Search and Shared Service Provider (SSP)

Question

I am using SharePoint Server 2007 Enterprise with Windows Server 2008 Enterprise.

I am new and learning Shared Service Provider (SSP), which is a new concept in SharePoint Server 2007. I am creating publishing portal template web applications.

I want to know what is the relationship between Search service (the search box on the top right corner of default.aspx of a publishing portal template web site) and SSP? Search service itself is a SSP? Or Search service is a part of SSP? Or some other relationships?

Answer 1

I thought this was answered yesterday.

Here are two additional links from a web search:

• What is a SSP? - http://msmvps.com/blogs/shane/archive/2007/06/29/what-is-a-shared-service-provider.aspx
• Plan SSPs - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc263276.aspx

While Shane's post look pretty close to what I said, there is a bit more detail to it. The simple answer is that your publishing site calls a query tool that is provided data gathered in the index maintained by the SSP.

Answer 2

The Search Service in MOSS is part of the Shared Services Provider. SSP is a set of services that can be shared across multiple farms. So when you associate a web application with an SSP, that web application will use that ssp for search, user profiles, my sites, excel services, bdc, audiences, etc.