New version of Windows Server Essentials SDK

There was an issue in the SDK of a missing sample addin called ‘HostedEmail’.
Now you can find it at this location; after installing the SDK: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Server 2012
Essentials\6.2\samples\HostedEmail

See this link on how to create a Hosted Email Adapter.

You can download the new SDK here.

New website online: www.asoft.be

The website has been redesigned and is online since today!
The goal was to make it cleaner, more modern and easier to use.

Go check it out: http://www.asoft.be

Happy New Year

I wish all of you a happy New Year! Enjoy!🙂

Best Regards,
Nick

Windows Server 2012 Essentials – Health Report addin RTM

The Health Report add-in is designed to monitor the overall status of the server; it can create reports automatically.
A tab ‘Reports’ is added to the dashboard; where you can view the reports and create one manually.

There are different options to set the content of the report:

• Critical alerts and warnings
• Critical errors in the event logs
• Server Backup
• Auto-start services not running
• Updates
• Storage

You can set an email-address and a schedule for the report so that administrators can monitor the actual status of the server and react fast when an error occurs.

You can download the add-in here

Windows Server Essentials 2012 released – a nice summary of links to information

Now that Windows Server 2012 Essentials has been released; I’ve compiled a list of articles that are very handy to get started with it
The general availability is planned for 1 November; but technet & msdn users can already download the RTM version and if you want to have a try without having one of these accounts; go download the trial version here.

Windows Server Essentials Dashboard – Home

If you don’t know what Windows Server Essentials is; I suggest you go to the detailed overview and read the post from the Windows Server Team.
A summary can be found in the Windows Server Essentials FAQ document.

• Windows Server Essentials Resources
• Migrate Windows Small Business Server 2003 to Windows Server 2012 Essentials
• Migrate Windows Small Business Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 Essentials
• Migrate Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials to Windows Server 2012 Essentials
• Migrate Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard to Windows Server 2012 Essentials
• Migrate Windows Server 2008 Foundation to Windows Server 2012 Essentials
• Migrate Windows Server 2012 Essentials to New Hardware
• Transition from Windows Server 2012 Essentials to Windows Server 2012 Standard

Windows Server 2012 released!

Microsoft has release Windows Server 2012; it’s the start of something big with everything going to the Cloud and being a Cloud OS.

You can find the official blog post here.
Information on the different editions and pricing can be found here.

Together with this release, Microsoft has created a website where you can find all information; check it out here.

A trial version can be found here, check it out!

Windows Server Essentials 2012 isn’t part of this release; it’s still a Release Candidate.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials Release Candidate released…

Microsoft has released a new version of Windows Server Essentials; this is the release candidate which should be the last version before the final version.

You can download it here.

Major changes in the Release Candidate (from the SE Blog):

• Increased support for importing your own SSL certificates. Previously, customers had to do a lot of work to configure domains obtained in our domain wizard by using SSL certificates that were acquired outside of our domain wizard. We have now updated our wizard, which should make this process much simpler.
• Installation of only critical setup updates during setup. One of the things that all Microsoft teams care about is getting customers up and running as quickly as possible. With the RC release we have changed our logic to only install critical setup-related updates during setup time. This might not seem to be a big issue if you only occasionally install Windows Server 2012 Essentials, but to partners that install Windows Server 2012 Essentials often, this change will make setup faster and more predictable. Note that customers will continue to select the update strategy that they want to use after the server has been set up.
• Windows SBS Best Practices Analyzer (BPA) changes. We have updated the BPA rules to include the latest set of rules and have also made it possible to ignore specific BPA rules by using our UI.
• Office 365 changes. We have now made it easier to import existing Office 365 users into Windows Server 2012 Essentials.
• Verified DHCP supported. Windows Server 2012 Essentials supports turning on the DHCP role and setting a static IP address for the server.

If you want more information you can find it on the Server Essentials Blog.

Windows 8 has been released to manufacturing

Windows 8 has RTM’d and is now sent to OEM’s, it will be available on 15/08 for MSDN/Technet subscribers.
Now we’ll have to wait and see how home users/businesses will react to it, with its massive UI changes… will they love it or hate it…?

You can find details here.
And a post from Steven Sinofsky here.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials Localized versions

The localized versions of Windows Server Essentials are out. (Chinese (Simplified), German, French, Japanese)

You can find them here (just change the language combobox to the one you need):
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30327

Windows Server 2012 Essentials released…

It’s finally here and it has a new name…

In the past there were different products called SBS Standard, SBS Essentials, Windows Home Server.
Microsoft has tried to combine all of these and release it as one product.

There are  mixed feelings roaming the internet but the fact is that our beloved Windows Home Server is gone.
And no home user will ever pay 425$ for the Server Essentials version.

Here you can find the different editions.
There is a Server Essentials Forum to share information/ask questions.
More information on the Microsoft website.
You can download it here.

Below are a few screenshots of the new Dashboard; taken from a fresh install.
The existing version of AutoExit for WHS/SBSe can be installed and should work.

Windows Server Essentials Dashboard – Home

Windows Server Essentials Dashboard – Users

Windows Server Essentials Dashboard – Devices

Windows Server Essentials Dashboard – Storage

Windows Server Essentials Dashboard – Applications

Windows Server Essentials Dashboard – AutoExit

Windows Server Essentials Settings – General

Windows Server Essentials Settings – Media

Windows Server Essentials Settings – Anywhere Access