Review the system requirements to determine the minimum system requirements needed to run Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard and Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials. Windows Small Business Server 2011 supports a maximum of 75 users or devices.
Small Business Server 2011 Standard
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor: | Minimum Quad core 2 GHz 64-bit (x64) or faster for 1 socket |
| Memory: | Minimum: 8 GB Recommended: 10 GB* Maximum: 32 GB |
| Available Disk Space: | Minimum: 120 GB |
| Fax Modem: | Fax Services require fax modem |
Small Business Server 2011 Essentials
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor: | One 1.4 GHz (x64 processor) or faster Or, one 1.3 GHz dual-core |
| Memory: | Minimum: 2 GB Recommended: 4 GB Maximum: 32 GB |
| Available Disk Space: | Minimum: 160 GB |
Both Servers
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Network Card: | Ethernet network interface card |
| Internet: | Some Internet functionality may require Internet access (fees may apply) and a Windows Live ID Account. |
| Supported Client Operating Systems: | Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition SP2; Windows Vista Business and above; Windows Mobile 6.0 or later Windows Home editions and Mac PC (Leopard and above) supported for Small Business Server 2011 Essentials |
| Additional requirements: | * DVD-ROM drive * Super-VGA (800 × 600) or higher-resolution monitor * Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device Internet access (fees may apply) *may be required for non-headless installs and form factors |
Actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration and the applications and features you choose to install. Processor performance is dependent upon not only the clock frequency of the processor, but also on the number of cores and the size of the processor cache. Disk space requirements for the system partition are approximate. Additional available hard-disk space may be required if you are installing over a network.
For those planning to migrate from Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 or Windows Small Business Server 2008
A smooth migration to new software/hardware is what’s most important for small businesses. Our research shows small businesses purchase new hardware with software infrastructure upgrades. Therefore, we have focused on providing guidance, wizards, and automation for fast, easy migration to Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard on new hardware. For the migration scenario from Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 and Windows Small Business Server 2008, a manual migration will be required. Information is available on how to migrate your server to Windows Small Business Server 2008 or Windows Small Business Server 2003.
Notes:
- For a list of specific supported hardware, see the Windows Server Catalog.
- All server hardware should meet the requirements established for the Windows Server 2008 Logo Program for Systems. You can learn more about these requirements by visiting the Windows Logo Program Portal.