Microsoft has officially retired its line of Small Business Server. Future versions of Small Business Server will be included in the Windows Server 2012 family of products under a new name, Windows Server 2012.

All Small Business Server products (and related CAL's) have been discontinued from the Microsoft Donations Program.

If your Small Business Server Standard Edition Software Assurance benefits are still active, your rights will be carried over to Windows Server 2012 Server Standard Edition and Exchange Server 2010 Standard Edition. In other words, you can upgrade to Windows Server 2012. 

If you have Software Assurance on Small Business Server 2011 Premium Add-on, your rights will be carried over to Windows Server 2012 Standard Edition, Exchange Server 2010 Standard Edition, and SQL Server 2012 Standard Edition.

> Read our blog on how you get Exchange 2010 working on Windows Server 2012 using Software Assurance benefits.

What Happens To Your Current Small Business Server Products?

If you have active Software Assurance on this product you will be able to upgrade to these product licenses as they become available.

SBS 2008 Standard Edition

• 1 Windows Server 2012 Standard Edition license
• 1 Exchange Server 2010 Standard Edition license

SBS 2011 Standard Edition

• 1 Windows Server 2012 Standard Edition license
• 1 Exchange Server 2010 Standard Edition license

SBS 2011 Standard Edition and Premium Add-on

• 1 Windows Server 2012 Standard Edition license
• 1 Exchange Server 2010 Standard Edition license
• 1 SQL Server 2012 Standard Edition license

More Information

Check back on our site as Microsoft releases further updates. In the meantime, check out these Microsoft resources for more information:

• Windows Small Business Server Essentials becomes Windows Server 2012 Essentials
• Windows Server 2012 Essentials FAQ
• Microsofts official announcement, July 5th, 2012 - blog post
• New to TechSoup Canada: Windows Server 2012