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Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement

 

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Today is the start of the Server 2008 PR ramp up.  I can today tell you a bit more about Cougar, as was, or SBS 2008 as it will be, the new "family" that SBS is part of and a bit more on Windows Essential Business Server 2008 (aka Centro).  Hopefully there will be a couple of surprises and also confirmation of some of the rumours around there.  I've sliced the press release made today into 3 sections.  This blog entry is based on the SBS 2008 section of which there is an extract below of some key points.  The whole press release can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/feb08/02-20EBFamilyPR.mspx.

Windows Small Business Server 2008 Multiplies Business Growth

Windows Small Business Server 2008,previously known by the code name “Cougar,” is ideal for organizations with up to 50 PCs, helping them protect business data, expand business productivity and present a professional image to customers. The new version adds a range of features and capabilities to the current, award-winning Small Business Server 2003 R2 product, and is also an example of Microsoft’s “software plus services” vision.

For small-business owners and employees, Small Business Server 2008 provides increased security and protection with one-year trial subscriptions to Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server Small Business Edition and the new Windows Live OneCare for Server, and with dramatically simplified server and PC backup technologies. Small Business Server 2008 also integrates with Microsoft Office Live Small Business to simplify setup and management of professional Web sites and private online work spaces. Enhancements to Remote Web Workplace, integration of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, and support for the latest Windows Mobile devices will help employees work remotely and collaborate effectively.

For IT managers and technology consultants, Small Business Server 2008 deployment, setup and administration is greatly simplified and improved. A powerful administration console, new monitoring across servers and client PCs, Windows Server Update Services, and customizable reports — accessible from virtually anywhere — make management easier and more effective. Exchange Server 2007 delivers additional built-in protection, virtually anywhere access and management efficiencies. And Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition provides an ideal platform for critical business applications, because SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 technologies now run on a second hardware server.

Windows Small Business Server 2008 will be demonstrated on Dell systems at the Microsoft “Heroes Happen Here” launch event on Feb. 27 in Los Angeles, and is slated for availability in the second half of 2008.

<snipped>

More information about Windows Essential Server Solutions is available at http://www.microsoft.com/essential and http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/serversolutions.

So lets recap.  Information on the family that SBS is now part of can be found in the post entitled "Windows Essential Server Solutions family of products" announcement. So lets recap what this all means:

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  • SBS 2008 ships on a x64 Server.
  • There are still two editions - Standard and Premium, with Premium offering an additional Windows Server 2008 standard system and SQL Server 2008.
  • It is designed (as SBS 2003 was) for 5-50 users although it can go to 75 users.  If the customer solution needs 3-4 servers then use Windows Essential Business Server 2008.
  • It has the following components as standard
    • Windows Server 2008 x64
    • Exchange 2007
    • Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
    • Windows Live OneCare for Server
    • Subscription to Forefront Security for Exchange Server Small Business Edition
    • Integration with Office Live Small Business
    • Enhancements to mobile and remote working tools and management
  • Premium has the following additional components
    • 2nd Windows Server 2008
    • SQL Server 2008
  • Areas of focus have been:
    • Small Business Server 2008 deployment, setup and administration has been changed to the console shown in WHS and Essentials
    • The ability to monitor across servers and client PCs
    • Manage system updates using Windows Server Update Services
    • New customisable reports
    • The benefits of Exchange Server 2007 including
      • additional built-in protection
      • virtually anywhere access
      • management efficiencies

 

That is it for now, but as always, post questions and I will attempt to get them answered. For more information on the Essentials server announcements, look here.

 

My advice is to read the web sites linked in the press release and let me know your questions.  You will also find information on the official SBS blog

 

ttfn

David


Posted Wed, Feb 20 2008 1:59 PM by David Overton

Comments

"Windows Essential Server Solutions family of products" announcement - David Overton's Blog wrote &quot;Windows Essential Server Solutions family of products&quot; announcement - David Overton's Blog
on Wed, Feb 20 2008 2:04 PM

Pingback from  &quot;Windows Essential Server Solutions family of products&quot; announcement - David Overton's Blog

Windows Essential Business Server Announcement - David Overton's Blog wrote Windows Essential Business Server Announcement - David Overton's Blog
on Wed, Feb 20 2008 2:04 PM

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SBS 2008 - Officially Essential « Andys Techie Blog wrote SBS 2008 - Officially Essential &laquo; Andys Techie Blog
on Wed, Feb 20 2008 3:15 PM

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Help and Advice » Blog Archive » Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement wrote Help and Advice &raquo; Blog Archive &raquo; Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Wed, Feb 20 2008 10:43 PM

Pingback from  Help and Advice  &raquo; Blog Archive   &raquo; Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement

David Overton's Blog wrote Answers to some of the questions about SBS 2008 (32-bit 2nd server, SCE, beta upgrades, migrating users
on Fri, Feb 22 2008 9:38 AM

After posting on SBS 2008 the other day I've had a few questions, so here are some answers Can the

Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement | Event Management Security wrote Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement | Event Management Security
on Fri, Feb 22 2008 1:57 PM

Pingback from  Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement | Event Management Security

David Overton's Blog wrote Answers to some of the questions about SBS 2008 (32-bit 2nd server, SCE, beta upgrades, migrating users
on Sat, Feb 23 2008 10:43 AM

[updated 23rd Feb 2008] After posting on SBS 2008 the other day I've had a few questions, so here

frustrated consultant wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Mon, Feb 25 2008 9:24 PM

uak! no kind of web access repor/control...! at least could come some revamped RRas with hourly-timed group-defineable uri-wildcard-supporting access FILTER and some text log so one could exctract info... I can't undertand why is so hard to get MS deliver some RRas URI filter, a mostly wanted feature since 2k betas...

David Overton wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Mon, Feb 25 2008 9:34 PM

Hi, Mr Frustrated Consultant.

I don't wish to be mean, but I can understand why MS don't give you what you want - I don't understand your comments.  Do you want to put a slightly longer explanation of your needs and I can get you an answer.

thanks

David

Matt wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Tue, Feb 26 2008 5:35 AM

Where's ISA Server?

David Overton wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Tue, Feb 26 2008 7:09 AM

Matt,

ISA server is not part of the solution.  We were told repeatably that people did not want / use ISA server.  The 2nd server could be loaded with ISA or an ISA appliance could be used, but it is not part of the product set in SBS 2008.

Does this present a problem for you or your customers?  We are examining the options and impact for those who have SBS 2003 Premium AND are on Software Assurance and your feedback is welcome.

thanks

David

Alistair wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Wed, Feb 27 2008 11:20 AM

Hi David,

If ISA is no longer to be included - and we always implement ISA at every SBS site - is the client going to require a full cost implementation of ISA 2006 when moving from SBS2K3 Premium, or will there be an upgrade path? This impacts me now as I was literally about to phone a client who is needing a server upgrade and I was going to recommend he waits for SBS2K8, but he uses ISA2004...

Thanks

Alistair

Alistair wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Wed, Feb 27 2008 11:45 AM

No ISA!? - We deploy ISA with every SBS implementation we ship and this will therefore negativly impact every "upgrade" we undertake.

When moving from SBS2k3 Premium to SBS2K8 will there be any upgrade path for those who are losing their ISA Server functionality?

We have for example a client running SBS2K3 and ISA with an ftp server in their DMZ and using ISA: what will the implications be for them? - Any ideas?

I know they have an additional server licence - but with Dell for example, you can't buy a bare system, so you can't utilise that license there and whatever happens, clients are still going to need an additional expensive lump of server to use it on. It certainly appears less attractive than the previous offering as it stands.

Cheers

Alistair

David Overton wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Wed, Feb 27 2008 1:25 PM

Alistair,

Are these customers with Software Assurance or without?  As I said above, if with SA then there is definately a conversation to be had - I don't know the outcome, but there is an easy basis to have this.

Without SA, then the product functionality has changed and while there is still a basis for conversation, perhaps ISA is not the right solution.  This was recently debated on the UK SBS Yahoo group site and hte overwhelming opinion was that it was not good value for small businesses with only one person holding a different opinion.  If you have some opinions on how this should work, please feel free to share them with me.

thanks

David

Alistair wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Thu, Feb 28 2008 11:02 AM

Hi David,

Thanks for the reply.

No they are not on SA - as a rule we find the SMB market is not sold on the idea as they perceive it as expensive.

I do think that Microsoft needs to look at this: we could look at firewall devices, we use a Celestix job with embedded ISA, but this is very expnesive for the SMB marketplace and we would therefore look to supply non-Microsoft solutions such as Smoothwall, however this forces us to forge additional relationships with other partners and it is far easier if Microsoft fills that marketplace.

Also, clients do grow, as we did, and again the larger end of the WES market will surely be in the frame for ISA; but if they already have a third party solution they are not going to need to change.

It does seem a retrograde step to me and I'll not enjoy telling our customer that they're losing ISA when they upgrade with no incentive on offer.

Time will tell I guess!

Best wishes

Alistair

Lee Marsh wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Thu, Mar 13 2008 12:28 PM

No ISA - shocking. We always without fail implement ISA server at our SBS clients. All our customers have SA so hopefully there will be an upgrade path (SBS2003->2008 and seperate ISA 2004->)? Bad news for us anyway.

Jerry Solomon wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Mon, Apr 28 2008 1:41 AM

I am happy to see ISA server go.  We recommend and use external firewall/proxy solutions for every implementation of SBS my company deploys. We feel is is simply too dangerous to have the core server also reside at the perimeter of the network.  In our opinion, this is not a best practice, and dangerous for any business, especially small businesses where the local administrator has no comprehension of network security.

Rob Clark wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Wed, Apr 30 2008 2:42 PM

I've been implementing SBS server since the Back Office days. It was smart then to use a Firewall apliance and its even smarter now to use a firewall apliance. The server configuration is much simpler without ISA in the mix sticking it's nose into everything. I personally have used the Sonicwall apliances which are perfect for a small business and for a 25 user environment only add a cost of about 1500.00 for purchase and configuration. Most of my small business server clients are in the 10 user range and that ends up being even cheaper. I won't miss the ISA server one bit.

John Carmine wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Sat, May 3 2008 4:00 PM

re ISA.  I'm in the camp that likes it...despite all the seemingly logical arguments of how dangerous it is to have SBS directly connected to the internet, i've done just that for at least 5 years by the grace/effectiveness of ISA.  

I currently run 8 different websites, not including the standard SBS sites on SBS behind ISA.  No problems other than the occasional hacker who unsuccessfully runs a dictionary attack on RWW.

I am very dissappointed that ISA is taken from SBS.  It will be just one more hurdle for me and my clients that will delay SBS 2008 rollouts.

Bummer!

Curious: those proclaiming the dangers of ISA on SBS ... any actual stories of SBS's being compromised because of ISA other than seriously botched configurations?

wirelessadvisor wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Fri, May 23 2008 9:54 AM

I deploy loads of sbs 2000,2003 2003 R2 servers i have never installed isa on any customer site even when we purchased the premium version

Hardware firewall and VPN solution for the site to site branch office is the best way to go

Colin wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Sun, Jun 1 2008 10:33 AM

Why make a server work harder by implementing ISA when you can install a Cisco router with firewall feature set as standard.  Uncomplicated and simple is best!

Keith wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Wed, Sep 10 2008 1:38 AM

No ISA, no interest.  No reason to even consider moving away from SBS 2003.

For my needs, it is just that simple.

Keith

Jon Ish wrote re: Small Business Server 2008 (formally known as Cougar) announcement
on Fri, Sep 19 2008 4:37 PM

Good, no ISA server - never liked it anyway. How about a drastically scaled down email solution. Exchange maybe great for corporate clients but its way over the top for small businesses. And its terrible to troubleshoot and rescue mail if exchange goes down. Something simpler is required, possibly built along the lines of a supercharged Pop manager.

Cheers, Jon

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