Windows Server Essentials Experience Role for Srnadard and Data Center Editions

[Alis_Klar]

Don't know if people have seen this already but Microsoft now allow deployment of Windows Server Essentials (formerly Small Business Server) by adding the "server Essentials Experience" role to a existing instance of Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard or Datacenter.

 

Server essentials offers among other things "Remote Web Access" which can access files on the server and Windows clients on the LAN via RDP.

 

Also you are no longer forced to use the build in Exchange server.

 

The Windows Server Essentials Experience role: These value-added features, previously only found in the Essentials edition of Windows Server, have been encapsulated into a new server role, the Windows Server Essentials Experience. This role is now available across the family of Windows Server 2012 R2 editions, including the Standard and Datacenter editions. This greatly increases the deployment scenarios that can now take advantage of these features, including in larger organizations and those with branch locations.

When deploying the role on Standard or Datacenter editions of Windows Server 2012 R2, the server is able to join a pre-existing Active Directory environment for more scalable management. The server does not have to be a domain controller. Also, because Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and Datacenter use the Windows Server Client Access License (CAL) model, you can have more than 25 users with access to the Essentials feature set (the maximum supported limit for these features being 100 users and 200 devices). For businesses beyond this size, Microsoft recommends that you use the native Windows Server management consoles.

From a licensing perspective, there are two important points to keep in mind:

 When you purchase the Standard or Datacenter editions of Windows Server 2012 R2 and use them to run the Essentials Experience role, you need Windows Server CALs for each end user. You also need Remote Desktop Service CALs (RDS CALs) for each end user that uses the Remote Access to Computers or Remote Dashboard capabilities of the Remote Web Access feature.

 The Standard or Datacenter editions of Windows Server 2012 R2 enable downgrade rights to the Essentials edition. However, the licensing terms of the edition you purchase are the ones that apply, regardless of whether or not you choose to exercise downgrade rights.

 

See for more info Try Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials | Microsoft

 

Evaluation guide http://download.microsoft.com/download/D/0/E/D0E8CC72-45D9-4457-88D0-3C9F611A4755/Windows_Server_2012_R2_Essentials_Evaluation_Guide.pdf

 

Seems pretty good if there is no additional cost other than CALs but if it works like this why not just have a remote access role? Will have to give it a try on test server.

[Alis_Klar]

Windows Server Essentials Experience Overview http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/dn280940.aspx

 

Configure DirectAccess in Server Essentials Configure DirectAccess in Windows Server Essentials

Edited January 14, 2015 by Alis_Klar

[Alis_Klar]

Here is a demo of Work Folders on iOS. Looks like it will be out sometime soon.

 

https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/Europe/2014/EM-B314

 

Demo is at ~12:00 for anyone interested in watching. The date on this is October 30, 2014 and they still haven’t released an iOS client. Really disappointing that this product hasn’t had the attention is deserves from Microsoft.

 

S'pose there's foldr

[computer_expert]

I know it mentions that after an in place upgrade from essentials, but this link states that it is only supported for up to 100 users:

 

After you transition to Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard, the user account and devices limits are removed, but the features that are unique to Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials (such as the Dashboard, Remote Web Access, and client computer backup) still remain available. However, technical limitations for these features support a maximum of 100 user accounts and 200 devices. The client computer backup functionality will support backup of up to 75 devices.

 

Also adding the essentials role will install the certification authority role too - something to bear in mind if you already have an existing CA