The Essentials Remain The Same
Just saw today that SBS 2008 and EBS 2008 will both be included in the Action Pack shipment for October. Which means the whole Windows Essentials family becomes available for what amounts to pocket change for Partners.
That rocks harder than Led Zeppelin (or Paige Boesen, seen below) for a couple of reasons.
First and foremost, the fact that EBS made the cut leaves me pleasantly surprised and even a little shocked. I wasn’t sure how MS was gonna go on that decision, but I’m glad to see their commitment to SMB fully include the M. In my experience, there is a very healthy contingent of Partners who serve mid-market companies that reside in the Action Pack space, below Certified Partner level.
Second, I’m stoked to see that Partners will be receiving both of these releases well in advance of their general availability to the public, even Software Assurance customers. Making sure Partners receive access to new products so they can discuss these releases with their customers is crucial for both Partners and MS.
Of course, I’m already seeing a smattering of whines about the fact that both the SBS and EBS versions slated to be included in the Action Pack are Standard, not Premium.
That’s a stupid complaint. The Premium editions of SBS and EBS include the following extras…
- Windows Server 2008 Standard
- SQL Server 2008 Standard
- Premium CALs (SQL 2008 CALs, really)
That’s it.
And guess what? The Action Pack already includes that same licensing, just as standalone pieces.
Since the installation routines for SBS and EBS treat the Premium technologies as standalone installations anyway, there’s really no difference. In other words, what will be included in Action Pack is as good as Premium editions, if not better.
OK OK…the purists in the audience would like me to point out that the number of SMLs for System Center Essentials included with EBS Standard is only 12, as opposed to the 15 included with EBS Premium. If you’re whining about a stinking 3 SML difference, you’re missing the jaw-dropping value of an EBS Standard license being included in the sickeningly low price of the Action Pack.
And if you’re missing that…you are the wrong line of work, my friend.
|| posted by chris under essential business server || || ||
I still haven’t gotten over the fact that Windows Server 2003 Enterprise got pulled for Windows Server 2003 Standard in the Action Pack…
The whiners should go get a TechNet Plus sub if they want the Premium edtions to play with.
The only issue that I see is if a Partner goes from 10 to 11+ users. The additional CALs required gets more expensive without a Premium SKU.
comment by Chris Knight — September 19, 2008 @ 1:04 am
[...] us in private rooms during various channel events with Guitar Hero face-off competitions (see Microsoft’s Paige Boesen and the never-speechless Chris Rue face-off here while I took the picture at WPC 2008) in an effort to expand their partner program. Now they have [...]
pingback by SBSC & MSP Buzz » Blog Archive » Spinners on a Server? Get Your Blade Pimped! — September 25, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
[...] And for anyone who wants to start whining about the SBS and EBS versions in Action Pack not being Premium Edition, talk to the hand. [...]
pingback by welcome to the funcave » Windows Essential Servers Come To Action Pack — November 16, 2008 @ 10:31 pm