From Daniel… timely in my effort to cover at least one customer and partner challenge or issue per day …
“I read the news today… EBS2008 [Windows Essential Business Server] was discontinued… what are my options?”
The news in question is from this post on the Essential Business Server blog…
Today, we announced the decision to streamline our server product portfolio and will discontinue future development of EBS, effective June 30th, 2010.
Since the launch of EBS, several changes have occurred that drove our decision to streamline our server product portfolio. First, midsize businesses are rapidly turning to technologies such as management, virtualization and cloud computing as a means to cut costs, improve efficiency, and increase competitiveness. Those capabilities are already available through other offerings, including Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft System Center and the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS).
This information is taken from the EBS 2008 FAQ page…
2008 Discontinuation of Future Development
Q. I just bought EBS 2008. Should I stop deploying it or move to another set of products?
A. There is no reason why you cannot or should not move forward and deploy it. Microsoft will continue to support EBS 2008 through the normal product lifecycle. EBS 2008 is a suite that includes several individual products, each with different support lifecycles. So support will last through 2017 for some components and through 2018 for others. For more detailed information on the lifecycle for the EBS 2008 suite, customers can go to the Microsoft Support site. If you acquired EBS 2008 with OEM hardware, contact the manufacturer of your server hardware that came with EBS 2008 for the OEM’s support policies.
Q. If I am an existing EBS 2008 customer, what happens now?
A. Your EBS 2008 product will still receive support through the normal product life cycle. Because EBS 2008 is a suite that includes several individual products, each with different support lifecycles, support will last through 2017 for some components and through 2018 for others. For more detailed information on the lifecycle for the EBS 2008 suite, customers can go to the Microsoft Support site. If you acquired EBS with OEM hardware, contact the manufacturer of your server hardware that came with EBS for the OEM’s support policies.
Next, we recognize that discontinuing EBS could result in additional cost and complexity for customers when they decide to upgrade. Because of this we are going to provide a one-time limited offer for all EBS 2008 customers. Beginning on June 30, 2010 until December 31, 2010, current EBS 2008 customers can get most of the individual component software from the suite for free (local taxes, shipping and handling charges may apply). This means EBS 2008 customers can get copies of Windows Server 2008 Standard, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Standard and Microsoft System Center Essentials 2007. To learn more about this offer, EBS customers should visit the EBS Promotions and Offers page.
Q. What are you doing for EBS Volume Licensing customers who purchased Software Assurance?
A. EBS customers who purchased Software Assurance will be able to take advantage of the same offer listed above and will also receive next versions of individual software products from the suite. For EBS 2008 Standard customers, those products include: Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, Exchange Server 2010 Standard, System Center Essentials Standard 2010 and Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010. EBS 2008 Premium customers who have purchased Software Assurance will also be entitled to SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard edition.
Q. Will I be able to purchase more CALs for EBS 2008?
A. Yes, customers can continue to purchase EBS 2008 CALs from either the Microsoft Volume Licensing program or through Microsoft partners.
Q. I have been an EBS partner, what should I recommend to my customers now?
A. Windows EBS was based off the Core IO model. Partners can still implement the Core IO model by implementing standalone products according to the capability maturity model by workload of Core IO. For more details on Core IO, please visit the Core Infrastructure page of the Partner Sales Resources site.
More Questions? You can email the team at askEBS.
Added 030510: For additional commentary and views see these posts…
Tags: Microsoft, how to, customer support, Microsoft Product List 2010, feedback, customer service, EBS 2008.
Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, how-to, customer service.
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I have to recommend the Energizer XP8000 Rechargeable Power Pack. (And no, I’m just an energizer customer, not shilling for Energizer. But in the interest of full disclosure, Microsoft and Energizer have been close, as with Microsoft managing some of the company’s IT operations as noted here.)
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Today I continue the effort 
Keith asks today…