What version of SharePoint Search is capable of doing what?

I got the following question from a mate of mine recently. I’ve edited the message to only contain the bits that I am blogging about..

“Basically I want to know what the implications are for search if we’re on the non-enterprise licence for SharePoint. One of our IT guys has expressed concerns over whether we can have a fully effective search (including people finder type capability) without being on the enterprise licence.”

If you use the word “SharePoint” and “Search” then the above can be interpreted in many ways. In this case what my friend was looking for was mainly what does the Enterprise version of SharePoint Search (MOSS 2007) provide over and above the Standard version of SharePoint Search (MOSS 2007). What is not entirely common knowledge is that Microsoft rebranded the SharePoint Search offering as “Microsoft Search Server 2008”. This was not just merely rebranded but also added some cool features including federated queries. For more information about federated search, see Plan for global enterprise search. You can also download the following guide “Administering Enterprise Search in SharePoint.  And the most recent acquisition of FAST will have major benefits for customers who really want to take Search to the next level.

Now before you go “hold on a sec.. what another product for me to buy to have new features?”

Well you don’t need to purchase Microsoft Search Server 2008 if you already have MOSS (Enterprise or Standard). The additional features and some functionality was added as part of Service Pack 1 and the Infrastructure Updates and subsequently improved as part of SharePoint Service Pack 2. You can read about the Service Pack 2 enhancements for “Search Server” by [downloading this Excel document](https://download.microsoft.com/download/4/1/F/41F3A698-55E8-40B4-A306-AD6CF1F95394/2007 Office Servers Service Pack 2 Changes.xlsx).

If you look at a SharePoint Server Search Administration page pre Service Pack 1 + IU updates (below) you will see the difference clearly.

](https://www.chandima.net/Blog/Lists/Posts/Attachments/223/SearchPreSP1_2_5054C11A.png)

With Service Pack 1 + Infrastructure Updates you get the same user interface that you get with Microsoft Search Server 2008.

](https://www.chandima.net/Blog/Lists/Posts/Attachments/223/SearchServerSP2_2_5054C11A.png)

So in order for your existing SharePoint deployment to get value this is another very good reason that you should look at updating your SharePoint deployments to the latest Service Pack. (Given business priorities of course). If you are in a situation where a custom developed SharePoint application or a Third party SharePoint add-on is preventing you from going to Service Pack 1 or 2 then.. well it’s another blog post (stay tuned) :-)

Anyways more to the point with regards to the question of Enterprise vs Standard and Search. Refer to MSDN on what you get with each version. (Standard vs Enterprise) as of Currently published on TechNet and MSDN.

So if your Organisation is trying to “get search up and running” you may want to consider these options before you start fiddling with the Search features and functionality.

These are only some of the few options you have to consider for Search.

Check out my previous series of posts and links about Search in SharePoint.

Other resources that you must have a read through for Search deployments