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Windows Server 2012 Operating System
The Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 server operating system was replaced in September 2012 by the successor Windows Server 2012. The editions Windows Home Server and Windows Small Business Server have been replaced by Windows Server 2012 Essentials. Windows Server 2012 is based on Windows 8 with version number 6.2, and the Windows Server 2012 R2 on Windows 8.1 with version number 6.3.
Editions of Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation
- Contains the basic funktions
- Only for OEM companies up to 15 users
- No Hyper-V support
- Limited Remote Desktop connections
Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
- Designed for small companies up to 25 users and 50 connected devices
- No Hyper-V support
- Limited Remote Desktop connections
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
- Designed for virtualized or physical environments
Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
- For data centres with focus on virtualization and Cloud environments
Windows Storage Server 2012 R2
- For OEM hardware and software storage solutions only, e.g. NAS
- Workgroup Edition
- Standard Edition
Hyper-V Server 2012 R2
- Free of charge, for virtualization usage only
Hardware for Windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft has released the minimum requirements for the new operating system. If the used hardware does not meet these requirements, the installation will terminate. If you want to use Windows Server 2012 with more than the basic features and additional features and server roles, the hardware requirements will increase accordingly.
Minimum: 1.4 ghz processor with 64 bit architecture, 512 mb RAM, 32 gb free storage space, super VGA monitor with at least 1024 x 768 pixel resolution
As a host operating system, the server supports up to 320 logical processors, 2,048 virtual processors, and up to 4 tb of physical memory.
As a virtual system, up to 64 virtual processors are supported, up to 1 tb virtual memory and 64 tb virtual disk storage. A maximum of 1,024 virtual machines can be actively started on the Datacenter server. As a cluster system, 64 nodes and 8,000 virtual machines can be actively operated.
The Windows Server 2012 was released on September 4th, 2012. Microsoft provided the trial version (RTM) of Server 2012 for software and hardware manufacturers for download on 1st August 2012 (ISO file 9200.16384.WIN8_RTM.120725-1247_X64FRE_SERVER_EVAL_EN-US-HRM_SSS_X64FREE_EN-US_DV5.ISO).
The Windows Server 2012 R2 was released on October 18th, 2013. Microsoft provided the trial version (RTM) of Server 2012 R2 for software and hardware manufacturers for download on 9th September 2012 (ISO file 9600.17050.WINBLUE_REFRESH.140317-1640_X64FRE_SERVER_EVAL_EN-US-IR3_SSS_X64FREE_EN-US_DV9.ISO).
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| Windows Server 2012, booting process | Select the language during Windows Setup | Ready for installation | Selection of the Windows Server 2012 Edition, Standard and Datacenter Edition, GUI optional |
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| License agreement | Upgrade or custom installation option | Select the target storage drive to install the operating system | Installation of Windows Server 2012 |
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| Define the administrator password | Start screen | Login screen | Windows Server 2012, Dashboard of Server Manager 6.2 |
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| View the Metro interface | Internet Explorer 10 | Occupied storage drive space on drive C: | Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Version 6.2 Build 9200 |
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| Control Panel and Settings | Administrative tools for Windows Server 2012 | Standard system informations | Windows Task-Manager with resource monitor |
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| Control elements of the Metro user interface | Windows PowerShell, commandline with Root-directory and operating system version 6.2.9200 | Standard applications at a glance | Lock screen, change user or log off, open task manager |
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| Windows Server 2012 R2, Dashboard of Server Manager 6.3 | Manage the local server within the Server Manager | Manage all servers with the Server Manager | Manage File- and Storage services |
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| Server Rollen und Features mit dem Assistenten hinzufügen | Server roles within the wizard | Select features in the wizard | Select additional features in the wizard |
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| Select additional features in the wizard | Startmenu with Metro interface | Internet Explorer 11 | Windows context menu to quickly access frequently used functions |
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| Control Panel and Settings | Administrative Tools for Windows Server 2012 R2 | Standard system informations | Windows Explorer with occupied storage drive space on drive C: |
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| Windows PowerShell, commandline with Root-directory and operating system version 6.3.9600 | Windows Task-Manager with resource monitor | Lock screen, change user or log off, open task manager |
Date - Version
Aug. 2012 - Windows Server 2012 available as RTMSept. 2012 - Windows Server 2012 launched to public, version 6.2.9200Sept. 2013 - Windows Server 2012 R2 available as RTMOct. 2013 - Windows Server 2012 R2 launched to public, version 6.3.9600