Microsoft Windows Small Business Server Essentials 2011 - OEM

Pros: Finally a fair price for a Microsoft Server OS, easy install

Cons: The quad core processor requirement is ridiculous. The only reason in needed to upgrade the OS for my customer was because the Software his business uses upgraded their SQL requirements thus the Win 2000 Server no longer met their requirements. So I had to also upgrade the server hardware.

Other Thoughts: If they changed the quad-core requirement they would sell a lot more upgrades

Pros: I have been running SBS2011 for 4 months and it has worked flawlessly. The "connector" software and backups worked from day 1. With a little bit of "googling", I was able to get the VPN working, and now my network drives will connect from anywhere (big plus when I travel).

Cons: I originally struggled with the $399 price, but finally bought it during a discount campaign.

It's definitely a "technical" installation and configuration process, I had to configure a USB (OPK) "headless" installation. I previously ran the EOM version of WHS-2011 and spent nearly 3 weeks figuring out that process.

I also had to spend a lot of time getting my godaddy domain and SSL working. The wizard does not still does not recognize my certificates, even though my website works perfectly.

Does no have the DNLA (streaming media) built in like WHS.

Other Thoughts: Over a year ago, I originally bought a WHS machine and then upgraded to WHS-2011. I spent most of my time cruising the blogs trying to figure out how to make it work the way I wanted it to. SBS-2011 essentials washed all my previous problems away. (makes WHS look like a failed beta).

Note to self... You get what you pay for!

Pros: it works great if you know what you are doing. If you dont well scroll down and see the others that are giving 1 egg and expect the same results

Cons: none if you know what your getting into

Other Thoughts: for those that gave 1 egg and that one guy that said it ruined 2 workstations, bios and registry, i have to call you out, I can see how a bad config on your install may cause registry problems but not bios, also invest is spelled with an I not an E, windows server will never modify bios settings nor try to flash one so it is impossible for windows server to mess up your bios. Also if you are running more that one server and you deploy this os you need to know that sbs must be the dc of your network, if you dont know what any of that means do not buy, im sick of uneducated ppl posting uneducated reviews

Pros: Lots of nice features

Cons: Not for a typical small business; as all those who praise it say, you need to be "educated," so you might not be able to do it yourself. I have not bought this 2011 version; I had 2003 version, and it was really not even beta quality. It seemed like an orphan. Based on that experience, I think there is probably some truth in the complaints here, and maybe the snooty putdowns are from MS trolls. I suffered with SBS for several years until a flood destroyed the server, and I would not reinstall it.

Other Thoughts: An example that may remain relevant, the SBS 2003 installation script gave several points where one could make a choice. If you did not accept the default, the next screen said you could not proceed, nor could you go back to change your choice -- had to reinstall from bare metal every time. Before starting installation and configuration, I bought the current SBS book from MS Press that seemed most targeted to noobs like me (and other books, too), and the MS book did not address any of the issues I had with the software. The MS knowledgebase was so vast, so seldom was relevant, and usually so hyper-technical, that there was practically no use in trying it.

Pros: I have worked in the enterprise IT field for 10 years now and have been using Microsoft product since Windows 3.1. This is a great addition to the Microsoft product line. First of all for its ease of use and secondly for the consistency that comes with running a Microsoft OS.

Cons: This is not a con but a note: Microsoft Server editions are not for a standard user. If you are not willing to learn whole new genera of computing go with home server. I use 2008 r2 on my main rack and it performance and integrates seamlessly. Please do not post if you have failed to succeed with this product because millions of others use it everyday successfully!!!

Pros: Out of the box, this gives you support for 25 users with no client packs needed. While I haven't verfied yet, microsoft claims all 25 user can use vpn and remote desktop. Microsoft further claims that all of the Windows 2008 R2 drivers should work with this OS since very little hardware provided drivers for this OS.

Cons: First, during the install you have no control over anything, there are no option to customize anything. My biggest gripe is that is selects a default hard drive layout that is netorious for problems in the future. It splits the hard drive up into two partitions, with the OS going onto a very small one. Even if you take the time to install all programs onto the larger partition, parts of those programs will end up in the default program files folder, and with all of the updates windows releases these small partitions eventually fill up causing variouse failure. How aggravating is this. Now I will have to use a wonder little linux based product to fix windows garbage and repartion the drive after an install and hope for stability since I could not do this at install.

Also, many 2008 R2 drivers do not work, and install of ms visual c++ will fail immediately which is needed for dell openmanage, which is critical if you want control over your raids without taking a profuction machine dow

Other Thoughts: With a lot of research, hacking of windows, and images taken before each major tweak, this will probably turn out to work, but if the cost of my time was factored in, It would have been better to just buy windows 2008 R2 and paid the extra money, on the plus side this OS came with a free hard drive. I immediatly sold that on the internet and recouped 80 dollars so the net cost of this OS was 320. This of course is my fault, i should have remebered you get what you pay for, I just though maybe Microsoft was offering a competivaly priced alternative the small business men and women out there!

Pros: Works great for companies with less than 25 Users. I love the built in backup capabilities, that saved us a lot of money, because we were going to deploy the Acronis backup software before we discovered SBS Essentials.

Cons: Nothing I have found so far.

Pros: Just a quick comment for several of the negative posters: Get educated and learn to build/configure properlly and you will not have a problem.

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: I'm a Network security specialist and work with all types of OS's: Linux based, Solaris, and MS to name a few. this software does what you configure it to do if you are educated and properly trained. Go get trained "same old Microsoft" poster and stop your blabbing. It is clear you are not qualified.

Pros: I took ground shipping and the product arrived the next day. The software installed and ready for customers network in less than 48 hours.

Cons: NTR

Pros: Good price, got what I wanted.

Cons: None.