I wanted to know if my small office could use windows server 2008 foundation edition or do we need standard. I'm having trouble understanding the 15 user limit and 30 inbound connection limit. Below is some information about our setup. We have 1 server with 10 workstations We are currently using windows server 2000 We have a domain 4 workstations log in with unique user ids and the other log in with a generic id Our data files are stored on the server and each workstation access them. Each workstation will have several applications (quickbooks, excel, firefox, windows explorer, 2 or 3 other apps that use files stored on the server) open at the same time. Questions: According to the specs, foundation supports upto 30 SMB connections. Would the setup above fall under that? Will we be running into limits with concurrent connections? What is the difference between 15 supported users and 30 simultaneous inbound connections? Does that mean if we have 15 users each can only have 2 applications that connect to files on the server? What is the price of the upgrade if we need to change from foundation to standard?

Hi, Thank you for your post here. · According to the specs, foundation supports upto 30 SMB connections. Would the setup above fall under that? Will we be running into limits with concurrent connections? · What is the difference between 15 supported users and 30 simultaneous inbound connections? Does that mean if we have 15 users each can only have 2 applications that connect to files on the server? I think the 30 simultaneous inbound connections limit indicates the number of concurrent SMB TCP connections (port 445) that Windows Server 2008 foundation supports. When you have multiple apps accessing file share on the Windows Server 2008 server from 1 client, there will be only 1 SMB connection to the server. · What is the price of the upgrade if we need to change from foundation to standard? For more information about license & price, please you can call 1-800-426-9400 (select option 4), Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (PST) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist who will provide authoritative license advice. Worldwide customers can use the Guide to Worldwide Microsoft Licensing Sites http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/index/worldwide.asp to find contact information in their locations.

I think the 30 simultaneous inbound connections limit indicates the number of concurrent SMB TCP connections (port 445) that Windows Server 2008 foundation supports. When you have multiple apps accessing file share on the Windows Server 2008 server from 1 client, there will be only 1 SMB connection to the server. Thank you! So does that mean no matter how data intensive the applications on the client are, each client workstation can open up unlimited business applications and that only counts as 1 smb connection to the server? In a 10 workstation setup that are being used simultaneous, I should not run into the 30 SMB connection limit because I've only opened 10 SMB connections? What I've been told by an outside vendor is that applications can open multiple SMB connections and background processes on the server (anti virus, DNS, etc) also open SMB connections and that I might run into the limit. I'm a bit confused as to whether we need windows server 2008 standard or if we can get away with foundation. Saving the extra money will be helpful for our small business.

Hi, Literally, it says it is limitation on Connections not sessions. It makes me believe what I said in my last post. Try to call the Microsoft license center (free) and they will give you official answer.