Windows Server 2008 Foundation: What is it and Who is it for?

Posted on April 3rd, 2009 by Lisa Szpunar

Microsoft has officially announced Windows Server 2008 Foundation. This is an entry-level version of Server 2008 geared toward a very specific niche in the small business world.

Is Windows Server 2008 Foundation Right for You?

Well … unless you got to this blog post by Googling “is Windows Server 2008 Foundation right for me” then probably not. If you are reading this you are probably an IT pro or an IT pro in the making, which means you may have little use for this already installed and limited server OS. In fact bloggers (and blog commenters) are hating on Windows Server 2008 Foundation all over the internet.

OK naysayers, it’s not your cup of tea. You suggest using a Linux or Lotus product instead. But you need to realize that if you are comfortable with the word Linux then you are not the target for this product. I say that Microsoft must have made it for a reason – but who is it for?

Before we dive into who would benefit from Windows Server 2008 Foundation, let’s talk a little about what it is.

What is Windows Server 2008 Foundation?

This new version of Server 2008 is designed for a small business with 15 people or less. It can be described as being ‘lower’ than Windows Small Business Server in the Windows Server pecking order.

Windows Server 2008 Foundation is not available as software alone. It will only be available preinstalled on new servers that will go on sale in a few months. These machines can presumably cost $1000 or less with the OS included.

Microsoft has said that Server 2008 Foundation is easily upgradable to higher versions of Windows Server. However, we have been given little information about what this upgrade process will be like. Will you pay an adjusted price for the new server software? What about Client Access Licenses? Windows Server 2008 Foundation doesn’t use CALs (instead one license of the OS allows you up to 15 users).

Some functions of Windows Server 2008 Foundation are:

  • File sharing
  • Print sharing
  • Remote access
  • Web service for intranets and extranets
  • Running business applications (anything that will run on Server 2008 Standard will run on Foundation)
  • Active Directory

For more information about what it can and cannot do see Microsoft’s Windows Server 2008 Foundation information page.

So who is Windows Server 2008 Foundation for?

It is for a small business that:

  • Has less than 15 people (and will not grow above that number soon)
  • Is not currently using a server (but needs one)
  • Has no dedicated ‘IT Guy/Gal’
  • Is willing to stick with Microsoft and upgrade to a more robust Server product when the time comes
  • Wants a ‘genuine’ Windows Server product for a low cost
  • Needs to add data organization, security, and remote access

When I read the above list a bell goes off in my head that says nonprofit.  Many such organizations have limited funds and resources for a ‘real’ network infrastructure. In fact Microsoft themselves said that, through the end of September, it will donate a portion of its revenue from Windows Server Foundation to TechSoup.org and Telecentre.org, two groups that help bring technology to nonprofit organizations.

So it looks like there is a niche out there for Windows Server 2008 Foundation. Very small businesses or not for profit organizations with little time or money for technology can greatly benefit from this new product. The real test comes 4 or 5 months from now when the first of these machines are implemented and running …

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6 Responses to “Windows Server 2008 Foundation: What is it and Who is it for?”

  • Bilal Jaffery Says:

    April 3rd, 2009 at 2:23 pm

    For the record, IBM’s Lotus Foundations does not require knowledge of Linux to install, setup and run. In fact, it is a full plug and play solution which you can install in around 30 minutes!

    Plus, you can scale it anywhere from 1 to 500 users!

    Think of it like using Apple’s OS, unix underneath but you don’t get to see it unless if you really want to poke inside. Give it a try and let me know what you think of it.

    Regards,
    Bilal Jaffery

  • Bilal Jaffery Says:

    April 3rd, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    Feel free to check out the response post at http://www.bilal.ca/lotus-foundations-requires-no-linux-knowledge/

  • Allison Paul Says:

    April 3rd, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    Ok, no non-profit is going to have an IT-person either (we are not all guys by the way)! In fact, NO ONE that has only 15 users is likely to have someone that can run and configure this particularly when it does not have anything useful on it. I started using Lotus Foundations before IBM acquired the technology from Net Integration and I gotta tell you this thing is a tank. It shows up as a black box with a yellow striped on it. I plug it into the wall and an LCD gives me the IP address. Then everything is done remotely. In fact, other than dropping the appliance off I never go on site at the customer location. Unlike Windows it does not bluescreen, it even has the OS on a solid state chip so if something like a hard drive fails it keeps on running. Plus it includes EVERYTHING – mail, web, print, applications, firewall, vpn, etc. I think the bigger point is not who would use Microsoft Foundations but who would use a SERVER in a small business anymore?

  • Graham Dodge Says:

    April 3rd, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    I see MS Foundation as an entry point for organizations with a well planned upgrade path to SBS then EBS then the full blown MS server range and from that point of view MS have done a good job. My big question is why would you pay all of that money when you can have a more full-featured product that doesn’t need an upgrade path?

    Lotus Foundations Server does boatloads more than MS Foundation server and it already has the email + web server + security + etc etc already built into the product. Why would you buy the MS product? Seriously now… I am puzzled why anyone would prefer the MS value proposition. Is it because they are wary of the LFS Linux core?

    I’m a Lotus Business Partner who sells Lotus Foundations and I must admit I’m mildly ticked off with IBM over what they did. I did a one week Linux course late last year and devoted lots of practice in the office at running a SUSE Linux server. The only problem is that I can’t use those Linux skills on LFS. The entire OS is hidden behind a graphical user interface tailored specifically to run the user registration, email, web server, file management etc that comes with LFS. My hard-won Linux skills are wasted.

    So can someone give me a serious response as to why a SMB would prefer the MS product. I don’t get it.
    .

  • Lisa Says:

    April 3rd, 2009 at 3:25 pm

    Bilal Jaffery ~

    I totally agree with you that Lotus Foundations is another excellent product for companies in the same bracket as ones that would be interested in Windows Foundations. Microsoft realized that and realized they needed to have a product to compete.

    I was not trying to state that Microsoft Server 2008 Foundations is better than other products. I just wanted to point out that there is a market for it.

    I do think that Microsoft will get buyers at this level because the kind of organizations that Windows Foundations is aimed at might not have an IT person or money to get a consultant. They are going to go with the Microsoft product because of name recognition. They want a Microsoft ‘foundation’ (pun totally intended) to grow with.

    How painless and inexpensive the upgrade process will be the real test to see if MS’s Foundation product will really hold up.

    Thanks for your comments and response blog!

    Lisa

  • Lotus Foundations does not require Linux knowledge. My response to Windows Server HQ Blog post. | Web 2.0, SMB & Lotus Foundations Says:

    April 3rd, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    [...] read an very interesting blog post over at Windows Server HQ Blog by Lisa Szpunar . In fact bloggers (and blog commenters) are hating [...]

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