With fewer businesses purchasing server software a la carte, Microsoft has generally been successful with pre-packaging its multiple server products in attractive combinations. Its newest sets of options, however, take some explaining.

Just when you were getting used to the abbreviation "SMB" (small-to-medium business), comes the time Microsoft decides to divide the category...and even subdivide the divisions. At next week's launch event in Los Angeles, Microsoft will be showing off four sets of packaging options for its next generations of server software, with two pairs of packages divided among small and "mid-size" businesses.

SBS is typically purchased in the form of client access licenses (CALs), and this time is no different: CALs will be available in packages of 1, 5, 10, or 20.

Hang on, because from here on, it gets rough: For the "M" businesses among us, Microsoft will be offering what it now calls Essential Business Server 2008, using a moniker that is normally reserved for the lower tier of a marketing campaign, not the middle one. In any event, it too will be divided into Standard and Premium.

The EBS Standard edition will feature three copies of WS2K8, with two set up for the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role critical to running a domain controller or mail server. The first of those will come with System Center Essentials, and will serve as the admin unit. The second will come with Exchange Server 2007 plus Forefront Security. The third system comes with a second Exchange Server plus a ticket for the forthcoming edition of Internet Security and Acceleration Server, and that serves as the "security server."

EBS Premium, like SBS Premium, adds another copy of WS2K8 plus SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft pulls off the launches of both Premium editions, especially given that SS 2008 only just today acquired CTP status, with release to manufacturing for that product still as much as six months away.