“Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials” Think “Windows Home Server Meets the Home Office/Small Business”

HandyAndy’s SBS-Rocks Blog - Finally we can talk, Storage Server R2 Essentials Announced

“Well it has been the best kept secret at Microsoft for years, but this morning they announced Windows Storage Server R2 Essentials, what is it you ask, think Windows Home Server backup functionality capable of joining a domain and you get the basic idea. …”

The Official SBS Blog - Announcing Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials

“Building on the Windows Small Business Server 2011 announcements and adding to that exciting momentum - today on the Storage Server blog, Microsoft announced a new edition targeted at small business, Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials. Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials is part of the Windows Storage Server family of network attached storage appliances. It shares common features and usability with both Windows Home Server code name “Vail” and Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials and is optimized for:

• Server and PC backup, including file, folder and image based restore
• Centralized storage for file data and easier sharing
• Console driven administration for easier management
• Access to your data from virtually anywhere through Remote Web Access
• Network health monitoring for both Windows and Mac PC’s
• Active Directory Domain join

With support for up to 25 users, Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials is an appliance form-factor with preconfigured hardware and software - vastly simplifying the deployment and management tasks normally associated with a new file server or additional servers for storage. Plus, Active Directory join capability enables Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials to easily integrate into existing infrastructure and networks.

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Windows Storage Server - Announcing Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials!

“Guten Morgen from Germany! Joel Garcia blogging from TechEd Berlin, where we are announcing and showing off Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials, the newest member of the Storage Server product family. The Windows Storage Server Blog lives here.

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials is part of the Windows Storage Server family, which is built upon the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system to provide a platform for network attached storage appliances. Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials includes storage technologies enabling you to grow with your storage requirements while providing an easy to use backup and recovery solution. Windows Storage Server Essentials is specifically developed to address the storage needs for small businesses up to 25 users without the need for specialized IT skills. Configuring Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials is easy: remove from box, connect to network, power up and access the device from a browser to configure it. The management dashboard makes it simple to manage, maintain and monitor the health of the Windows Storage Server Essentials device, and client computers.

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials as well as the rest of the Storage Server product family are available through hardware partners.

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I’ve heard that a number of home Office/Small Businesses use Windows Home Server as a back-up, remote web, file store, etc ,server. Seems Microsoft has heard this need loud and clear and responded with this new product.

Looks interesting… I like the plug and go, consumer simplicity yet targeted at a small businesses (i.e. domain support)…