Earlier this week Microsoft made available for download Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard, and now the company has launched another offering, to accompany the taste of its new server operating system lineup that it's delivering to customers. Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium went live via the Microsoft Download Center on November 13, 2008, and was also up for grabs at no charge. Both the Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard and the Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium are trial-based releases, designed for evaluation purposes.

Microsoft is offering the two trial-based versions of server packages, which are aimed at small businesses, on the heels of the worldwide launch of Windows Small Business Server 2008, and Windows Essential Business Server 2008. The Redmond company is applauding the new products as the Dream Server, emphasizing the cost advantages for small businesses to access enterprise grade solutions.

“SBS 2008 is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of small business. The difference with small business is that they really don't have in-house IT resources to help them manage this technology, and that's really where SBS comes in. With SBS 2008, we bring the full breadth of Microsoft's enterprise-class server technologies, such as Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server, Windows SharePoint Services, and Office Live Small Business, and support for Windows Mobile devices, and we take all that technology, and we put it together in an integrated package that makes it really easy for small businesses to consume and get the benefits from these technologies,” explained Steven VanRoekel, the director of the Windows Server Solutions Team at Microsoft.

The trial version of Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium comes with an initial grace period of just 60 days. However, Windows Server 2008 can be rearmed and have the initial grace pushed back for a total evaluation period of 240 days.

Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Trial Software is available for download here.

Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard Trial Software is available for download here.