14 DAY TRIAL // A single edition of Windows Home Server might be a thing of the past. In fact, for the next iteration of the product, Microsoft is exploring a new strategy involving a couple of flavors of Windows Home Server. As early as March 2007, Todd Headrick, the product planner for the Microsoft Windows Home Server, indicated that the Redmond company was considering a multiple edition scenario for the next major release of the home server operating system. Now, following the availability of Windows Home Server Power Pack 1, the software giant is considering the evolution options of the WHS operating system.
"Now we are back in the product planning phase and culling through all (...) suggestions," Headrick stated. "What if we had 2 versions of Windows Home Server – one for the "basic" household and one for the more "advanced" household. What should we think about using as limits for the number of users and computers for a "basic" version and for an "advanced" version?"
Headrick revealed that the Windows Home Server team was very much still in contact with consumers, and looking for input via Microsoft Connect. While the initial release of Windows Home Server was focused on a single, one-size-fits-all version designed to accommodate up to 10 computers/users, the next version of the product could offer support for households with more machines, and also come in two flavors.
"Currently, you can define 10 user accounts in the Windows Home Server Console and you can install the Windows Home Server Connector software on up to 10 home computers running Windows XP or Windows Vista," Headrick said. "A few people have submitted suggestions that we should allow for more than 10 users and/or more than 10 computers. We resolved one of these early suggestions as "Won't Fix" for the initial release of Windows Home Server. But people sometimes resubmit this as a suggestion – the latest one is here (via Connect)."
For the time being, for scenarios involving over 10 computers, Microsoft is offering Windows Small Business Server, with the 2008 edition coming up. Sill, in the future, it is possible that Windows Home Server itself will focus both on households with under 10 machines with a Basic edition, and on environments with over 10 computers with an Advanced/Premium SKU.
The English version of Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 is available for download here.