Microsoft today released a preview version of the long-awaited Windows Essential Business Server (EBS) 2008, a bundle geared for SMBs, Network World reports. Plus, it promised that a preview of its revamped Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 is to come in the next few weeks. EBS 2008 is designed for companies with as many as 250 desktops and includes Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server 2007, Forefront Security for Exchange Server, System Center Essentials 2007, and the forthcoming version of Internet Security and Acceleration Server. The premium addition will add SQL Server 2008.
SBS 2008 is designed for companies with as many as 50 PCs. Microsoft is eliminating Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA) from the premium version. It includes Exchange Server 2007, SharePoint Services 3.0, and SQL Server. The premium addition of SBS 2008 for the first time lets users run the software on two servers. The second server runs Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2005 or 2008 to support business applications. Both packages are slated to ship by year-end.
Microsoft also eased up on its client licensing requirements. It introduced an option to purchase single Client Access Licenses (CALs). Previously, users had to purchase CALs in blocks of five. In addition, the CALs will apply to copies of Windows Server, SQL Server and Exchange Server running outside the Essential Server environment.
Microsoft is gunning to make SMBs happy with these new WS2008 bundles. But Microsoft is a MACHINE when it comes to the sheer number of editions it releases. While it is great to have options, can anyone keep it all straight? WS2008 is itself available in nine varients: Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web Server, Itanium, HPC Server, Standard without Hyper-V, Enterprise without Hyper-V, Datacenter without Hyper-V. Now the ESB and SBS bundles will also be available in two flavors, Standard and Premium editions.
READ MORE for pricing information on EBS and SBS.
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