Windows Server 2008 Foundation Edition

[Stephen Arnold]

I am considering ordering a new Windows server and was offered Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Foundation Edition, x64 as an available operating system. I have always purchased the full Standard Edition, but since the Foundation Edition is $500 cheaper, I am seriously considering ordering it instead.

Does anyone have advice for or against Foundation Edition? It will be running a fairly small, single application in a workgroup, so it should not need most of the "server" capabilities of the operating system.

[JoeP517]

See Server 2008 R2 editions for more information. You can download a comparison chart from a link at the bottom of the page.

Also, from Server 2008 R2 foundation

"Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is available through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) only on select single processor servers. You can purchase Windows server 2008 R2 Foundation from the listed OEMs below."

You may be able to get by with a single processor server but if its usage grows it is not going to be very useful. Even though you say "a fairly small, single application" I'd be leery of the performance.

If you really don't need most of the server capabilities why buy a server os? How many people will be accessing the application?

Joe

[Paul T]

You can do almost everything on Windows 7 that you can do on server, except run a domain. If you are a workgroup only then stick with Windows workstation.

cheers, Paul

[Stephen Arnold]

Thanks for your responses. We had some somewhat specific hardware requirements, so that is why we were sticking with server hardware. I had compared the versions at Microsoft's site and could not see any compelling reason to pay the extra $500 to get the Standard Edition. Looks like I'll stick my toes in the water and get Foundation Edition.

Thanks again!

[try119]

Server 2008R2 Foundation is easily obtained on Ebay. Does anyone know if it checks the maker of the box before it will install. In other words, can you install an HP edition on a non HP box that meets the requirements?

Also, is the experience the same as one finds in Server 2008R2 Standard (except for the inherant limitations)? Can I install the Foundation edition with Active Directory and other roles and features and use what I learn to install and support standard server installations?

[JoeP517]

Server 2008R2 Foundation is easily obtained on Ebay. Does anyone know if it checks the maker of the box before it will install. In other words, can you install an HP edition on a non HP box that meets the requirements?

Also, is the experience the same as one finds in Server 2008R2 Standard (except for the inherant limitations)? Can I install the Foundation edition with Active Directory and other roles and features and use what I learn to install and support standard server installations?

I would be leery of buying it on Ebay as it says at Server 2008 R2 Foundation:

"How To Buy Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is available through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) only on select single processor servers. You can purchase Windows server 2008 R2 Foundation from the listed OEMs below."

At Technet - introduction to Server 2008 R2 Foundation:

"Obtaining Windows Server 2008 Foundation Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is only available preinstalled on server computers. You cannot obtain installation media for Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation at retail locations."



Since it is supposed to be available only through OEMs it may be tied to a the BIOS of a specific machine. I can find nothing that says definitively either way.

Joe

[TheWizardOfAhhs]

I bought Server 2008 after calling Microsoft Licensing. Since you can only get a "branded" oem version I was curious if that could be used on a "white box" server. Ther person at Microsoft said that it would be OK to install so I ordered it up. (this was in 2010.) As it turns out I received IBM branded CD. The IBM Version failed to install on other hardware. I can confirm that Lenovo is BIOS specific as well.

All was not lost however. I researched the issue and found out how to get around the problem.
it required me to remove the BIOS compliance program.

I was able to get it installed on non-proprietary systems. It takes a while to figure it out but it works.

[JoeP517]

There are very few people at Microsoft who actually know their own licensing provisions. Either you did not talk to one who knew or they misinterpreted what you asked.
An OEM branded disc is not supposed to be resold separate from the original hardware. An OEM version is licensed only the original hardware on which it was installed. Even though there is a way around tying a CD to a BIOS that does NOT make it legal.

Joe