Get started with Windows Server Essentials

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flex-wrap-wrap page-metadata-container"> <div class="margin-right-xxs"> <ul class="metadata page-metadata" data-bi-name="page info" lang="en-us" dir="ltr"><li>Article</li><li class="visibility-hidden-visual-diff"><time class="is-invisible" data-article-date aria-label="Article review date" datetime="2024-03-05T18:30:00Z" data-article-date-source="calculated">03/05/2024</time> </li><li class="contributors-holder display-none-print"> <button type="button" class="contributors-button link-button" data-bi-name="contributors">12 contributors</button> </li></ul> </div> <div id="user-feedback" class="margin-block-xxs display-none-print" data-hide-on-archived> <button id="user-feedback-button" data-test-id="conceptual-feedback-button" class="button button-sm button-clear button-primary" type="button" data-bi-name="user-feedback-button" data-user-feedback-button > <span class="icon" aria-hidden="true"> <span class="docon docon-like"></span> </span> <span>Feedback</span> </button> </div></div><nav id="center-doc-outline" class="doc-outline is-hidden-desktop display-none-print margin-bottom-sm" data-bi-name="intopic toc" aria-label="In this article"> <h2 id="ms--in-this-article" class="title is-6 margin-block-xs">In this article</h2> </nav><blockquote> <p>Applies to: Windows Server 2016 Essentials; Windows Server 2019 Essentials</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>Windows Server Essentials</strong> edition is a cloud-connected first server designed for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices. However, if you are considering installing any version of Windows Server Essentials, we would encourage you to consider <strong>Microsoft 365</strong>. For more information about moving beyond Windows Server Essentials to Microsoft 365, see <a href="what-s-new-19" data-linktype="relative-path">What's New in Windows Server 2019 Essentials</a>.</p> <div class="NOTE"> <p>Note</p> <p>Windows Server 2022 Essentials edition is only available for purchase from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and only as a product key. When you receive the Essentials edition product key from the OEM, you use it to activate the Standard edition of Windows Server 2022. However, certain editions of Windows Server 2022, including the 2022 Essentials edition, may not be compatible with certain Windows Server 2022 Standard edition features, such as Remote Desktop Services (RDS). For more information, see <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/useterms" data-linktype="external">Microsoft License Terms</a>.</p> </div> <h2 id="in-this-library">In this library</h2> <p>For information about installing, configuring, managing, using, and troubleshooting Windows Server Essentials, see the following documentation:</p> <ul> <li><p><a href="../install/install-windows-server-essentials" data-linktype="relative-path">Install Windows Server Essentials</a></p> </li> <li><p><a href="../migrate/migrate-server-data-to-windows-server-essentials" data-linktype="relative-path">Migrate Server Data to Windows Server Essentials</a></p> </li> <li><p><a href="../manage/manage-windows-server-essentials" data-linktype="relative-path">Manage Windows Server Essentials</a></p> </li> <li><p><a href="../use/use-windows-server-essentials" data-linktype="relative-path">Use Windows Server Essentials</a></p> </li> <li><p><a href="../support/support-windows-server-essentials" data-linktype="relative-path">Support Windows Server Essentials</a></p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="updates-and-downloads">Updates and downloads</h2> <ul> <li><p><a href="https://technet.microsoft.com/evalcenter/dn205288.aspx?wt.mc_id=TEC_144_1_7" data-linktype="external">Windows Server Essentials evaluation</a></p> </li> <li><p><a href="/en-us/windows-server/failover-clustering/health-service-reports" data-linktype="absolute-path">Windows Server Essentials Health Report</a></p> </li> <li><p><strong>Updates:</strong> see <a href="../support/support-windows-server-essentials" data-linktype="relative-path">Support Windows Server Essentials</a></p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="end-to-end-solution-guides">End-to-end solution guides</h2> <ul> <li><p>To learn how to centralize data storage, restrict data access permissions, and back up your data both on-premises and in the cloud, see <a href="/en-us/previous-versions/orphan-topics/ws.11/dn582043(v=ws.11)" data-linktype="absolute-path">Provide data protection in small and midsize businesses</a>.</p> </li> <li><p>To learn how to securely access business data on any Internet-connected device from any location, see <a href="/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/solutions-guidance/dn629457(v=ws.11)" data-linktype="absolute-path">Secure remote access in small and midsize businesses</a>.</p> </li> <li><p>To learn how to securely collaborate with partners and vendors, see <a href="/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/solutions-guidance/dn747893(v=ws.11)" data-linktype="absolute-path">Improve collaboration in small and midsize businesses</a>.</p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="additional-references">Additional References</h2> <ul> <li><p><a href="/en-us/windows-server/windows-server-versions" data-linktype="absolute-path">Windows Server TechNet Library</a></p> </li> <li><p><a href="/en-us/archive/blogs/sbs/" data-linktype="absolute-path">The Windows Server Essentials and Windows Small Business Server Blog</a></p> </li> <li><p><a 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