Say we plan to have a site collection at the root and want user in that site collection to be able to search across multiple site collections in the same web application? Is this possible? thanks for any help or information.

Hi there,You could try using Search Server 2008 because that allows you to search across multiple site collections and is free:http://www.microsoft.com/enterprisesearch/en/us/search-server.aspxHope this helpsGeoff

Which version of SharePoint are you using? Are you using WSS 2.0, WSS 3.0, SharePoint Portal Server 2007 or MOSS 2007?If you are using SPS 2003 or MOSS 2007 then yes it is possible.If you are using WSS 3.0, you cannot do this natively. But you can accomplish thiswith the use of Search Server 2008, http://www.microsoft.com/enterprisesearch/en/us/default.aspxas Geoff stated.Hopefully that helps.Sincerely, Karl

As there's a Search forum, please use it. Moving this there.WSS FAQ sites: http://wssv2faq.mindsharp.com and http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com Total list of WSS 3.0 / MOSS 2007 Books (including foreign language) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/Lists/v3%20WSS%20FAQ/V%20Books.aspx

>You could try using Search Server 2008 Unmarked as an answer because there was no limitation placed on when Search Server should be added. It's only worth adding to a WSS 3.0 installation as the next poster says although I have seen posts from misguided people who have unnecessarily added it to MOSS 2007 (perhaps after seeing such a post?)WSS FAQ sites: http://wssv2faq.mindsharp.com and http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com Total list of WSS 3.0 / MOSS 2007 Books (including foreign language) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/Lists/v3%20WSS%20FAQ/V%20Books.aspx

I'm using MOSS 2007. Where is the native feature and will it work from the search box?Thank you.

Hi JCNET, Are you responsible for Central Administration at your organization or is someone else? I'm just trying to get a picture of whether you are a site collection administrator who is trying to configure search scopes in their site collection so the "All Sites" scope appears in the Search Box, or if you are still setting up your SharePoint farm and have not configured Office SharePoint Server Search.Sincerely, Karl

I am the farm admin.Search is configured, but from what I've seen you can only search items in your site collection or subsites..We do have one new site collection that will need to be able to search across all the site collections under it's Web AP. Ideally through the search box. I'm under the impression All sites = All sub sites. Are you saying I can configure native Search, so that you can get results across site collections?Thank you.

Hi JCNET, If you have created a search center at your root site collection, which normally was created using a publishing site template or collaboration portal template, and your Osearch is working properly then you just need to modify your site collections' search settings and search scopes.Within your site collection go to Site Actions>Site Settings> under the site collection Administration column click on "Search Settings" Fill the radio button to "Use custom scopes. Display richer results using the following Search Center:" and paste the URL to your Search Center into the field.Then click the OK button.Next in the Site Collection Administration column click "Search Scopes". Click on the Display group name "Search Dropdown" and put a check in "All Sites" (Note: This page is tricky because the items appear grayed out, which normally this appearance means you wouldn't be able to select them, but on this page you can.) You can then select the default scope and click OK.It may take a few minutes to take effect but now your site collection is using the Search Center for your farm and you can search across multiple site collections.Hopefully that helps.Sincerely, Karl

I am also trying to setup search so that I can search across all site collections from any single site collection in the farm. Basically, we use to only have one site collection with 50 subsites. We promoted those 50 subsites to site collection so now each subsite is a site collection. Problem is that one you click on the search dropdown on any site collection, the only option that is listed for search is "This Site". I was able to fix this by following your instructions above so now the search drop down displays "All Sites". However, When I try to search with in the "All Sites" scope, no results are displayed and I get a blank page. Any idea what I might be doing wrong? Thanks in advance for your help.