Sneak peek into the next release of Small Business Server

What is "Cougar"?

Windows Server code name “Cougar” is the next release of Windows Small Business Server. It will be available following the release of Windows Server code name "Longhorn" and will be available as a 64-bit product only.

“Cougar” will consist of Windows Server code name “Longhorn,” Exchange Server 2007, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, SQL Server 2005, and System Center Essentials. Other “Cougar” components have not been determined.

“Cougar” is still under development and no beta code is available at this time. When more information is available about “Cougar,” you can find out about it on the Microsoft Web site. You can also subscribe to the Official SBS Blog for the latest information.

What is “Centro”?

"Centro" is built on the Windows Server "Longhorn" technologies and includes a next-generation e-mail system, next-generation management experience, and next-generation security technologies brought together into a single solution. Designed to help midsize businesses achieve greater efficiency, "Centro" will help simplify the management and deployment of the company infrastructure while facilitating greater integration, security, and automation of specific tasks.

Microsoft "Centro" is being developed to address the needs of a specific midsize business role—the overworked IT generalist. Midsize companies have anywhere from 25 to 500 PCs and only a few IT people to keep all aspects of the business running—from phones and fax machines to PCs and servers. It’s challenging for a small IT team to perform tasks across all the technologies with which they work, forcing them to be reactive rather than proactive. They don't get to spend a lot of time focusing on how to move the company IT goals forward.

"Centro" will integrate multiple technologies into a single solution that will be easier to deploy and manage. Processes that used to take hours, if not days, to accomplish will be take less time and be less complex. This simplicity will allow IT professionals to be more proactive, giving them more time to focus on their company’s IT goals and maximizing business value.

"Centro" will give partners a simple sales model that will allow them to offer their customers a single, integrated solution designed specifically for them—a solution that will bring customers significant business and IT benefits.

"Centro" is in the early stages of development, but Microsoft plans to make this solution available to customers soon after Windows Server "Longhorn" is available. As with all other products, at regular checkpoints, Microsoft will provide information broadly to customers, partners, and the industry.

Regards,

Moloy Tandon