Windows Server 2012 Essentials Done
Trailing its big brother by two months, Windows Server 2012 Essentials is finished and was sent to hardware makers this week (Release to Manufacturing).
It's odd there is this lag behind Windows Server 2012, but with hardware makers expected to have it in the market next month, it surely qualifies for the 2012 handle.
Essentials is what was formerly known as Small Business Server 2011. As is now customary, Microsoft changes appellations for no apparent reason.
Essentials is both more and less than Windows Server 2012 delivers. On the lesser side, it can't handle as many users -- just 25. It also can't be set up with the GUI-less Server Core configuration. And while its predecessor came with Exchange, now that must be bought separately.
On the more side, many items were designed with lesser-experienced IT types in mind. Certain server roles such as IIS and Active Directory come already turned on. Also, hooking up to Redmond cloud services is also designed to be as easy as possible.
The dashboard interface is clearly for the newer IT person (or an in-house manager for whom IT is not a full-time job). There are tabs that offer shortcuts to common areas of need such as "Applications," "Storage," "Users" and "Devices."
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/10/2012 at 1:19 PM