This one’s a short post. Here are the direct links to the online help sites for Windows Home Server 2011, Small Business Server 2011, and Storage Server R2 Essentials.
Windows Home Server 2011 – http://onlinehelp.microsoft.com/en-us/windowshomeserver2011
Small Business Server 2011 Essentials – http://onlinehelp.microsoft.com/en-us/sbs2011essentials/
Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials – http://onlinehelp.microsoft.com/en-us/storageserver2008r2/
Quick note for those of you that may be setting up Small Business Server 2011 Essentials servers and are using the online documentation, there is a slight error. Currently the documentation for router configuration links to the wiki article for Small Business Server Standard and the ports required for proper operation of SBS Standard.
The only ports that need to be forwarded for Small Business Server 2011 Essentials are ports 80 and 443. Although, to be honest, you don’t even need port 80. Just train users to use https:// instead of http:// to access the Remote Access website.
P.S. If you use Windows Home Server 2011 or Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials, the same port(s) need to be forwarded as well.
Yesterday, Microsoft made available for subscribers on MSDN and TechNet, Windows Home Server 2011, Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, and Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials (MSDN Only).
If you are a MSDN or TechNet subscriber, I highly recommend that you check out these releases. Please remember that MSDN and TechNet are for EVALUATION purposes only. If you like these products, please support the teams developing them, and buy them if you are going to use them in production.
Here are the hashes for the RTM releases:
Windows Home Server 2011
File Name: en_server_install_disc_windows_home_server_2011_x64_dvd_658487.iso
SHA1: A01A33EB26DE2A3E91C9C0371B549977173725F3
ISO/CRC: A1DFDE39
Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials
File Name: en_server_install_disc_windows_small_business_server_2011_essentials_x64_dvd_664391.iso
SHA1: 58FE96CD15B46107C0030713CB75A18B5FAFEF69
ISO/CRC: 1345F2EF
Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials
File Name: en_server_install_disc_windows_storage_server_essentials_2008_r2_embedded_x64_dvd_658486.iso
SHA1: 8225F23C29B3BD7C07F0E046B3E6E3AEBBE17DE1
ISO/CRC: 153960D2
To run MSCDCRC against an ISO file that you have downloaded follow these steps.
This past week, Microsoft released to manufacturing it’s “Colorado” line of products (Aurora, Vail, and Breckenridge). Aurora is now known as Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, Vail is Windows Home Server 2011, and Breckenridge is Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials.
Microsoft is committing to making each of these products available for evaluation purposes only on MSDN and TechNet in early April. Below is a brief comparison of each of the products with link to Microsoft’s datasheets.
I’m extremely excited to see these three products launch, and can’t wait to see what OEMs and ISVs come with for hardware and software on these platforms. Over the next few weeks and months I’ll be sharing more about each of these products and how then can benefit you.
| Windows Home Server 2011 | Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials | Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials | |
| User Limit | 10 Users | 25 Users | 25 Users |
| Computer Limit | 10 Computers | 25 Computers | 25 Computers |
| CPU Socket Support | 1 CPU Socket | 2 CPU Sockets | 1 CPU Socket |
| Maximum Supported RAM | 8 GB RAM | 32 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Domain Join? | None | Domain Controller | Yes |
| Data Sheet | Click Here | Click Here | Click Here |
Tom on Tech 