Microsoft Site Server
Encyclopedia
Microsoft Site Server, first released in 1996, was Microsoft
's solution to the growing difficulty of managing complex websites which included multiple technologies, such as user management and authentication/authorization, content management, analysis, and indexing and search. Site Server 2.0, released in early 1997, incorporated electronic commerce technology from Microsoft Merchant Server
, Microsoft
's first effort at providing a solution to the growing business of Internet-based commerce (or e-commerce). During the course of its evolution (culminating with Site Server 3.0), Site Server expanded on Merchant Server's functionality by annexing content management tools; which would typically be involved, it was thought, in facilitating the management of Web-facing content. Consequently, Site Server became not only a solution for businesses wanting to sell products online, but companies who had corporate intranet servers hosting documents.
Although Site Server went through several iterations, the most widely-discussed and perhaps widely-adopted version was the last, Site Server 3.0, released in 1998.
The primary areas of Site Server 3.0 functionality included:
On the plus side, once configured, Site Server got very high ratings for management of conducting e-commerce. Management of products and orders was fairly sophisticated - a strength that would be extended in the technology that succeeded it: Microsoft Commerce Server
.
or Windows 2000
operating systems. It was also dependent on Microsoft SQL Server
. The code came from many acquired companies including eshop and interse.
. Document and content management features were mostly segregated into another product called Microsoft Content Management Server, which merged in 2007 with SharePoint which, , has two principle editions: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 and Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's solution to the growing difficulty of managing complex websites which included multiple technologies, such as user management and authentication/authorization, content management, analysis, and indexing and search. Site Server 2.0, released in early 1997, incorporated electronic commerce technology from Microsoft Merchant Server
Microsoft Merchant Server
Microsoft Merchant Server, released in October 1996, was Microsoft's solution for the growing Business-to-Consumer sales business taking place on the Internet...
, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's first effort at providing a solution to the growing business of Internet-based commerce (or e-commerce). During the course of its evolution (culminating with Site Server 3.0), Site Server expanded on Merchant Server's functionality by annexing content management tools; which would typically be involved, it was thought, in facilitating the management of Web-facing content. Consequently, Site Server became not only a solution for businesses wanting to sell products online, but companies who had corporate intranet servers hosting documents.
Although Site Server went through several iterations, the most widely-discussed and perhaps widely-adopted version was the last, Site Server 3.0, released in 1998.
The primary areas of Site Server 3.0 functionality included:
- Indexing and Search
- Content Management
- Product Management
- Order Processing
- Site Personalization
- Ad Server
Product Legacy
For its time Site Server offered one very credible among a select few alternatives for such functionality - particularly on the Windows platform. At its release it generally came out to very positive reviews in technical journals, although compared to later products its management tools were on the arcane side. The content management functionality was adequate, but not particularly competitive with dedicated document management systems that were available at the time. On this front, Site Server's main advantage was its low cost. Another feature that might have been a source of confusion was the taxonomy management system. The tools used to maintain item metadata were very basic and required a degree of technical familiarity foreign to most business users.On the plus side, once configured, Site Server got very high ratings for management of conducting e-commerce. Management of products and orders was fairly sophisticated - a strength that would be extended in the technology that succeeded it: Microsoft Commerce Server
Microsoft Commerce Server
Microsoft Commerce Server is a Microsoft product for building e-commerce systems. It uses Microsoft .NET technology.The latest release of the product is Commerce Server 2009...
.
Related Technologies
Site Server required the presence of either the Windows NT 4.0Windows NT 4.0
Windows NT 4.0 is a preemptive, graphical and business-oriented operating system designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. It was the next release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on 31 July 1996...
or Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
operating systems. It was also dependent on Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
. The code came from many acquired companies including eshop and interse.
Future Development
Microsoft has discontinued production and support of Site Server. E-commerce functionality was moved into a new product called Microsoft Commerce ServerMicrosoft Commerce Server
Microsoft Commerce Server is a Microsoft product for building e-commerce systems. It uses Microsoft .NET technology.The latest release of the product is Commerce Server 2009...
. Document and content management features were mostly segregated into another product called Microsoft Content Management Server, which merged in 2007 with SharePoint which, , has two principle editions: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 and Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010.
Windows Versions
After the e-commerce technology was integrated, Site Server was sold in two editions: Standard, and Commerce. The Commerce Editions incorporated a hefty premium in their cost.- 1996 Site Server 1.0
- 1997 Site Server 2.0
- Site Server 2.0, Commerce Edition
- 1998 Site Server 3.0
- Site Server 3.0, Commerce Edition