CNET calls the Windows Foundation Server an April fool’s joke from Microsoft. It is definitely hilarious to see the different postings all over the web about the confusion this is causing. If you are offering just an OS, how is a small business owner suppose to run its most basic infrastructure needs. Where is the email? Where is the backup? (I am not going to be picky here, even the most basic one)?
And then you limit it to OEM only? In simple words, an end user can pick it up and run it. Which is a great idea but I thought it was designed for folks that don’t have IT staff on hand? How is a dentist suppose to figure out their server needs? Is it plug and play like the Lotus Foundations Appliance? A personal touch of a VAR ensures that the product is properly installed, configured and deployed. Microsoft missed this as well. Need some friendly advice? You should have kept it simple like Lotus Foundations.
Unlike Windows Small Business Server, which comes bundled with applications, Windows Server 2008 Foundation "is only the operating system and is aimed at single-processor servers with fewer than 15 users." Small businesses need to be wary of things that sound too good to be true.
Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13846_3-10209302-62.html?tag=mncol;posts
On the other hand, folks are still confused as to what the server actually does ? Yet, some folks in the comments section seem to be blindly recommending it. If I just want to run a server to host some files, I can do that with even my home PC. Can I not?
Check out the site and enjoy a few chuckles. Atleast, folks are understanding that this is just a strategy to compete with Linux. Although, I still think that its a fail strategy and yes, I love using Microsoft Fail joke. (sorry!)
Another good post on Windows Server Foundation which states that it is primarily for the non-developed world. As far as I know, folks outside of North America are more open to different alternatives. Please correct me if I assumed wrong.
Few more links for you to enjoy:
http://www.computerworld.com/article (They ended up referencing yesterday’s post.)
Finally, because Foundation comes pre-installed on servers, companies are not allowed to re-install the operating system on other hardware, even if their original server crashes and dies. Sinkevicius said that is because Foundation server is similar to resellers’ versions of Vista or XP that come pre-installed on desktop or laptop PCs and cannot be transferred to other hardware.
windows-server-2008-foundation-call-it-a-lego-brick.aspx
harrybrelsford.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/windows-server-foundation/
