, Index Server 1.1, Internet Explorer 3.01, and FrontPage 1.1

• December 9 1997 — BackOffice Server 4.0

includes Windows NT Server 4.0, SQL Server 6.5, SNA Server 4.0, SMS 1.2, IIS 4.0, Exchange Server 5.5, Proxy Server 2.0, Index Server 2.0, Transaction Server 2.0, FrontPage 98, and Visual InterDev 1.0.

• January 12 1999 — BackOffice Server 4.5

includes Windows NT Server 4.0 SP4, SQL Server 7.0, SNA Server 4.0, SMS 2.0, IIS 4.0, Exchange Server 5.5, Proxy Server 2.0, Index Server 2.0, Transaction Server 2.0, Internet Explorer 5.0, FrontPage 2000, and Visual InterDev 6.0.

• February 28 2001 — BackOffice Server 2000

includes Windows 2000 Server, SQL Server 2000, SMS 2.0, Exchange Server 2000, ISA Server 2000, and Host Integration Server 2000.

Requirements

Backoffice server 4.5 with 1 server license and 5 clients access licenses (CAL) marketed for $675US. It required 2 Gigabytes minimum hard drive space, a minimum processor type of Pentium Pro 200 MHz, and a minimum RAM size of 128 megabytes.

See also

• Windows Small Business Server

External links

• Microsoft BackOffice Server Archived documentation on Microsoft Technet