Web Application vs Site Collection vs Site

SharePoint 2016/2013/2010

UPDATES:

Search Configuration is done at both at Site and Site Collection level

Farm Settings – SPFarm

Max Database 500
Farm Administration
Email Settings

Web Application Settings – SPWebApplication

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc261978(v=office.16).aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc287691.aspx (2010)

NOT RECOMMENDED!!! Shredded Storage can be disabled and re-enabled per Web Application
Recycle Bin: per Web App.  How long items are deleted from user bins and Second Stage recycle bin size.
Maximum Upload Size: per Web Application.
Authentication Provider:  Choose up to 5 zones
Define Managed Paths: per web application only.
Enable Self Service Site Creation: per web application level.
Blocked File Types: per Web Application
List Throttling: per Web Application
Service Application Association
Dedicated Add-in or App Settings
Email Settings

Site Collection – SPSite

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff607925(v=office.16).aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff607786.aspx (2010)
Recycle Bin: Dedicated Recycle Bin for the site collection
Dedicated usage reports: Usage reports work on the site collection level.
Dedicated Administration: Site Collection Administrators
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc263199.aspx#architecture
Search Configuration: Configurable search scopes, keywords and best bets
Galleries: Galleries for libraries, images and styles
Site Quota templates: All sites within a site collection contribute to the quota.
Dedicated Database: Recommended due to improved DR and smallest unit to allow/restore with full fidelity restore
Permissions: Permissions are not inherited from another site
Considered a “Security Boundary”
URL Character Limit 150 (2016 to remove but remains)

Site - SPWeb

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff607925(v=office.16).aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff607786.aspx (2010)
Administration: Needs to be controlled from Site Collection Admin
Site Features: Features particular to your site
MDS:Minimal Download Strategy
Navigation: Inherit navigation from parent site
Permissions: Inherit permissions from Site Collection
Sharing: Share and consume list data from other sites in same site collection
Themes: Themes are site specific
URL Character Limit 255 (2016 to remove but remains)

References

Plan Site/Site Collections – TechNet - 2016

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc263267(v=office.16).aspx

Design Checklists/Worksheets – 2013 or 2010

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc262451.aspx (2013)

http://nikpatel.net/2012/03/11/checklist-for-designing-and-implementing-sharepoint-2010-extranets-things-to-consider/

http://www.sharepointgeoff.com/implementation-checklist/

SharePoint Operations

Great TechNet link for SharePoint Operations
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288772.aspx

Server and server farm administration (SharePoint Foundation 2010)

This section describes how to maintain servers and server farms within a SharePoint Foundation 2010 environment. It includes articles about backup and recovery, managing databases, Web application management, service application management, health and monitoring, and security and permissions administration.

Site and solution administration (SharePoint Foundation 2010)

This section describes how to maintain sites and solutions within a SharePoint Foundation 2010 environment. It includes articles about managing site collections, service applications and services, features such as workflow, and sandboxed solutions.