avast! Professional Family Pack for Windows Home Server Discontinued

By on February 7, 2010 in Software, Windows Home Server

avast! anti-virus was updated last week to a brand new version, but those of you looking for an update for Windows Home Server will be disappointed… at the moment. The company has yet to update the Windows Home Server product to the 5.0 version, but have confirmed that the product will receive an update “eventually”. Client versions of the product will be updated to work with the home server edition shortly.

ALWIL, the product developer also announced that the avast! Professional Family Pack, which offered 10 client licences plus the home server anti-virus product has now been discontinued, which is another blow for Windows Home Server owners.

Two weeks ago, we released the new avast 5. Although there were some minor hiccups in the beginning, I’d say it was a fairly successful launch, and the number of avast 5 users is now quickly growing – even though we haven’t really started the official upgrade campaign yet.
As most of you already know, we released 3 new products: avast 5 Free AV, avast 5 Pro AV, and avast 5 Internet Security. However, there seems to be some confusion about what will happen with the other editions of avast. This article would like to explain the situation in a bit more detail.The three products we have released are all meant for consumer/SOHO market. In v4.8, we also have a bunch of other products. Let me explain what will happen to those, one by one.

  • avast! Server Edition (including the plug-ins) – this product will be released in v5 (or 5.1) in Summer 2010. It will be based on the new engine, and will also feature (among other things) a server-side antispam.
  • avast! WHS Edition – the v5 clients will be updated to talk to the WHS Edition shortly. On the flip side, the WHS Edition itself is expected to be also ported to the v5 engine eventually.
  • avast! Professional Family Pack wasn’t really a product but just a bundle of 10x Professional Edition + WHS Edition. The Pack is going to be discontinued, but obviously, you can still build the same functionality with the other products.

Beside these, we’re planning a few new products for 2010 but it’s probably too early to talk about these for now. Stay tuned!

avast! has traditionally been a great AV solution for Windows Home Server, and the solution I’ve always recommended but the loss of the Family Pack is disappointing.

Thanks to dancingbear for the tip.


Enjoyed this post? Share it.

If you enjoyed reading this post, then why not share it with your friends and followers?

About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
View all posts by Terry Walsh →

Sign Up for WGS Daily News

If you don't want to miss out on the latest news from We Got Served, why not subscribe to our daily digest? You'll get the day's headlines and a short summary of each news item delivered straight to your inbox each morning.

, , , , , , ,

  • Darren

    This is a real blow…I love my Avast on WHS and have always recommended it to all my friends who have WHS. Time to find something else.

  • Pingback: avast! Nicht mehr für Home Server verfügbar? : Home Server Blog

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/urmaster urmaster

    Hmm first F-Secure offers no upgrade path then Avast. Either preparation for vail or we have been abandoned -_-

    Sad…

  • Mal

    Yep, I have already moved to Microsoft Security Essentials on one of my computers, once my subscription with Avast is finished later this year I will move all of them. I hope MS will use MSE on Vail one released.

    I just appears that Avast are now selling single licenses which would result in a much higher price if you bought 10 licenses.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Jim_Clark Jim_Clark

      I have Avast free on 2 clients, MSE on 2 clients, and NOD32 on my WHS.

      My question would be: Is there a comparison review of MSE to the biggies out there yet? I am not expecting MSE to be a killer AV solution, but it would be nice to know if it holds it own against the leaders.

  • sic0048

    Make me glad I went with Windows Security Essentials after the trial period expired on my Avast WHS version.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/pterhaar Peter

    I bought the 3 yr license a year ago, so still have 2 yrs to go. Hope they update the server though. The 10 Pro licenses could be upgraded and Avast sent a replacement v5 key.

  • Michel

    Yes that a real blow talk about commitment here from a corporation.

    This is not how you build loyal customer base, I call it disappointing at least if not a money grab.

    They do a great product and after that they want to multiply the cost by a maybe 5 to 10 cost factor.

    I guess I will go with Microsoft Security Essential I am even tempted to get another security protection for the server side, anyone here that could tell me if there is comparable product for server side at same cost or even less?

  • Bill

    Terry, would you please be able to seek clarification on one thing in their press release? They say: "the v5 clients will be updated to talk to the WHS Edition shortly". Does this mean that the new Avast Free 5 will show up on the Avast tab on the WHS console (it presently reads as 'Unknown')? If it will be read by the tab, then all we'll have to do is install the new free edition on each client computer.

  • burkhome

    I have been using Avast since it was in Beta and love it. I particularly love the WHS console and ability to push out to my home computers.

    If they are going to discontinue, then I'll be in the market for a different vendor. Is there another WHS antivirus software that does a similar set up with a WHS add-in for the clients and a multi-computer license?

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/urmaster urmaster

      I don't think so. Avast was very unique like that.

  • TwinTraveller

    This is simply ridiculous…
    I'm not convinced by the statement that the WHS edition will "eventually" be upgraded. It looks like I'm stuck with an older version for the next 2 years.
    Then again, maybe this is not so bad. After doing the math that is. I paid € 158 (incl tax) for my 3 year family pack. If I want to build the equivalent products as suggested, it will cost me € 496. That's a 213% price increase! Way too expensive for a home market product.
    I will definitely be looking somewhere two years from now.

    • Michel

      Hello,

      we have discontinued a special package for Avast Home Server and PC protection at the same time.

      the current Avast Home server do not see Avast 5 right now, this will be possible when avast WHS will be updated later this year

      Best regards,

      ALWIL Software a.s. support team

      Ticket Details
      ===================
      Ticket ID: DUL-680809
      Department: [ENG] Technical support
      Priority: High
      Status: On Hold
      ________________

      No but it mean that your cost will sky rocket also :(

  • Brian

    Recent events have caused me to re-think my position on the entire WHS product and this is just another nail in the coffin.

    I got locked out of my server, $100+ US wasted, due to an updated that flagged my software as “pirated”. M$ response, what response. At least that would have been something. Now resorting to hacking into the box using the penguin software. Now this, I have a one year license that expires this fall and I won’t be considering avast on any of my machines.

    Not getting much support here folks.

    • Dave

      @ Brian

      If MS have already banned your key why not just crack your WHS? Not like you’ve anything to lose anymore.

      I’m not to concerned about the lack of care from Avast, all my desktops have been lisenced by keygen for years now and I’m still using the WHS edition in 30 day trail mode and will be till sometime in 2012 ;) . Honestly I can’t believe how easy it is to not pay for a great piece of anti-virus software.

  • EddyKilowatt

    Thinking that this means Microsoft Security Essentials is coming to WHS, or at least that Avast is afraid that it will, so they're not investing in a 5.0 version for us.

    I hope it is something like that… it would be a drag to be left without AV. I haven't implemented AV on my new server yet, but plan to before I turn on Remote Access and open up my firewall.

    Bad timing, this…

  • Michel

    Brian what you do you mean you are not getting support here form us?

    My setup is a home build window home serve with a OEM RTM I am using X/Files Edition for the Server side made by Drasha with the RTM key that I have paid and it work like a charm.

    I am not complaining about my setup as it work very well and with the PC restore side again modify by Drasha I am in even with windows home server, you are not gving us much element to support you, if an update flag your software as pirate you should contact Microsoft and they give free support when it come to update that fail but from your answer you are telling us that you did not get support or is that support is not offer to you?

    Anyway I am sure many "folks" here that are enthusiast would like to help you and by the way Microsoft is not M$ because on that plan Apple is not free also I say that because you put a Dollars sign after the M like it is evil to make money?

    Michel

  • Rob

    Sorry, I must have missed the announcement from Alwil saying they were stopping updates to Avast and quiting the anti-virus market, I thought they had only announced a new version of the client software and the stopping of a popular family bundle…

    • Michel

      No one are saying other then that in the lead?

      We are talking about the disappearance of the family bundle nothing else as we are well aware of that they still support WHS.

  • Disappointed

    Bought 3 years of Avast WHS on Sep 09 as it was a good deal… but not looking like such a good deal now :-(

  • DrewE

    To all it may concern,

    I contacted Avast.com through their e-mail account sales@avast.com and asked them about the current status and the future of their Anti Virus products because I would also like to check this out BUT if it does not have a future or good support then I would not.

    Here is their answer:
    Thank you for your interest in avast! antivirus products.

    Let me just inform you that we are still supporting, and we will support avast! Windows Home Server. This product is fully compatible with avast! 4.8 Professional Edition. Currently, we are working on the new update of avast! 5.0 version, that will support also the current version of avast! WHS Edition.

    Once again, the previous avast! 4.8 Professional Edition is still available and supports avast! Windows Home Server.

    If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to email me.

    Best regards,

    Iveta Paterova

    Alwil Software, a.s.
    http://www.avast.com

    If you are a current paying customer I would suggest contacting them about your problems and posting your results here so we can all see how it is progressing.

    I explicitly ask if I could post their answer and theyx said yes it was OK.

    • Michel

      DrewE

      This is not that they are not supporting the Windows Home Server, they just stopped the family pack and in my book it is the same as they are asking a huge increase in cost.

      For my part I am not going to reward a corporation as now I have to buy the server + 5 PC at $50 to $60 dollars per PC that $300 dollars right there without the server cost itself.

      So I could look at easily $400 + Tax.

      I am way more tempted to go with another Anti-virus that just cover WHS and get all the PC with MS Security Essential.

      I already posted on their forum and no answer from Avast.

      I wrote to their sales dept and no answer whatsoever yet. They talk about the disappearance of the Family Pack as something trivial w/o consequence to my wallet well it does big time.

      just to make sure you understand my state of mind on this subject as that answer that you posted is already posted in their news or blog as it is almost a new feature, well it is not for me.

      Just to make sure we are clear on that.

      • DrewE

        Hi Michel,

        I would feel just like you had I purchased that Family Pack of 10 licenses then seeing that an update costs MORE that my WHS system itself I would also think twice about it also.

        That is what is great about sites like this one. We user can communicate with each other and share ALL of our experiences with each other in the RAW. (The good and the BAD)

        I had also told the people a Avast that they need to keep a watch on the WHS blog sites to make sure they are not disappointing their customers. Some companies have to learn the hard way about customer relations. Ashton-Tate the original dBase company lost EVERYTHING because they lost the understanding for their products. Lets hope that Avast does NOT go that far. But if they do, they did it to themselves. Someone else will hopefully come around and provide a product that does what we need in the WHS area.

        Most of the Anti-Virus people do not understand the potential here. Some are waiting for the market to get bigger before they do anything even though they current DO have server products. They also don't understand that the better software and support that they COULD provide will help this market to grow to what it is that they would like to see.

        As you know in today's world security needs to be number one or else you are toast.

        • Michel

          Hi DrewE,

          Totaly agree with your above statement.

          Here there answer to me also:

          Hello,

          we have discontinued a special package for Avast Home Server and PC protection at the same time.

          the current Avast Home server do not see Avast 5 right now, this will be possible when avast WHS will be updated later this year

          Best regards,

          ALWIL Software a.s. support team

          Ticket Details
          ===================
          Ticket ID: DUL-680809
          Department: [ENG] Technical support
          Priority: High
          Status: On Hold

          So see they don't deny my dilemma or even try to explain it.

          They just telling me pay more and that it period end of the story.

          Well I will investigate for only server side here.

          Anyone that could tell if there is a good product for the server for WHS I do not care anymore about monitoring of my other PC although it would be nice but not required.

          Right now I am trying to vote with my wallet people nothing more.

          If I buy again Avast, it is like hi thank you to screw my this year forecast for expense.

          How about we start to try to get a rebate like oh you are member of wegotserved website so we are giving you a great reduction in price or our "special package"

          Anyone here or Terry maybe could approach the software maker and start to ask if they could special link here with rebate at the end of the subscription?

          Michel

          • Rob

            Ah, I see what your angle is now!

            I think we ought to start putting pressure on that they continue the family pack offer, or at the very least allow people who bought the original to renew their licenses with a similar offer.

            I still think that they might have withdrawn the offer because at the moment the v5 clients aren't compatible with the v4.8 WHS version, didn't the 4.8 server have something to do with licensing the 4.8 clients?

          • http://intensedebate.com/people/urmaster urmaster

            Agreed we just have to hope the offer is resumed when v5 is re-released

  • Rob

    Most posts are asking about alternatives to the Avast WHS, why not just stick with Avast WHS and start using the free client?

  • Pingback: The avast! WHS Edition Update « MS Windows Home Server

  • famousdavis

    Well, let's hope that if Avast upgrades their software to v5, it goes better for those of you who have the older version. I was, until this past weekend, using McAfee's a/v for WHS – I just bought the license to use the software that came with my Acer server. However, after the auto-upgrade, McAfee stopped updating its virus files! Two weeks later, my server began complaining about it. Manual update? Won't work. The I tried uninstalling/reinstalling per McAfee's instructions. What a mess! It *totally* hosed my server! I had to restore it all day Saturday, and then immediately loaded Avast for WHS as an alternative.

    I'm not sure why everyone is so up-in-arms over not having immediate access to v5. If the 4.8 was good enough for you to buy the license in the first place, why not chill out and just let Avast upgrade the WHS edition to v5 in their own good time. Do you *really* want to be the first off the blocks to try a 5.00 release? Not me, thank you!

    • Michel

      I don't care about v5 or v6 for that matter, I only care about the family pack

  • Pingback: The Home Server Show 76 : Home Server Show

  • Pingback: The Home Server Show 76 Out Now | Using Windows Home Server

  • Larry

    Unfortunately, building up the same function with individual licenses is a LOT more expensive – maybe quadruple for my WHS plus six computers!

    And the licenses won't automatically update on each computer. So now I have to manage each computer seperately. Each time I do a new license it seems to take an hour or two for everything to get straight again between upgrades, certificates, keys, reboots, install problems, etc…. Now I get to do that for each of the computers instead of one button on the WHS console!!!

    Bring back Family Pack!!

  • ph4wks

    Has anyone heard any news on V5 of the WHS product from Avast?

    The forums are not frequented by Avast staff so its all rumour over there.

    My Licenses are about to expire :-(

  • tomally

    I guess after 2 years will have to leave avast