Download Available: Windows Server 2012 Essentials Beta

The Beta release of Windows Server 2012 Essentials (formerly Windows Small Business Server Essentials) is now available for download. Windows Server 2012 Essentials (Essentials 2012) is a flexible, affordable, and easy-to-use server solution designed and priced for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices that helps them reduce costs and be more productive. Windows Server 2012 Essentials Beta is an ideal first server, and it can also be used as the primary server in a multi-server environment for small businesses.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials Beta enables small businesses to protect, centralize, organize and access their applications and information from almost anywhere using virtually any device. Additionally, Essentials has the ability to grow as your business grows, providing an elastic solution that allows you to purchase and then perform an in-place conversion to Windows Server 2012 Standard if your business needs change over time.

Download Windows Server 2012 Essentials Beta
The links in this section correspond to files available for this download. Download the files appropriate for you.

• SBS8PrivacyStatementENU-Final.docx (105 KB) Download
• WindowsServer2012Essentials-Beta-English-Install.iso (4.0 GB) Download
• WindowsServer2012Essentials-Beta-English-Restore.iso (560.9 MB) Download

System requirements

• CPU: 64-bit 1.4 GHz single core or 1.3 GHz multi-core (minimum) to 3.1 GHz multi-core (recommended) or faster processor.
• Memory: 2 (minimum) to 8 (recommended) GB RAM or more
• Disk: 160 G disk space
• Client OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Mac OS X version 10.5 to 10.7

Source:

• Windows Server 2012 Beta Essentials
• Windows Server Blog