Find resources on this page for evaluating Windows Server Essentials (formerly Windows Small Business Server).
Try Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials is a flexible, affordable, and easy-to-use server solution designed and priced for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices. Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials is an ideal first server that not only helps to reduce costs and increase productivity, but it also can be used as the primary server in a multi-server environment for small businesses.
Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials enables small businesses to protect, centralize, organize and access their applications and information from almost anywhere using virtually any device.
Windows Server 2012 Essentials resources
Windows Server 2012 Essentials is the previous verson of Windows Server Essentials.
Download Windows Server 2012 Essentials 180-Day Trial
Licensing and Pricing FAQ
Information about features, licenses, and pricing for Windows Server 2012 editions, including Windows Server 2012 Essentials (see page 14).
Evaluation Versions and Upgrade Options
This document summarizes key information about evaluation versions of Windows Server 2012 (including Windows Server 2012 Essentials), and includes information about where to obtain them, the limits on their use, and how to convert them to full retail versions.
Virtual Lab
Experience Windows Server 2012 Essentials firsthand in this virtual lab, where you will learn how to work with Microsoft Office 365 mailboxes, create a user account for a new employee, join a computer to the network, extend storage capacity, monitor the health and protect the data of the network environment, and remotely access the Windows Server 2012 Essentials server when away from the office.
Technical Documentation
This library provides the core content that you need to install, migrate, manage, use, and troubleshoot Windows Server 2012 Essentials.
System Requirements
This page defines the recommended minimum hardware requirements for Windows Server 2012 Essentials as well as additional hardware and software requirements for the server.
Windows Server 2012 Evaluation Guide
This evaluation guide is designed to help you understand the design goals, feature set, and implementation for Windows Server 2012. For information about Windows Server 2012 Essentials, see the Windows Server 2012 Edition Overview (page 172).
What's New
Review this datasheet to find out what's new in Windows Server 2012 Essentials.
