A version of the Windows NT operating system | |
Developer | Microsoft |
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OS family | Microsoft Windows |
Working state | Current |
Source model |
|
Released to manufacturing | August 1, 2012; 7 years ago |
General availability | September 4, 2012; 7 years ago[1] |
Latest release | 6.2 (Build 9200) / August 1, 2012; 7 years ago[2] |
Marketing target | Business |
Update method | Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services, SCCM |
Platforms | x86-64 |
Kernel type | Hybrid (Windows NT kernel) |
Default user interface | Windows shell (GUI) |
License | |
Preceded by | Windows Server 2008 R2 (2009) |
Succeeded by | Windows Server 2012 R2 (2013) |
Official website | www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server/default.aspx |
Support status | |
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Specification | Windows Server 2012 | Windows Server 2008 R2 |
---|---|---|
Physical processors[a] | 64 | 64 |
Logical processors when Hyper-V is disabled | 640 | 256 |
Logical processors when Hyper-V is enabled | 320[b] | 64 |
Memory | 4 TB | 2 TB |
Failover cluster nodes (in any single cluster) | 64 | 16 |
Processor | 1.4 GHz, x64 |
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Memory | 512 MB |
Free disk space | 32 GB (more if there is at least 16 GB of RAM) |
Specifications | Foundation[54] | Essentials | Standard | Datacenter |
---|---|---|---|---|
Distribution | OEM only | Retail, volume licensing, OEM | Retail, volume licensing, OEM | Volume licensing and OEM |
Licensing model | Per server | Per server | Per CPU pair[c] + CAL[d] | Per CPU pair[c] + CAL[d] |
Processor chip limit[47] | 1 | 2 | 64[e] | 64[e] |
Memory limit | 32 GB | 64 GB | 4 TB | 4 TB |
User limit | 15 | 25 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
File sharing limits | 1 standalone DFS root | 1 standalone DFS root | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Network Policy and Access Services limits | 50 RRAS connections and 10 IAS connections | 250 RRAS connections, 50 IAS connections, and 2 IAS Server Groups | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Remote Desktop Services limits | 50 Remote Desktop Services connections | Gateway only | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Virtualization rights | N/A | Either in 1 VM or 1 physical server, but not both at once | 2 VMs[c] | Unlimited |
Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Active Directory Federation Services | Yes[55] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Active Directory Rights Management Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Application server role | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes |
DHCP role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DNS server role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Fax server role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Print and document services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Server Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
UDDI services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Web services (Internet Information Services) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Deployment Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Powershell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Active Directory Domain Services | Must be root of forest and domain | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Active Directory Certificate Services | Certificate Authorities only | Certificate Authorities only | Yes | Yes |
Hyper-V | No | R2 onwards | Yes | Yes |
Server Core mode | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Windows Server Update Services | No | No | Yes | Yes |
The Startup tab is not present on Windows Server 2012. It is only on Windows 8.
Wikiversity has learning resources about Windows Server |