Microsoft today announced the availability of the Windows Server Aurora Public Preview program. “Aurora” is the code name given to a new edition of the award winning Windows Small Business Server that introduces cross-premise functionality, providing small businesses with on-premise file and print, security, backup, remote access, and identity management services, combined with optional off-premise services in the cloud.
Aurora is targeting the small business with 5 to 25 PCs and is said to provide the same high-end solutions that larger businesses enjoy but without all the costs and complexity typically associated with running an intricate IT infrastructure.
Aurora will provide a cost-effective and easy-to-use-way to simplify computing infrastructure and give customers the possibility to extend their infrastructure needs by bridging on premise functionality to the “cloud” in the form of pay-as-you-go online services, for example Microsoft Exchange Email Server or SharePoint Portal services.
For those of you interested in testing the capabilities of the platform, Microsoft today announced the availability of a preview build for testing and engineering purposes. In addition, Microsoft released the Windows Small Business Server Code Name “Aurora” Software Development Kit (SDK) which is part of the Windows Server Solutions SDK.
The SDK provides the following content:
- API references that help you understand all the API elements that can be used to extend and manage Windows Small Business Server Code Name “Aurora”
- How-to documents that help you to understand how to build add-ins
- Templates that help you build add-ins with Visual Studio 2008
- Samples that provide examples of complete add-ins
Please note that, Aurora is based on Windows Server 2008 R2 and requires 64-bit compatible hardware with a minimum 160GB hard disk drive.
More: Microsoft Connect | Download Aurora