The much awaited Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2011 edition has finally got its name and price tag declared by the Microsoft company. There are three different products which will be sold through all Microsoft server channels having license currently.

The Windows SBS 2011 Essential suite has been christened as Aurora and carries a price tag of $545. The product is set to be released within June 2011. Aurora is designed for the small business market. The features offered include data protection, business information management, and support for the usual business application software. It also lets you to connect with the internet services like Office 365, CRM, e-mail hosting etc. The server can host 25 clients at a time. The users need not have the client access license (CAL) to access the server.

The Windows SBS 2011 standard is coded as SBS 7 is ready to be marketed by December 2010 at a price of $1096. The server edition will be made available at the Original Equipment Manufacturers and system builders from February 2011 onwards. This is suited for small scale business firms with a maximum 75 users. The users need to have the CALs to access the server which is priced at an approximate value of $72. The server provides automatic daily backups and other internet features such as internet connectivity, e-mail, file sharing, sharing of printers, and remote access. It needs additional server license like the SBS 2008 edition.

A premium server add-on is also developed to be launched by December 2010 and is priced at $1604. The OEMs and system builders will start the sale from Feb 2011 just like the SBS 7.  The CALs are a bit too expensive  with a cost of $92. However, the server has additional unit to support SQL based applications. This also provides access to R2 technologies used in Windows server 2008 editions. The feature includes both Standard and Small business R2 technologies. The add-on can be combined with any of the former products of Microsoft.

The Client Access License offered with the SBS 2011 editions will provide access to Windows server components only. Access to SQL server requires the premium add-on CALs. The Microsoft has decided to launch two more servers coded Vail and Breckenridge. Vail is a second version of the windows based home server. Breckenridge is a developed version of Vail functioning as a data storage server. Launch dates of these products are to be finalized by the company.

The company is intending to develop an add-on model to give the consumers more flexible choices and deployment facilities thus enabling them to get additional servers based on the increasing demands.