This page contains answers to commonly asked questions about Windows Small Business Server 2008.

* General Product Information
* Pricing
* Licensing
* Upgrade
* Product Components

General Product Information

Q. What is Windows Small Business Server 2008?

A. Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 is designed to provide small organizations with an affordable, “all-in-one” solution that protects important data and drives business growth. It is an integrated server solution designed to help small companies protect vital business data, increase day-to-day productivity and present a more professional image to customers. Windows Small Business Server 2008 is the next major release of the highly successful Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 product. It will be offered in x64 only. For more information, visit the Editions page.

Q. When will Windows Small Business Server 2008 be finalized and available?

A. The product is slated for availability in the second half of 2008.

Q. What is new and improved in Windows Small Business Server 2008 versus the current product?

A. Windows Small Business Server 2008 delivers a range of exciting new features and capabilities for small business owners and employees, as well as IT managers and technology consultants. Highlights include:
For small business owners and employees:

*Greater security and data protection: Built-in antivirus and anti-spam with 120-day trial subscriptions to Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server and Windows Live OneCare for Server.
*Simple, easy online marketing presence: Windows Small Business Server 2008 integrates with Microsoft Office Live Small Business to simplify setup and management of professional Web sites and private work spaces.
*Better productivity: A streamlined, customizable Remote Web Workplace, integration with Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and support for Windows mobile devices will help employees more effectively work remotely and collaborate.

For IT managers and technology consultants:

*IT made easy: Deployment, setup, and administration is dramatically simplified and improved, saving time and effort. New single Client Access Licenses (CALs) make Windows Small Business Server 2008 licensing more flexible and cost effective.
*Manageability: A streamlined administration console; monitoring across servers and client PCs; and customizable, remotely accessible reports make management and troubleshooting easier and more effective.
*The newest Microsoft server technologies: Overall, Windows Small Business Server 2008 delivers powerful and more secure infrastructure that was rebuilt from the ground up.
*Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition provides an ideal platform for critical business applications, because Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition for Small Business and Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies for SBS Premium now run on a second hardware server.

Some features in Windows Small Business Server 2008 are dependent on market and language availability. See the Editions page for more details.

Q. Which Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will support Windows Small Business Server 2008?

A. Hardware makers, including Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens Corporation, HP, and IBM, plan to deliver solutions built on Windows Small Business Server 2008.

Q. Will third party add-ins work with Windows Small Business Server 2008?

A. Windows Small Business Server 2008 has solid extensibility for third-party applications with a second instance of Windows Server 2008.

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Pricing

Q. How much will Windows Small Business Server 2008 cost and how will customers buy it?

A. Visit the Pricing page to find details on Standard and Premium Edition prices and CAL pricing. Windows Small Business Server 2008 will be available in all channels—including Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Open, Retail, System Builder—after general release.

Q. Why did you change the pricing for Windows Small Business Server 2008?

A. Windows Small Business Server 2008 provides a wide range of new features and technologies, such as the newest Microsoft server products, new security services, marketing and collaboration capabilities, and management features. Premium Edition now includes Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies for SBS Premium with Microsoft SQL Server Standard Edition 2008 for Small Business—vs. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition in Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Premium—to run on a second hardware box for line-of-business applications.
In addition, we have created new, flexible licensing for SBS, such as:

*Customers will be able to purchase single Client Access Licenses (CALs) in all channels, so you will pay only for the exact number of employees/devices using the products.
*Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition can now also be used for Terminal Services access to applications.

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Licensing

Q. How will Windows Small Business Server 2008 be licensed?

A. Windows Small Business Server 2008 will be offered in a Standard and a Premium Edition. Each edition includes five Client Access Licenses (CALs). Customers can purchase additional CALs for the number of users or devices they wish to connect to Windows Small Business Server 2008. New single CALs make Windows Small Business Server 2008 licensing more flexible and cost effective. To learn more, visit the Licensing page.

Q. What is the license limit for Windows Small Business Server 2008?

A. Windows Small Business Server 2008 is designed for use with up to 75 desktops.

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Upgrade

Q. How will upgrading from the current Windows Small Business Server product work?

A. A smooth migration to new software/hardware is what’s most important for small businesses. Our research shows small businesses purchase new hardware with software infrastructure upgrades. Therefore Microsoft has focused on providing guidance, wizards, and automation for fast, easy migration to Windows Small Business Server 2008 on new hardware. More information will be provided in the future.

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Product Components

Q. How does Windows Small Business Server 2008 integrate with Microsoft Office Live Small Business?

A. Windows Small Business Server 2008 setup includes sign up for Microsoft Office Live Small Business, giving customers a way to more effectively market and sell online. Within the Windows Small Business Server 2008 management console, customers can set up and manage Office Live Small Business workspaces and their public Web site, helping them improve collaboration between employees and with partners, and to present a more professional online image. This integration reflects the growing Microsoft "software-plus-services" strategy to give customers choices and combinations of on-premise and service-based solutions. Some features in Windows Small Business Server 2008 are dependent on market and language availability. See the Editions page for more details.

Q. Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2- Premium Edition includes Microsoft Internet and Security Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004, but Windows Small Business Server 2008 does not. Why?

A. Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies, Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server, Windows Live OneCare for Server, server and client reporting, network-wide patch management, and other technologies within Windows Small Business Server 2008 provide small businesses with excellent security and data protection. With every new version of a product, Microsoft does a lot of research and evaluates customer and partner feedback to determine how we can enhance the solution at an affordable cost. Some features in Windows Small Business Server 2008 are dependent on market and language availability. See the Editions page for more details.

Q. What will current Windows Small Business Server customers using ISA do, since Windows Small Business Server 2008 doesn’t include ISA?

A. No details are currently available, but Microsoft typically helps customers preserve their investments in instances like this. More information will be provided in the future.

Q. How does Windows Small Business Server 2008 work with Windows Live OneCare for Server?

A. Windows Small Business Server 2008 provides customers with a 120-day trial subscription to Windows Live OneCare for Server anti-malware protection, managed within the SBS administration interface. After the trial subscription ends, customers can pay to extend the subscription. Some features in Windows Small Business Server 2008 are dependent on market and language availability. See the Editions page for more details.

Q. How is Windows Live OneCare for Server different from the current Windows Live OneCare subscription service?

A. Windows Live OneCare for Server is designed especially to work with Windows Small Business Server and to provide anti-malware and security services to help protect and maintain the server. In addition, Windows Live OneCare for Server is also designed to work seamlessly in a server environment. The current Windows Live OneCare subscription service is designed to provide holistic PC care services that cover security, performance, and data backup for consumer or small business PCs that do not have a server in the environment. Some features in Windows Small Business Server 2008 are dependent on market and language availability. See the Editions page for more details.

Q. I see that Forefront is also part of the Windows Small Business Server 2008 offering—how is Windows Live OneCare for Server different?

A. The Windows Small Business Server 2008 comes with a 120-day trial subscription Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server, which provides security for the Exchange Server. Windows Live OneCare for Server actually provides protection for the Small Business Server itself, so that the customer has end-to-end coverage and solution for their business technology environment. Some features in Windows Small Business Server 2008 are dependent on market and language availability. See the Editions page for more details.

Q. Why is there no Forefront client AV in Windows Small Business Server 2008, or OneCare? What should customers do for client AV?

A. One of the great new features of Windows Small Business Server 2008 is enhanced reporting and monitoring across server and client. It will work with the client security solution that customers choose for their needs. Some features in Windows Small Business Server 2008 are dependent on market and language availability. See the Editions page for more detail.