Small Business Server 2008 launches
The next version of Microsoft’s Small Business Server platform launched this past week. Overall, SBS 2008 is more of an evolutionary improvement on a great product than a radical redesign, and it offers several key improvements that will benefit our clients using Small Business Server:
- Built upon a new underlying operating system, Windows Server 2008 is 64-bit operating system that features Hyper-V, Microsoft’s virtualization technology that allows one physical server to host multiple virtual servers, better system and network performance, and enhancements to Terminal Services that improve users’ ability to access company data and individual applications remotely.
- Remote Web Workplace has been updated with a fresh new design that features easy-to-use buttons labeled Check Email (Outlook Web Access), Connect to a Computer (remote desktop to a workstation), and Internal Web site (Windows SharePoint Services 3.0).
- The latest version of Windows SharePoint Services, version 3.0, is now included with SBS and provides more robust and easy-to-use collaboration tools to encourage information sharing and make it easier to access to company files remotely.
- Exchange 2007 includes a new version of Outlook Web Access that provides a more dynamic and rich experience as well as new features to access documents and attachments more easily from outside the office.
- New single Client Access Licenses (CALs) make Windows Small Business Server 2008 licensing more flexible and cost effective. Rather than having to purchase CALs in multiples of 5, you can now purchase a single CAL for that 11th or 26th employee.
- Finally, Premium edition includes Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition (in place of Workgroup Edition) and allows you to install both SQL Server and Server 2008 on a separate physical server for Line of Business (LOB) applications, such as accounting, ERP, practice/project management, or CRM systems.
