As you may know from previous posts, The Full Circle (www.thefullcircle.com) have more UK customer deployments of the new release of Microsoft’s Windows Small Business Server 2011 than any other UK partner, but thus far we’ve only been able to talk about the Standard version of the product until now..
We have two UK deployments of the Standard version of the product and one of the Essentials version, which today became available to download in final release / RTM form.
Redmond Good Morning release for Europe’s Good Evening!
Today at 18:00 BST / 09:00 PST Microsoft made available the final release code evaluation version of Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2011 Essentials RTM available to download as a trial from TechNet or as full product through the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN).
Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials
(formally Windows Small Business Server Code Name “Aurora”) is ideal as a first server for small businesses, providing 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 such as Office 365, hosted e-mail, collaboration and CRM. Windows SBS 2011 Essentials can be used by up to 25 users, requiring no CALs for user access.
"Built on Windows Server 2008 R2, SBS Essentials is an agile new product designed and priced as a solution for businesses that have fewer than 25 users and don’t have a client/server network in place. SBS Essentials gives small business customers an easy way to get their infrastructure in place using our simple-to-deploy server. At the same time, SBS Essentials ensures that business-critical data is regularly and automatically backed up, the health of the network is actively monitored, and users and computer management are easy and straightforward. In addition the comprehensive extensibility built into the product makes it easy to take advantage of a wide variety of cloud services and third-party additions."
The evaluation copy will be valid for up to 180 days, and you fully activate it to a full version with a product key anytime within the evaluation period.
The product will be available through all channels, including Volume Licensing, starting May 1. Many OEMs and System Builders have already started building specific form factors and solutions based on SBS 2011 Essentials which will start becoming available in the market in May.
Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2011 Essentials is available on Microsoft.com beginning today. Also TechNet and MSDN subscribers will access to the download starting today as well.
Here’re the file locations and verification details from MSDN:
Server Install Disc: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials (x64) – DVD (English)
File Name: en_server_install_disc_windows_small_business_server_2011_essentials_x64_dvd_664391.iso
Date Published (UTC): 4/5/2011 9:20:23 AM
Last Updated (UTC): 4/5/2011 9:20:23 AM
SHA1: 58FE96CD15B46107C0030713CB75A18B5FAFEF69
ISO/CRC: 1345F2EF
Client Restore Disc: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials (x86 and x64) – CD (English)
File Name: en_client_restore_disc_windows_small_business_server_2011_essentials_x86_x64_cd_664348.iso
Date Published (UTC): 4/5/2011 9:20:19 AM
Last Updated (UTC): 4/5/2011 9:20:19 AM
SHA1: 678403787D1E364F65FF5BF27D3988C52792F132
ISO/CRC: 5B5589BB
Windows Home Server 2011 release code is out too! 
(not surprising as shares same code-base..)
Our download started an hour ago or so, and we couldn’t help but take a look at the release code of Windows Home Server also.. see our other posts on Home Server @ http://blog.thefullcircle.com/category/microsoft/windows-home-server/
We’ll be blogging more on the final RTM deployment of both these exciting products in the coming days..