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Essential Business Server is no longer essential
SOFTWARE OVERLORD Microsoft announced in a blog post today that it is pulling the plug on its Essential Business Server (EBS) software that is powering a raft of mid-size businesses.
The unnamed Vole on Technet wrote, "Today, we announced the decision to streamline our server product portfolio and will discontinue future development of EBS, effective 30 June, 2010."
Have no fear, the post confidently assures us that those mid-sized businesses using ESB will not be left the lurch. The Vole claims that its EBS users are already turning to virtualisation and cloud computing to manage their businesses instead. Furthermore, it says that EBS users will be better off spending the dosh to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft System Center and the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). But it would say that, wouldn't it.
We can't help but think that, while that's fine for businesses who were thinking of deploying EBS, it's a bit of a smack in the face for existing EBS users. Covering its backside in an attempt to avoid annoying those existing EBS customers, Microsoft has also offered what it apparently considers a life line, writing, "We are going to provide a limited offer for all EBS 2008 customers. Beginning on June 30, 2010 through December 31, 2010, current EBS 2008 customers can get the individual component software from the EBS 2008 suite for free."
Knowing that businesses, hardware vendors and software developers are putting their collective weight behind cloud computing and then offering a limp and time-limited get out of jail free card for EBS punters might simply not be good enough for those who are happy with using EBS just the way they have been, but time will tell.
Thankfully the recession is just about over as local taxes, shipping and handling charges will probably apply. If you are an EBS customer you can get more information here. µ
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EBS was a strange product. Designed to be a mid-point between Small Business Server and Server Standard, it didnt seem to have any real benefits that couldnt be gained from the others. EBS was a single domain controller product (as is SBS) that allowed you to add additional physical servers to the domain but in a way that packaged together the core set - including Exchange. The price wasnt far short of the cost of the separates either.
Has Microsoft agreed that user CALs will be upgraded for free during the offer period as well? The cost of the CALs usually adds up to more than the server licenses anyway - or is that their way of getting back their money?
They will treat you like dirt, and rip you off. Just like those have brought a new laptop with a Vista too early, and couldn't get free upgrade to win7. Rip Off!
Just switch to Unix or Linux.
Yes, Microsoft's failure to support its product lines should make people hesitant to use their products (along with the security issues and having to reboot things weekly/monthly to keep things afloat). Lots of Linux alternatives available, so this would seem to be a great time to switch (along with the additional justification of a possible bonus and improved job security that can come from saving the company money on IT costs).
Lukily Debian (my favorite server distro) isn't being canned. O and it's free, and not written by Microsoft.
I never did figure out exchange! Weird piece of software.
Anybody dumb enough to invest in Micr0$ucks technology (sic) after knowing about their track record, not only has no room to whine and complain when they get (predictably) shafted, the get EXACTLY what they deserve.
Bend over and take it like man.