WSEE for Windows Server 2025 Essentials?
I have a Windows 2016 Essentials Server that is dying. I am going to be buying a new server and want to get Windows Server 2025 Essentials (the newest Server OS for my small business), but I don’t want to loose the WSEE, especially the client computer backup and remote access gateway (remote access) which I rely on.
Will the latest WSEE Installer work on a Windows Server 2025 Essentials, with all functionality (including remote access)?
Let me know as I need to make a decision on whether to upgrade the OS or not really soon.
Thanks!
- John Heimann asked 2 months ago
- last edited 2 months ago
- You must log in to post comments.
I’ll start out by saying that I don’t believe there is such a thing as Windows Server 2025 Essentials. I think only Standard and Datacenter editions exist for Windows Server 2025 (but even if it does happen to exist, it would most likely be just like Windows Server 2022 Essentials and be an OEM only release that is simply Standard with some more restrictive licensing requirements).
That being said… Windows Server 2025 just became GA/RTM and so it’s still having a bit of growing pains IMHO. Personally, you’re probably better off just using Windows Server 2022 for the time being. Although the WSEE Installer works with Windows Server 2019, 2022, and 2025 and so it will indeed get you going with using the “Essentials bits” on Windows Server 2025 if that’s what you want to do though.
If it were me, I’d set up a couple of Virtual Machines (running Windows Server 2022 and Windows Server 2022) and see which one works best for you before you actually move everything you have over to production hardware.
Lastly, please remember that Microsoft only supports the Windows Server Essentials Experience (WSEE) on Windows Server 2016 and its (extended) support period will be coming to an end on January 12, 2027. Of course the WSEE Installer will allow you to install WSEE on 2019, 2022, or 2025, but it will be fully unsupported when you go that route (i.e. so you’ll be completely on your own with it).
- Mike answered 2 months ago
- last edited 2 months ago
- You must log in to post comments.
Thank you for the quick reply. I think you might be right about Windows Server 2025. From what I am reading, it still has some maturing to do.
I don’t have the ability to setup VMs as I am a small shop and have very limited Azure access without additional cost. So I think I am going to go with Windows Server 2022 Essentials. It seems like a better/safer bet.
I know that all of this will be unsupported, but I am concerned with newer hardware not being supported by the older OS. I have run into that already with NIC cards on 2016.
Thanks!
- John Heimann answered 2 months ago
- last edited 2 months ago
- Sounds like a good plan then. ;- )
- You must log in to post comments.
