July 9, 2008 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Microsoft (microsoft.com) announced on Monday it has set November 12 as the worldwide release for a new Windows server OS targeted at mid-sized businesses as well as a new version of its small-business server software.
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The software giant will ship both Windows Essential Business Server 2008 and Windows Small Business Server 2008 on November 12, it revealed at Monday's Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston.
The company is currently offering trial versions of both products for download via a Microsoft site entitled MultiplyYourPower (multiplyyourpower.com).
The company says that hardware providers Dell and Wortmann AG in Europe have already signed up to become the first companies to offer hardware for both operating systems when they are released.
Microsoft says it will post new release candidates for both products next week on its website, where interested customers can also find information about the products.
The new Windows Essential Server Solutions line includes SBS 2008, dubbed "Cougar," and EBS 2008, entitled "Centro", which combine Microsoft's Windows Server OS with other software products Microsoft considers necessary to operate a business.
Microsoft says it hopes that the new products will provide an "all-in-one, easy-to-install software stack" for companies with a smaller IT support staff.
SBS 2008 is scaled-down version of Windows Server 2008, which integrates Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. It also includes Microsoft's Office Live Small Business service and 120-day trial subscriptions to Forefront Security for Exchange and Windows Live OneCare for Server.
The premium edition provides an additional license for Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008.
EBS includes three copies of Windows Server 2008 that operate on three hardware servers, with the first server being a domain controller and management server, the second server using Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition email, and the third being a security server running Forefront Security for Exchange Server and Forefront Threat Management Gateway.
A premium edition of EBS will include a fourth version of Windows Server 2008 on a fourth piece of hardware running SQL Server 2008.
Windows Small Business Server 2008 will start at $1,089, while Windows Essential Business Server 2008 will be priced from $5,472.
