What you need to know about Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials (Windows Home Server 2011) release version

Yesterday, Microsoft announced that Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials is now ready for release and the process to make it available for evaluation & purchase will now start.

Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials (Windows Home Server 2011) is ideal as a first server for small businesses with up to 25 users. SBS 2011 Essentials provides a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution to help protect data, organize and access business information from virtually anywhere, support the applications needed to run a business, and quickly connect to online services for e-mail, collaboration and line-of-business applications.

Q1: When can I purchase SBS 2011 Essentials?
Ans: SBS 2011 Essentials will be made available via all channels including VL starting May 1.

Q2:What languages is SBS 2011 Essentials available in?
Ans: SBS 2011 Essentials will be released in 19 languages including Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan), Chinese (Hong Kong), Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.

Q3: When will OEMs offer SBS 2011 Essentials?
Ans: Many OEMs and System Builders have already started building specific form factors and solutions based on SBS 2011 Essentials. It’s expected to be available in the market starting May.

Q4: When will the Evaluation for SBS 2011 Essentials be made available?
Ans: The evaluation for SBS 2011 Essentials will be released in early April.

Q5: When will I be able to download SBS 2011 Essentials via my TechNet or MSDN subscription?
Ans: SBS 2011 Essentials will be made available on MSDN and TechNet also in early April.

Q6: When will I be able to download SBS 2011 Essentials via MAPs or MPN?
Ans: Further information about MPN and MAPs availability will be released early April.

Q7: What is the difference between SBS2011 Standard and SBS 2011 Essentials?
Ans: You can learn more about this at the official SBS 2011 website, and on the SBS 2011 TechNet site.

You may also want to check out, What are the new features in Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials (Windows Home Server 2011) release version (.docx)