Microsoft is announcing the final names, licensing and estimated availability for the next generation of the Small Business Server family currently in public preview. Pricing and additional user information can be found at the team’s announcement Announcing Windows Small Business Server 2011.

• Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials (formally Windows Small Business Server Code Name “Aurora”) is ideal as a first server for small businesses up to 25 users, providing a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution to help protect data, organize and access business information from virtually anywhere, support the applications needed to run a business, and quickly connect to online services such as Office 365, hosted e-mail, collaboration and CRM.  Release is expected in H1 2011.
• Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard (formally Windows Small Business Server “7”) is designed and priced for small businesses with up to 75 users, delivering enterprise-class server technology in an affordable, all-in-one solution. Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard helps protect business’ information from loss by performing automatic daily server backups and greater productivity through on-site features like e-mail, Internet connectivity, internal Web sites, remote access, and file and printer sharing. Windows SBS 2011 Standard will be available through all current Microsoft server licensing channels and is expected to release in December 2010. Further availability through OEM’s and System Builders is expected starting February 2011.
• Windows Small Business Server 2011 Premium Add-on, consists of an additional server that provides support for SQL Server based LOB applications and access to Window Server 2008 R2 technologies in a cost effective solution for a small business environment. It is ideal for role based deployments such as LOB application support, Remote Desktop Services, Backup domain controller, and Virtualization though Hyper-V.The Premium Add-on will also be available with the release of Windows SBS 2011 Standard in December.

To learn more about Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard, download the datasheet.

To learn more about Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, download the datasheet.

To learn more about the Windows Small Business Server Family, download the family overview brochure.

To download previews of Windows SBS 2011 Standard and Essentials you can visit here.

Bruce D. Kyle
ISV Architect Evangelist | Microsoft Corporation