The value of Microsoft Foundation Server 2008R2
A little birdie known as Microsoft Partner Program dropped this package at my door step
In it I have a lovely3×6′ banner proclaiming that I am a Microsoft Small Business Specialist. That’s not as obnoxious as my 4×8′ Vista launch tour banner though.
I also got a DVD named “Windows Foundation Server 2008R2″. I decided to investigate what it is.
After all, I just got some seriously nice hardware (two quad xeon 3.66Ghz IBM x366 servers with a 6-drive SAS array and 8GB RAM) and can finally play with 64-bit applications.
I ran into one interesting road block when I tried to find pricing for this product. It’s not really available in any form except as when purchased from an OEM such as Dell or HP.
I knew it would be cheap, but Dell is selling this for $279.
Let me give you an idea what a tremendous value this product is. It is a full-featured and mostly unrestricted Windows 2008 Server product that can host any Windows Server application.
Most Microsoft products require what are known as CALs (client access licenses). This product, priced at an incredible $279, comes with 15 built-in CALs.
Here is what it costs to get a Windows Server 2008 for 15 users through other means.
Windows Server 2008 Standard (5 CAL) - $726
Windows Server 2008 CALs (10 users) – $300
Grand total for Windows Server 2008 – $1026
Small Business Server 2008 Standard (5 CALs) – $952
Small Business Server 2008 (10 CALs) – $674
Grand total for SBS 2008 Standard – $1626
As you can see, Windows Foundation Server 2008R2 is a tremendous value. It’s about $1026 worth of technology available for less than $300 when you buy a new low-end server.
It has some minor limitations (supports single socket CPU although it will support all cores if you have a quad-core chip, it can’t have more than 15 users, there is the limit of 30 SMB concurrent connections, can’t have children or be a child, and a few other restrictions), but businesses with fewer than 15 users are ideally positioned to use this product.
Personally, I love the SBS product. I have been selling and supporting it for over a decade now. Microsoft hit the jackpot with the SBS 2003 release. It is a not a very cheap product and many things can go wrong if an unqualified person attempts to make some changes.
Now, however, my advice to microbusinesses is to reduce complexity. Get the Foundation Server so all your workstations start to talk to each other in the domain, and add Exchange and Sharepoint services hosted by Microsoft Online Services. This way the business owner can keep relatively manageable services on-site, but things that require substantial expertise such as Sharepoint and Exchange can be handled by experts.
Microsoft calls it the Business Productivity Online Suite.
While a complete description of what BPOS is deserves its own article, in a nutshell you pay $10/mo/user and Microsoft hosts your Exchange and Outlook services.
Want to try Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite? It’s free for 30 days and no credit card is required.
