Microsoft this morning finally announced the proper naming, pricing and availability for the new SBS product family additions.
Windows SBS 2011 Essentials is the proper name for the hybrid cloud/on-premise solution that was called SBS Aurora and Microsoft have set an RRP of $545 USD which includes all 25 CALS that the user will need to be correctly license. In fact you can’t buy it with less CALs.
Windows SBS 2011 Standard is now the proper name for the “traditional” SBS replacement that was called SBSv7. This product includes Windows Server 2008 R2, Exchange 2010, Windows Sharepoint Foundation and the new Remote Web Access components that are in SBS 2011 Essentials. This version of SBS follows the more traditional CAL model with the base version coming with 5 CALs and users needing to purchase additional CALs as needed. It’s still got the same upper limit of 75 CALs though which is disappointing as many of us feel Microsoft should have increased this limit given the complete absence of the older EBS product which was cancelled in March this year.
Microsoft have also changed the model for the Premium edition of SBS. The SBS 2011 Premium edition is now an add-on that can be purchased and added to either the SBS 2011 Essentials or SBS 2011 Standard edition and includes a copy of Windows Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server 2008 R2 for Small Business (basically SQL 2008 R2 with a modified EULA that specifies it must be in an SBS network). CALs are required to be purchased for this as well regardless of if you add this to SBS 2011 Essentials or SBS 2011 Standard editions.
Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard, download the datasheet.
Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, download the datasheet.
Windows Small Business Server Family, download the family overview brochure.
To download previews of Windows SBS 2011 Standard and Essentials you can visit here.
If you’ve not played with either product, well your time is about up now. December will mean that SBS 2011 will be here with us very soon now and by the end of June 2011 (H1 2011) so will SBS 2011 Essentials. I’d suggest you go get hold of these preview versions now and see what Microsoft has in store for your customers quick smart.
When is the standard version available? – “December will mean that SBS 2011 Essentials will be here with us and by the end of June 2011 (H1 2011) so will SBS 2011 Essentials”
typo – recheck – fixed 🙂 SBS 2011 Standard will be available in December 2010.
Any mention of upgrades from Essentials to full SBS?
None at all. Any “upgrade” will actually be a migration to another piece of hardware using the microsoft migration methods.
and SWL Server 2008 R2 for Small Business <– Nice Wayne, drunk again whilst blogging… 🙂
hehe – yeah – you caught me 🙂 fixed now 🙂
What about small companies that don’t need Exchange? SBS Server is a nicely packaged thing, but many small companies don’t run their own Exchange server (trust me, it’s a lot of trouble).
David,
SBS 2011 Essentials (formerly SBS Aurora) is the solution for them – as it does not come with Exchange, you are free to add third party mail systems such as Kerio Connect to it.