Microsoft Discontinues Windows Home Server
Microsoft yesterday revealed the new Windows Server 2012 lineup, reducing available versions from 12 to 4. These four editions can be divided into two groups: First the Full Windows Server group, that is made up of the Datacenter and Standard edition. These editions differ in the number of virtual instances they can run and the price that they are available for. What's interesting in this regard is that Microsoft has moved to a processor + CAL (Client Access License) model which the company believes is easier to work with.
Both cover 2 CPUs in a host, with Standard supporting up to 2 Virtual Operating System Environments, while Datacenter an unlimited number.
The remaining two server editions use a different licensing model. Both Server 2012 Essentials and Server 2012 Foundation have a user account limit per server. Essentials is limited to 25 users, while Foundation to 15. The latter will only be available to OEMs, the former primarily to small business environments.
| Edition | Ideal for… | High Level Feature Comparison |
Licensing Model | Pricing Open NL (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Datacenter | Highly virtualized private & hybrid cloud environments |
Full Windows Server functionality with unlimited virtual instances |
Processor + CAL* | $4,809** |
| Standard | Low density or non- virtualized environments |
Full Windows Server functionality with two virtual instances |
Processor + CAL* | $882** |
| Essentials | Small business environments |
Simpler interface, pre-configured connectivity to cloud based services; no virtualization rights |
Server (25 User Account Limit) |
$425** |
| Foundation | Economical general purpose server |
General purpose server functionality with no virtualization rights |
Server (15 User Account Limit) |
OEM Only |
What about Windows Home Server? Microsoft has stated that the company is going to discontinue the product. It will be available until December 31, 2013 after which it will be retired from most channels. Microsoft notes in the Windows Server 2012 Essentials FAQ:
Windows Home Server has seen its greatest success in small office/home office (SOHO) environments and among the technology enthusiast community. For this reason, Microsoft is combining the features that were previously only found in Windows Home Server, such as support for DLNA-compliant devices and media streaming, into Windows Server 2012 Essentials and focusing our efforts into making Windows Server 2012 Essentials the ideal first server operating system for both small business and home use—offering an intuitive administration experience, elastic and resilient storage features with Storage Spaces, and robust data protection for the server and client computers.
Home users however may be in for quite the shock when they compare the price of the (recommended) Essentials edition to the price they have been paying for Windows Home Server 2011.
What is your take on the change and the discontinuation of Windows Home Server?
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I’ve also been using WHS for years and whilst I’ve never found it to fully meet my needs it was definitely close and moving in the right direction. I’m currently running the latest edition and 4 media centre PC’c/laptops on it. I will be extremely sorry to see it go as its backups, large storage and media streaming has kept lots of would-be family emergencies and stupid kids arguments at bay, and for the price of £40 here in the UK its been well worth it. I even have friends and family using it to watch my kids home movies and store some of their own data in Australia! If you’re willing to tweak it’ll do just about anything you want.. over 400 dollars for the next version though and I might just pass.. unless it comes with Exchange :-) Microsoft are definitely making a mistake in removing this from their line up.
Been using WHS for several years now with no problems what so ever. Hate to see another good Microsoft Product fall by the wayside.
For those haters out there I found that when paired with the correct hardware, WHS served all my needs from streaming my movies to my media pc to one click setup of remote access to my files. The only shortcoming I found was the server backup.
They are also killing off SBS (Small Business Server) which services up to 75 users. SBS was great because it included Exchange and had a premium edition that included SQL. They are pushing SBS customer to Office 365. I think this will bring about customized Linux servers that are aimed at SBS customers. Microsoft may have just killed off a good slice of their business…
ron,
you’re an exception then, so what?
@ Roebie,
Did you ever look at the prices? The HP WHS and alike servers are pretty nicely priced, and a install disk hovered around $60,=.
How’s that for expensive? It’s never good/cheap enough for some people…..
And to answer the first question, yes I use WHS for years now and am very happy with it. As are a lot of others out there. Educate yourself before commenting.
WHS was immensely popular – perhaps too much so from MS’s point of view. A price jump of 800% is infuriating. This makes me wonder what they have up their sleeve regarding the excellent Win8 upgrade offer.
“What is your take on the change and the discontinuation of Windows Home Server?”
Did anyone actually use that monstrosity? Or any other Windows Server for that matter. Then you must have too much money.