New version of Microsoft Small Business Server nears

By John Fontana, NetworkWorld.com, 07/11/06

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer on Tuesday said Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 R2, the next version of its all-in-one business platform for small and medium sized organizations, would be available in August. He also announced pricing reductions.

Ballmer said during his keynote speech at Microsoft’s annual Worldwide Partner Conference in Boston that SBS 2003 R2 features health monitoring improvements and pricing reductions for the premium version.
SBS 2003 R2 is a bundle of several Microsoft servers, desktop applications and design tools. The Standard Edition, which is priced at $599, includes Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003, and Outlook 2003, along with five Client Access Licenses (CALs). The Premium Edition, which was priced at $1,499 but will now sell for $1,299, adds SQL Server 2005, Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 and FrontPage 2003.
With the R2 version, Microsoft is adding a feature it calls Green Check, a health monitor that uses a green check mark as part of a GUI console interface to show users that patches and other software are up-to-date. The feature checks not only the server, but also all the connected desktops. A yellow check mark shows users that patches and updates are needed and the server provides pointers to those resources.
Microsoft also is increasing the mailbox limits on SBS 2003 from 16 gigabytes to 75 gigabytes. Microsoft also will update the database component in SBS 2003 R2 by replacing the current SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition with SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition.
The R2 upgrade will give way next year to another SBS version code-named “Cougar” that will have Longhorn Server at its foundation and more tightly integrate with Office 2007 and the Vista client operating system. Rumors are circulating that the platform will be 64-bit only.

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