Add to 
del.icio.us
Digg this
April 2, 2009
Windows Server 2008 has been available for close to a year already, but Microsoft has finally released a scaled
down version of its server operating system, dubbed Windows Server 2008 Foundation.
However, Microsoft didn't remove all that much from the OS. Some observers were expecting more features
missing. And please note that it won't be offered as a stand-alone product either.
Instead, OEMs will have the opportunity to sell it pre-installed on servers.
Some are saying that the limitations imposed upon Windows Server 2008 are fairly reasonable. It can
only serve up to fifteen users.
However, Server 2008 "Foundation" doesn't support server virtualisation and integrated e-mail, while
the other versions of Server 2008 also have simplified management.
Another limitation is an 8 Gb memory limit, but Microsoft explains that the servers that are going to
power Foundation won't really need more at this point, since the OS is a bit less RAM-hungry than its full
fledged brother.
The new OS sadly won't be offered as a stand-alone product, but will only be available through complete
packages by OEMs, which means that you buy a new server with Foundation pre-installed and ready to be used.
Overall retail prices of Foundation will remain below US $1,000 Microsoft said.
It is expected that retailers will soon start offering OEM copies, since there are probably a lot of
small businesses that already have a server available and the only thing missing is the OS.
Yesterday, Steve Ballmer made a statement about Foundation and explained that between now and September 30,
a portion of every Foundation sale will go to the non-profit organisations TechSoup and Telecentre.
Ballmer didn't disclose the percentage of the split, however.
Those two non-profit organisations help other non-profits around the globe with IT equipment and software.
It's very clear that competition in the global server market is heating up rapidly, and that Microsoft,
being the software giant that it is dosen't want to be left out in the cold.
In the last quarter, Microsoft managed to eek out a miniscule 0.61 percent gain in its share of the global
server market, while Linux still commands a hefty 62.7 percent share.
Source: Microsoft.
Add to
del.icio.us
Digg this
