Microsoft today released yet another version of Windows Server 2008 geared toward small businesses and branch offices called Windows Foundation Server. Microsoft has already given the world Windows Small Business Server, Windows Essential Business Server and Server Core. Foundations is an ultra low-cost version without a lot of fancy extras.
(Aside: Winner of the best joke regarding Windows Foundation Server has to be “kenmcnamee” who wrote on the SuperSite for Windows blog: “‘Windows Foundation Server.’ They should just call it WinFS. 😉
Foundations has a user limit of 15 compared to SBS which is limited to 50 PCs (and will turn users away if more than 75 try to connect). EBS is designed for up to 250 PCs (with a cutoff at 300). SBS and EBS also ship with additional software. Server Core is a stripped down version of WS2008 that does not include a GUI interface and yet, for users without Software Assurance contracts, is priced equal to full versions of Windows Server 2008. (See Glenn Weadock’s review of Server Core “Fun with Server Core, Part I” and “Fun with Server Core, Part II “)
Foundations is similar to WS2008 Standard Edition but does not include Hyper-V and can only be run on a single processor 64-bit server with a maximum of 8GB. It is available only bundled pre-loaded on hardware and sold by Microsoft resellers. Since a stand alone version is not being announced at this time, pricing for the server is vague though bloggers in the know seem to think it will land at about $200.
Some have said that Windows Foundation Server won’t find an audience, given that ultra small companies with low budgets relying on resellers are likely to opt for Linux and open source products. Writes blogger Dave Rosenberg at Cnet:
“In my nearly 15 years of IT experience, I’ve never seen a server that didn’t eventually have to be upgraded–especially Windows servers. Think back a few years, to the advent of Active Directory, and remind yourself that you not only had to upgrade your software, but also your hardware and CALs. Small businesses need to be wary of things that sound too good to be true. Windows Server 2008 Foundation doesn’t come close to what you can get for free in every Linux distribution.”
But Windows still rules in a lot of small businesses — so this product has all the makings of a big hit.
And here’s a warm fuzzy for those who buy it. The company will donate a portion of every Windows Server 2008 Foundation sale, up to a total of $100,000, to TechSoup.org and Telecentre.org. These are global nonprofit organizations that help other nonprofits use technology.
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