Updated: July 11, 2020 (April 13, 2009)

New Entry-Level Windows Server

Michael analyzed and wrote about Microsoft's operating systems, including the Windows client OS, as well as compliance and governance. Michael... more

To make it less expensive for a small business to acquire its first server, Microsoft is introducing Windows Server 2008 Foundation edition, an entry-level server OS only available preinstalled on server hardware. This edition targets small businesses that do not have a server or that use shared folders and printer sharing on a desktop computer. Foundation fills a gap in Microsoft’s product line below the more costly Small Business Server, and it could help the company compete with Linux in small organizations. However, it lacks a clear upgrade path to higher-level Windows servers.

Windows Server 2008 Foundation

Foundation complements current entry-level Microsoft server products, which include the following:

Windows Home Server, a consumer-focused server for up to 10 users
Windows Small Business Server, which includes preconfigured applications such as Exchange server and supports up to 75 users
Windows Server 2008 Standard edition, a general-purpose business server OS

(For an illustration of the server family and market segments, see “Specialized Servers and Windows Server Editions“.)

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