Windows 2012 Server Versions

Windows 2012 Server Versions

This article will give you a little bit of a review on the best features of each of the 4 Microsoft Windows 2012 Server versions that Microsoft has released for their Microsoft Windows 2012 Server.  As professionals, you know that before you choose a server you first must make a list of what your requirements are and that will best help you decide which server version you will need.  I will give you a brief overview of each of the server versions that you have to choose from.

Windows Server 2012 Data center Overview and Product Specs

Ok, now let’s get down to the nutty gritty of the Microsoft 2012 Servers.  The first of these that I’m going to talk about is the Data center.  This version is highly visualized for private and hybrid cloud environments. It has full windows server functionality with unlimited virtual instances.

At the center of the Microsoft Cloud OS vision, Windows Server 2012 R2 brings Microsoft’s user experience driven global-scale cloud services into your IT infrastructure with new features and enhancements such as visualization, management, storage, networking, virtual desktop infrastructure, access and information protection, the web and application platform, and more.

Windows Server 2012 R2 Data center: for highly visualized data center and cloud environments.

Features are as follows:

  • Storage
  • Networking
  • Server management and automation
  • Web and application platform
  • Access and information protection
  • Virtual desktop infrastructure

System Requirements

  • Required processor: 1 GHz or faster
  • Required memory: 2 GB
  • Required hard disk space: 20 GB available
  • Required video card: 1366 × 768 screen resolution; DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM driver

Windows Server 2012 Standard Overview and Product Specs

This version is low density or non-virtualized environments.  It has full windows server functionality with two virtual instances. With Windows Server 2012, Microsoft successfully delivers a server platform built on their experience of building and operating many of the world’s largest cloud-based services and datacenters. Whether you are setting-up a single server for your small business or constructing a major new datacenter environment, Windows Server 2012 will help you to be able to cloud-optimize your IT so you can completely meet your organization’s unique needs.

Windows Server 2012 successfully delivers excellence with Microsoft’s experience building and operating public clouds to customers running the Windows Server platform. It can help you deliver and manage a tight, secure, and cost-effective IT infrastructure–both physical and virtual. It provides a modern, open application platform for both today’s software applications and tomorrow’s hybrid cloud solutions. And it helps you provide all your users with access from almost anywhere and any device, giving them the flexibility to stay productive while on the go.

System Requirements

  • Minimal
  • Processor support: 64-bit x64 CPU
  • Speed: 1.4GHz
  • RAM: 512MB
  • SSD or HDD Space: 32GB+
  • Recommended
  • Processor support: Dual Intel Xeon E5-2620
  • RAM: 64-256GB
  • SSD or HDD Space: 480GB SSD RAID 1 or better

Windows Server 2012 Essentials Overview and Product Specs

This version is the most ideal server for small businesses, Windows Server 2012 Essentials (the latest version of Windows Small Business Server Essentials) provides a powerful and flexible solution that helps protect your business data all while allowing you to access the information you need from virtually anywhere by using almost any device. Which in turn, makes your business management easier, faster, and more productive.

If you own a small business this version is one that you are definitely going to want to look into.  It is also scalable which allows you the benefit of expanding your business without the worry of your IT infrastructure.

System Requirements

  • Systems with GPT disks are NOT supported!!!
  • CPU socket
  • Minimum
  • – 1.4 GHz (64-bit processor) or faster for single core
  • – 1.3 GHz (64-bit processor) or faster for multi-core
  • Recommended
  • – 3.1 GHz (64-bit processor) or faster multi-core
  • Memory (RAM)
  • Minimum
  • – 2 GB
  • Recommended
  • – 8 GB
  • Hard disks and available storage space
  • Minimum
  • – 160 GB hard disk with a 60 GB system partition
  • Network adapter
  • Gigabit Ethernet adapter (10/100/1000baseT PHY/MAC).
  • Internet
  • Some functionality may require Internet access (fees may apply) or a Windows Live® ID Account.
  • Supported Client operating systems
  • Windows 8, Windows 7, Macintosh OS X version 10.5 to 10.8.
  • Router
  • A router or firewall that supports IPv4 NAT.
  • Additional requirements
  • Super-VGA 800 x 600 (minimum) or 1024 × 768 (recommended) or higher-resolution monitor (headed mode only)
  • Keyboard and Microsoft® Mouse or compatible pointing device (headed mode only)
  • DVD-ROM drive
  • Supported networking configuration
  • Your server computer must be connected via a network cable to a router.
  • The router should be a UPnP-certified device, but it is not required.
  • The router should be in the 192.168.x.x subnet, but it is not required.

Windows Server 2012 Foundation Version

Windows Server 2012 Foundation is full-featured 64-bit version of Windows® Server that enables core IT resources, such as file and print sharing, remote access, and security. It provides a network foundation from which you can centrally manage settings on your computers that are based on the Windows operating system, and upon which you can run the most popular business applications. It also provides a familiar Windows user experience that helps you manage users and safeguard business information.

One benefit of this version is that the software is preinstalled on your server hardware so you don’t have to worry about spending hours installing, licensing, and configuring your business software.  This version makes things simple for you.  If you have any issues you can always call support and have them remotely set things up for you.

System Requirements

  • Minimal
  • Processor support: 64-bit x64 CPU
  • Speed: 1.4GHz
  • RAM: 512MB
  • SSD or HDD Space: 32GB+
  • Recommended
  • Processor support: Intel Xeon E3-1240 v2
  • RAM: 16-32GB
  • SSD or HDD Space: 128GB SSD RAID 1 or better

After reading this article I hope it has cleared up a few questions that you had on which server version may best fit your company.  For more information, head on over to the Microsoft website to check out all the requirements and features for yourself.  I also highly recommend that you either email Microsoft support staff, or better yet call Microsoft and they can help you choose which one would be best for you and your company

Read more

Practice Exams

Tutorial

Study Guide

Interview Questions

Resume