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Windows Server

Developer	Microsoft
Source model	Closed-source Source-available (through Shared Source Initiative)
Initial release	July 27, 1993; 30 years ago
Latest release	2022 (10.0.20348.1906) / August 8, 2023; 50 days ago[1]
Latest preview	vNext (10.0.25931) / August 16, 2023; 42 days ago[2]
Update method	Windows Update Windows Server Update Services Configuration Manager Docker Hub Intune
Default user interface	Windows shell PowerShell Windows Admin Center
License	Trialware, SaaS, or volume licensing
Official website	www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server

Windows Server (formerly Windows NT Server) is a group of operating systems (OS) for servers that Microsoft has been developing since 1993. The first OS that was released for this platform is Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server. With the release of Windows Server 2003, the brand name was changed to Windows Server. The latest release of Windows Server is Windows Server 2022, which was released in 2021.

Microsoft’s history of developing operating systems for servers goes back to Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server. Windows 2000 Server is the first OS to include Active Directory, DNS Server, DHCP Server, and Group Policy.

Members[edit]

Main releases[edit]

Main releases include:

• Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server (July 1993)
• Windows NT Server 3.5 (September 1994)
• Windows NT Server 3.51 (May 1995)
• Windows NT 4.0 Server (July 1996)
• Windows 2000 Server (December 1999)
• Windows Server 2003 (April 2003)^[3]
• Windows Server 2003 R2 (December 2005)^[4]
• Windows Server 2008 (February 2008)^[5]
• Windows Server 2008 R2 (October 2009)^[6]
• Windows Server 2012 (September 2012)^[7]
• Windows Server 2012 R2 (October 2013)^[8]
• Windows Server 2016 (October 2016)^[9]
• Windows Server 2019 (October 2018)^[10]
• Windows Server 2022 (August 2021)^[11]

Traditionally, Microsoft supports Windows Server for 10 years, with five years of mainstream support and an additional five years of extended support. These releases also offer a complete desktop experience. Starting with Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Core and Nano Server configurations were made available to reduce the OS footprint.^[12][13] Between 2015 and 2021, Microsoft referred to these releases as «long-term support» releases to set them apart from semi-annual releases (see below.)

For sixteen years, Microsoft released a major version of Windows Server every four years, with one minor version released two years after a major release. The minor versions had an «R2» suffix in their names. In October 2018, Microsoft broke this tradition with the release of Windows Server 2019, which should have been «Windows Server 2016 R2». Windows Server 2022 is also a minor upgrade over its predecessor.^[14][15]

Branded releases[edit]

Certain editions of Windows Server have a customized name:

• Windows Storage Server (editions of Windows Server 2003 through 2016; editions of Windows Server IoT 2019 and its successors)^[16][17][18]
• Windows HPC Server 2008
• Windows HPC Server 2008 R2
• Windows Home Server (an edition of Windows Server 2003)
• Windows Home Server 2011 (an edition of Windows Server 2008 R2)
• Hyper-V Server (a discontinued,^[19] freeware edition of Windows Server 2008 through 2019)^[20]
• Windows MultiPoint Server
• Windows Server Essentials^[21][22]
• Windows Essential Business Server (discontinued)^[23]
• Azure Stack HCI (an edition of Windows Server 2019 and later)^[24]

Semi-annual releases (discontinued)[edit]

Following the release of Windows Server 2016, Microsoft attempted to mirror the lifecycle of Windows 10 in the Windows Server family, releasing new versions twice a year which were supported for 18 months. These semi-annual versions were only available as part of Microsoft subscription services, including Software Assurance, Azure Marketplace, and Microsoft Visual Studio subscriptions,^[25] until their discontinuation in July 2021.^[26][25]

The semi-annual releases do not include any desktop environments. Instead, they are restricted to the Nano Server configuration installed in a Docker container,^[13][25] and the Server Core configuration, licensed only to serve as a container host.^[13][25]

Semi-annual releases include:^[27]

• Windows Server, version 1709 (unsupported as of April 9, 2019; 4 years ago)
• Windows Server, version 1803 (unsupported as of November 12, 2019; 3 years ago)
• Windows Server, version 1809 (unsupported as of November 10, 2020; 2 years ago)
• Windows Server, version 1903 (unsupported as of December 8, 2020; 2 years ago)
• Windows Server, version 1909 (unsupported as of May 11, 2021; 2 years ago)
• Windows Server, version 2004 (unsupported as of December 14, 2021; 21 months ago)
• Windows Server, version 20H2 (unsupported as of August 9, 2022; 13 months ago)^{[28][29][30][31]}

See also[edit]

• List of Microsoft Windows versions
• Microsoft Servers
• Linux range of use § Servers, mainframes and supercomputers
• NetWare
• Open Enterprise Server

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Official website

Microsoft has been making client operating systems since 1985, when Windows 1.01 was first launched. However, the first server was not released till 1993 after the introduction of New Technology (NT). Since then, 14 different versions have been released (Windows Server 2022 is the latest version available at the time of writing this post).

Windows Servers are used for enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications. Using this group of operating systems, administrators can apply and implement policies while enhancing their network’s security infrastructure.

In this post, we will discuss the different Windows Server versions, what unique feature(s) they brought, and in what order they were released.

A common misunderstanding some people have is between the Server versions and their editions. The version of the server is either denoted by integers (this naming convention is no longer used) or suffixed with its corresponding year. For example, previously, Microsoft named a server version “Windows NT 3.5” or “Windows NT 4.0.” Now, they use “Windows Server 2003” or “Windows Server 2019.”

If you are confusing this with the Server editions, click on the link to read more about it.

Windows Server Timeline

The image below illustrates when a Windows Server version was initially released. You can then continue to read below to understand how each of these is different.

Windows Server History

The table below briefly describes the important aspects of each of the Windows Server versions along with some other useful information.

Server Version	Release Year	Editions	Currently Supported	Details
Windows NT 3.1	1993	–	No	First Server version. 32-bit.
Windows NT 3.5	1994	–	No	Supports Unix and Novell Netware connectivity. Can be used with existing networks.
Windows NT 3.51	1995	–	No	Support for Windows 95 with remote software license management.
Windows NT 4.0	1996	–	No	With IIS, Server-edition Terminal, UI similar to Windows 95
Server 2000	2000	Server, Advanced Server, Datacenter Server	No	Integration with Active Directory for user authentication and support for Extensible Market Language.
Server 2003	2003	Web, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter	No	Define Server roles and features, inclusion of .NET.
Server 2003 R2	2005	Web, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter	No	With Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS), a Security configuration wizard, and improved data compression capabilities.
Server 2008	2008	Web, Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter	No	Introduced Hyper-Virtualization, Event Viewer, and Server Manager.
Server 2008 R2	2009	Web, Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter	No	64-bit OS, enhanced Group Policy implementation, with Remote Desktop Services.
Server 2012	2012	Foundation, Essentials, Standard, Datacenter	Mainstream ended, extended ending October 2023	Improved Hyper-V functionality and support added for cloud integration
Server 2012 R2	2013	Foundation, Essentials, Standard, Datacenter	Mainstream ended, extended ending October 2023	Windows PowerShell updated and improved storage management.
Server 2016	2016	Essentials, Standard, Datacenter	Mainstream ended, extended ending January 2027	Inclusion of Network Controller and Nano Server, support for containers added.
Server 2019	2018	Essentials, Standard, Datacenter	Yes	With Hyper-converged infrastructure, Advanced Threat Protection, and Windows Admin Center.
Server 2022	2021	Essentials, Standard, Datacenter, Azure edition	Yes	With Azure Arc, Storage Migration Service, support for hot-patching.

The table above briefly describes all the significant changes as well as the release details of individual Windows Server versions since Microsoft first launched the operating system back in 1993.

Let us now dig into the details of each version.

Windows Server NT Versions

Initially, Microsoft used the New Technology (NT) terminology when releasing Windows Server. Moreover, the first version ever to be released publicly wasn’t version 1, but it was 3.1.

Another thing to note is that the different editions of each version did not kick in until 2000, with Windows Server 2000. Before that, Servers were only offered as a single, standard edition.

Windows NT Server 3.1

Windows NT Server 3.1 was the first Server by Microsoft. This was an operating system with a 32-bit architecture that was released in 1993. This was released in 2 variants: one for Terminals and another for Servers.

The version for Servers is what evolved into the Server family which continues to date.

Windows NT Server 3.5

Microsoft then skipped directly to version 3.5. Since most networks ran Unix or Novell servers, Windows NT Server 3.5 allowed interconnectivity with these systems for convenient data transmission.

This was a major feature for the sustainability of NT Servers since they were relatively new to the market.

Windows NT Server 3.51

Windows NT Server 3.51 had the capabilities to manage computers running Windows 95 on the same network. Server 3.51 also supported the management of software licenses for client computers and update other Windows 95 machines over the network.

Windows NT Server 4.0

This Server version included a UI similar to Windows 94 and was released in 1996. This included the Internet Information Server (IIS) which was in direct competition with Apache HTTP Server.

Furthermore, Microsoft also added the Transaction Server and the Message Queue Server to improve the OS. In the end, Microsoft improved the connectivity to non-Windows systems and also created a bridge from 16-bit DOS applications so that they could interface with the 32-bit Desktop environment.

Rebranded Windows Server Versions

In 2000, Microsoft dropped the “NT” version naming convention and shifted to a year-based release name. For example, “Windows Server 2000” was released in the year 2000.

Windows Server 2000

Windows Server 2000 was a major milestone for Microsoft since many of the features are still in use today by modern versions of the Server.

Windows Server 2000 included support for XML, creation of Active Server Pages (ASP), and the use of Active Directory for user authentication. It also introduced the concept of tailored editions, which included the standard Windows Server, Microsoft released Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server.

Editions: Server, Advanced Server, Datacenter Server

Windows Server 2003

The major change in Server 2003 was the reduction of system reboot requirements after an event. Microsoft also enhanced the security features of the operating system, and this was the first time that the .NET environment was included with the Windows Server operating system.

It was also the first time a Server was able to assign server roles, enabling the operating system to be tailored to specific specialized tasks, such as a DNS server.

Editions: Web, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter

Windows Server 2003 R2

This was Revision 2 (R2) of Windows Server 2003. This allowed users with valid licenses for Server 2003 to automatically upgrade to Server 2003 R2 without any additional costs.

This version mostly focused on enhancing the security of the OS as well as the network. It introduced Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) for user authentication. The purpose of this AD extension was to enable external services to be included in the “single sign-on” permissions managed within the network.

Another improvement to this version was the Active Directory Application Mode, which improved security by creating an “arm’s length” relationship with third-party applications – it did not trust the apps that well.

Furthermore, administrators were now able to apply and implement Group Policies on other users and computers using the Security Configuration Wizard.

Editions: Web, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter

Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 was the first Server OS to include a Hyper-V virtualization system, upon which users can implement Virtual Machines (VMs) and install operating systems. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Event Viewer and the Server Manager made it easier for the administrators to troubleshoot any issues and then manage their Servers more conveniently.

Not only that, but Microsoft went a step ahead and also introduced the Core version of Windows Server 2008, which was a command line-based OS with a bare minimum User Interface (UI).

Editions: Web, Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter

Windows Server 2008 R2

This was the first Server to have a 64-bit architecture. Windows Server 2008 R2 made significant improvements to the Active Directory Group Policy implementation, with the inclusion of new policies. It also included Remote Desktop Services for the very first time on a Server OS.

Editions: Web, Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter

Windows Server 2012

Windows Server 2012 included better features for off-site server integration. This was mainly done by Microsoft so it can be integrated with cloud servers and services. Furthermore, they also updated the storage system with this OS, which was mediated by Hyper-V itself.

Not only that, but the Hyper-V virtual switch and Hyper-V Replica were also introduced in Server 2012.

Editions: Foundation, Essentials, Standard, Datacenter

Windows Server 2012 R2

This revision to Server 2012 made further improvements to the cloud integration. It also included updates to Windows PowerShell. Virtualization and storage technologies were also overhauled and the Web services were enhanced.

Editions: Foundation, Essentials, Standard, Datacenter

Windows Server 2016

Server 2012 introduced the Nano Server – a minimal, lightweight server implementation to minimize the attack surface. An encryption system was also added for Hyper-V to secure the VMs.

Another milestone for Microsoft was the support for containers.

That said, at this point, Microsoft discontinued R2 versions of the Servers as they had shifted to the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC).

Server 2016 also included the Network Controller. This enabled administrators to manage both physical as well as virtual network devices using a single console. However, this feature is only available in the Datacenter edition.

Editions: Essentials, Standard, Datacenter

Windows Server 2019

Previously known as Project Honolulu, Windows Admin Center was launched for the first time and is an integrated all-in-one console to manage your Active Directory. Integrated servers, machines, and users can also be managed using this one console only, along with services and server roles.

It also includes Hyperconvereged Infrastructure (HCI) capabilities which is a software that combines all of the basic data center elements, such as computing, storage, networking, and management, into a single software. This facility aims to obtain all the functions of a miniature data center without the additional hardware costs.

You can read more about other enhancements and improvements in our post for Server 2019.

Editions: Essentials, Standard, Datacenter

Windows Server 2022

Windows Server 2022 is the latest version of Server at the time of writing this post.

This includes Azure Arc, which is used to manage and govern on-prem servers within Microsoft Azure. Furthermore, it also includes support for hotpatching – which is installing updates without having to reboot the target PC.

Improvements to networking have also been improved by the inclusion of software-defined networking capabilities. Supports SMB over QUIC capability for safer communications. It’s designed for VPN replacement and relies on UDP and TLS 1.3 protocols for faster and safer communication.

You can read more about other enhancements and improvements in our post for Server 2022.

Editions: Essentials, Standard, Datacenter, Datacenter: Azure edition

Final Thoughts

Windows Server has come a long way since its debut in 1993. This has improved UI as well as many other functional improvements for manageability. Such improvements are the reason why Microsoft releases new versions every few years – so organizations can take advantage of the new features.

Each of these versions then had different variants, which are known as editions. You may click on the link to learn about the different editions and how they differ from one another. But it doesn’t end here.

The Datacenter and Standard editions also come with different variants – which are the Core and Desktop Experience variants.

To sum up, the complete name of a Windows Server operating system can be as such: Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Core Evaluation. This means that the version is Server 2022, the edition is Datacenter with the bare minimum UI (Core), and is the Evaluation edition and only valid for a total of 180 days since its installation.

Everyone knows the Windows desktop operating system, but Windows is also a very popular choice for server operating system (OS). In fact, there is an entire series of Windows Server OS that powers enterprise-grade applications, including support for shared services, multiple users and broad administrative tools that covers everything from applications through to enterprise networks and data storage.

Windows Server has a very long history. In fact, Microsoft started developing Windows Server in the 1980s as Microsoft developed two different types of operating systems – MS-DOS for personal, desktop use alongside a server operating system which was called Windows NT. The Microsoft engineer behind Windows NT (NT stands for New Technology) was a man called David Cutler who is the engineer that developed the kernel for Windows NT.

The plan for the Windows NT kernel was to include the right mix of reliability, speed and security so that big companies can rely on Windows NT as a server OS. This is because, before NT was released, most large companies trusted UNIX operating systems for their servers. These UNIX systems required hardware that was based on the expensive RISC architecture. In contrast, Windows NT could run on cheaper CISC or x86 computers.

Windows NT has one key feature: the ability to run applications on a symmetric multiprocessing basis. This means that applications could make use of multiple processors in a server to run much faster. Today’s NT-based operating systems are now incredibly flexible, with NT-based applications now running either in an on-premise data centre or indeed inside of Microsoft’s cloud offering – Azure.

There are plenty of unique features which are key to Windows Server. One of these are Active Directory which is an easy way to automate the management of user data alongside credentials and security and other distributed resources. Active Directory is completely interoperable with other directory services. Windows Server also includes a popular Server Manager which can be used to administrate many of the Windows Server roles, and which allows sysadmins to change the configuration of both remote and local machines.

Understanding the history of Windows Server

Windows Server, like most software products, was released with updates at regular intervals. Let’s take a look at how Windows Server progressed over the years.

1993 – the release of Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server

The first major release of Windows NT was in 1993, with a version number matching another major Microsoft operating system release of the time – Windows 3.1 So, Microsoft released the Windows NT operating system as version Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server in two different versions – one was designed for workstations (advanced desktops) while the other edition was developed for server roles.

There was a 32-bit version of Windows NT too: it was designed with an HAL – a hardware abstraction layer – and this meant that the operating system was more stable because it blocked applications from having direct access to the hardware on which the OS runs. Furthermore, companies using Windows NT 3.1 in its Advanced Server guise could use it as a domain controller which meant that it could store group access rights and access rights for users.

1994 – version 3.5 of Windows NT

In a major update Microsoft released Windows NT 3.5 in order to update important networking features including support for technologies such as Winsock as well as the ever-important TCP/IP. Networking advances included the ability of users on OS platforms that were not Microsoft-powered to be able to access applications and files stored on a Windows NT domain.

1995 – another update, this time to version 3.51

Sometimes fine-tuning an operating system can have a big pay-off. So, in 1995, Microsoft released version 3.51 of Windows NT mainly with the aim to improve performance and to reduce the amount of RAM required to run Windows NT. Further improvements included the ability to deliver services faster thanks to a networking stack which was updated.

Microsoft also helped companies that work in a mixed environment by adding more support for different types of connectivity. Now, both Netware and Windows NT servers allowed their users to be able to pick up services from their respective platforms using just one set of credentials.

1996 – a big step to Windows NT Server 4.0

Windows 95 was a big UI step for Microsoft, so the first thing to note about Windows NT 4.0 was the inclusion of the Windows 95 UI in Windows NT – alongside some of the desktop applications such as the File Explorer. In Windows NT 4.0 Microsoft also added various networking protocols so that machines that do not run on Microsoft platforms could easily make use of Windows NT resources.

Microsoft also added web capabilities by including Internet Information Server (IIS) with Windows NT 4.0. It also included a domain name server. Windows NT 4.0 also makes it easy for administrators to step through important tasks thanks to the inclusion of the Administrative Wizards in Windows NT 4.0, covering a range of actions including sharing a hard disk.

2000 – Introducing Windows Server 2000

The year 2000 was a milestone in many ways, and for Windows Server too. In the 2000 edition Microsoft added something called Active Directory – an improved directory service which makes it easy to manage and store important information on the objects on a network. Things like services, systems and indeed individual user data. Active Directory makes it much easier for sysadmins to do their job including the ability to set up data encryption, file sharing and indeed virtual private network configurations.

Other important features in Windows Server 2000 include the inclusion of the MMC (Microsoft Management Console) alongside version 3.0 of the NTFS file system and the ability for Windows Server to support dynamic disk volumes.

Note that there were three editions of Windows Server 2000: the Server edition, Advanced Server edition and a Data Centre edition. All of these were designed to work alongside the desktop version of Windows 2000 – the Windows 2000 Professional edition.

2003 – more improvements lead to Windows Server 2003

The 2003 edition of Windows Server included a renewed focus on security with big improvements over Windows 2000. IIS became popular in Windows 2000 and in the 2003 edition Microsoft focused on hardening IIS by amongst other things disabling some of the features previously activated by default and by reducing the opportunities to exploit characteristics of IIS.

In the 2003 edition Microsoft introduced the concept of server roles. In other words, a sysadmin could decide to implement a server specifically as a domain controller, or perhaps as a DNS server on the internet. The 2003 edition also included a built-in firewall alongside better encryption features, while Microsoft also added the Volume Shadow Copy Service alongside better support for NAT (network address translation). The 2003 Windows Server product offering included a Standard edition, an Enterprise edition alongside a Datacentre and Web version.

2005: a second release of Windows Server 2003

Microsoft decided pop not to release a new version number in 2005, instead opting to designate the updated Windows Server 2003 as R2 – release 2. So, Windows Server 2003 R2 is an update but it did have the benefit where companies who had already paid for Windows Server 2003 did not need to pay again to use the second release of the OS.

R2 of Windows Server 2003 included a number of new safety and security characteristics in addition to some new features. First, R2 included Active Directory Federation Services, a way for sysadmins to allow single sign on for applications that are outside of the corporate network firewall. It also included Active Directory Application Mode which is a way to store data for applications which the sysadmin considers risky, or at least not safe enough to use the main Active Directory.

Other enhancements include beefed up data compression and file replication for servers based at branch offices. R2 also included a security improvement in the shape of the Security Configuration Wizard. The wizard allows sysadmins to copy security policies across to multiple servers, ensuring these policies are applied consistently.

2008: now, a new release – Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 was a major new release for the venerable commercial server OS from Microsoft. Some of the most important features include the ability to install failover clustering, while Windows Server 2008 also included the Hyper-V virtualization software for the first time.

The 2008 edition of Windows Server also added something called Server Core, which is a stripped-down version of Windows Server 2008 that can be managed using the command line – ideal for minimal deployments. It also includes an Event Viewer plus the Server Manager console which can be used to manage and add server roles plus features on machines that are both local and remote.

In other improvements, Microsoft went and overhauled both Active Directory and the entire network stack so that Group Policy could experience important enhancements – alongside improved identity management.

Windows Server 2008 was again released in four editions: Standard, Enterprise, Web and Datacentre.

2009: an update to Windows Server 2008

Just like with Windows Server 2003 Microsoft opted for a smaller update for Windows Server 2008, calling it Windows Server 2008 R2. This time, R2 of Windows Server 2008 uses the Windows 7 kernel which Microsoft suggested had important improvements in terms of availability and scalability.

R2 in this case also included enhancements to Active Directory, this time to give better handling of user accounts and the ability to control policies with more granularity. Terminal Services was also updated with better functions, in fact it was renamed to be called RDS – Remote Desktop Services.

Furthermore R2 included some new features including DirectAccess and BranchCache which were aimed at users who work remotely, with the goal to improve how remote workers connect to the head office.

Similar to the edition that came before it, R2 of Windows Server 2008 shares security and admin functions that were included in Windows Vista, but it does mark a big departure in that it is exclusively a 64-bit operating system, not 32-bit.

2012 – bringing Windows Server 2012

Going cloud-first, Microsoft started including many cloud relevant features in the 2012 version of Windows Server. In fact, the company decided to call Windows Server 2012 the “Cloud OS”. In essence, Microsoft meant to say that with this edition companies would be more easily capable of running applications in both public and private clouds.

Furthermore, updates were made to the Hyper-V services including its virtual switch, storage spaces, replica and indeed the ReFS file system. There’s also a new default installation option – the Server Core – which requires administration via command line. However, it’s worth noting that Microsoft’s Power Shell command line included 2,300 cmdlets in the Windows Server 2012 edition, making Power Shell very capable.

Again, Windows Server 2012 comes in four editions but there has been a slight change – this time the editions are Windows Server 2012 Essentials, Foundation as well as Standard and Datacenter. Both Standard and Datacenter have the same features but there is a difference in that Standard allows an organisation to run two virtual machines whereas Datacentre edition allows for unlimited virtual machines under the license.

2013 – a quick update to R2 for Windows Server 2012

Microsoft didn’t wait long to update Windows Server 2012 to its second release – but the changes were very extensive, covering all sorts of ground from storage and networking through to virtualization and web services. Many security updates were also made.

PowerShell had a major update, the DSC or desired state configuration, which allows for consistency across the machines deployed in an organisation to combat configuration drift. Storage Spaces gained storage tiering which resulted in a boost in performance because frequently accessed blocks of data were shifted off to solid stage storage.

Finally, R2 of Windows Server 2012 includes Work Folders which lets users save and recall company files on both personal and work devices thanks to the replication of servers in the data centre of the organization that they work for.

2016 – major release in the shape of Windows Server 2016

With a three-year gap Microsoft made a change in Windows Server 2016 in the sense that companies were pushed towards making more use of the cloud. In particular, the 2016 edition included features that made migrating workloads to the cloud easier. This includes Docker containers alongside enhancements to networking.

In further progress towards minimal server deployment options Microsoft launched Nano Server partly with the intent of giving security a boost thanks to a shrunken attack vector. Microsoft said its Nano Server release is 93% smaller when compared to the full Windows Server release. Security was also boosted by the release of Hyper-V in shielded VM guise, this uses encryption to make sure that the data in a VM is not compromised.

Networking received an update too as the Network Controller was included as a key new feature that lets administrators manage the switches as well as subnets and many other devices that occur on both physical and virtual networks.

In the case of the 2016 release, Windows Server comes in Standard and Datacenter editions. In contrast to past releases, the Datacenter editions includes more than just additional license rights and usage advantages: it also includes exclusive features around storage, networking and virtualization.

2017 – watch out for a semi-annual change and service channel releases

2017 brought a different approach from Microsoft – in June 2017 the company announced that Windows Server will follow two different release channels. First, there is the semi-annual channel or SAC. Next, companies could choose the long-term servicing channel or the LTSC. This used to be known as the long-term servicing branch.

Depending on a company’s preferences the SAC might be the way to go. It is more attuned to enterprises who operate a DevOps framework where shorter lapses between feature updates are useful – and where getting the latest updates are valuable for rapid application development scenarios. SAC releases are made public every six months, typically one in spring and one in autumn. Each release will enjoy mainstream support for just 18 months.

LTSC, on the other hand, is more suited to companies who want a release cycle that delivers major updates in two to three year intervals. Likewise, support is extended thanks to a mainstream support period of five years alongside extended support which runs for another five years.

In terms of naming convention, LTSC releases will carrying on using Windows Server 20XX as the naming format but the SAC releases will use a naming format along the lines of YYMM. Microsoft does say that it will add the enhancements made to SAC releases in the coming LTSC version.

The first SAC release of Windows Server was version number 1709 which was rolled out in October 2017. Some of the enhancements in this edition included support for Linux containers, while it also added kernel isolation via Hyper-V plus a Nano Server which was refactored to be used as a base OS in a container image.

Microsoft Software Assurance is a big thing in the enterprise environment and companies which take advantage of this on Windows Server Standard or Datacenter editions (or anyone with a MSDN license) will be able to download the SAC versions that Microsoft issues from its Volume Licensing Service Centre.

Companies who do not have Software Assurance can use the latest SAC releases via Microsoft’s Azure or via another cloud hosting environment.

2019 – new container services and security features

Windows Server 2019 was announced on March 20, 2018 and brought the list of new features – container services including support for Kubernetes, support for Linux containers under Windows; Storage solutions Spaces Direct, System Insights and Storage Replica. In terms of security there were Shielded VMs, advanced Threat Protection under Windows Defender. As concerns administration – there are Windows Admin Center and SetupDiag.

Windows Server

Version of Microsoft Windows
Initial release	Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server (27 July 1993)
Latest release	Windows Server 2022 (18 August 2021)
Latest preview	Zinc (build 25346.1001) (19 April 2023)

Windows Server (formerly Windows NT Server) is a series of Microsoft Windows operating systems developed by Microsoft for server computers since July 1993. The first OS that was released in the series was Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server. With the release of Windows Server 2003, the brand name was changed to Windows Server.

Microsoft’s history of developing operating systems for server computers goes back to Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server edition. Windows 2000 Server edition was the first OS to include Active Directory, DNS Server, DHCP Server, and Group Policy.

Windows Server Core[edit source]

Windows Server Core is a variant of Windows Server without Desktop Experience. It debuted in Windows Server 2008. Originally started as a Core variant of all Server SKUs, it expanded into stand-alone SKUs like Hyper-V Server and Azure Stack HCI.

Until their discontinuation in July 2021, Windows 10-based Server versions in the «Semi-annual Channel» (now «General Availability Channel») were only available as Server Core.

Windows Server Core only features a command prompt as its user interface. While LogonUI initially still featured a graphical logon interface, it was replaced in Windows Server 2016 by a command-line login interface, which also affected the Ctrl+Alt+Del security options.

Internet Explorer is also missing in Server Core. Though there is an Internet Explorer folder in C:\Program Files, it only includes one DLL file, making web browsing hard until a third-party browser is installed. Alongside this, Windows Media Player, Server Manager, most Control Panel applets, and initially even Winver are or were also not included in Server Core. A command-line Server Manager (sconfig.cmd), based on Windows Scripting Host, was added in Windows Server 2016.

Many applications, especially graphical (GUI) programs, are incompatible with Server Core due to the absence of DLLs found in client releases of Windows.

Branded releases[edit source]

Certain versions of Windows Server have a customized name and these are often based on the main versions of Windows Server or are SKUs of the main versions. These branded releases are often targeted at specific markets:

Seperate releases[edit source]

• Small Business Server 2000 (Based on Windows 2000 Server, a version of Windows 2000 Server intended for small businesses)
• Windows Small Business Server 2003 (Based on Windows Server 2003, a version of Windows Server 2003 intended for small businesses)
• Windows Small Business Server 2008 (Based on Windows Server 2008, a version of Windows Server 2008 intended for small businesses)
• Windows Small Business Server 2011 (Based on Windows Server 2008 R2, a version of Windows Server 2008 R2 intended for small businesses)
• Windows Essential Business Server 2008 (Based on Windows Server 2008, a version of Windows Server 2008 intended for mid-size businesses)
• Windows Home Server (Based on Windows Small Business Server 2003, a home server solution intended for homes with multiple connected PCs)
• Windows Home Server 2011 (Based on Windows Server 2008 R2, a home server solution intended for homes with multiple connected PCs)
• Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 (Based on Windows Server 2008 R2, a server operating system for multiseat computing stations in educational institutions)
• Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 (Based on Windows Server 2008 R2, a server operating system for multiseat computing stations in educational institutions)
• Windows MultiPoint Server 2012 (Based on Windows Server 2012, a server operating system for multiseat computing stations in educational institutions)

SKU releases[edit source]

• Windows Storage Server (A SKU of Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2016 for network-attached storage devices)
• Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 (A SKU of Windows Server 2003 for HPC systems)
• Windows HPC Server 2008 (A SKU of Windows Server 2008 for HPC systems)
• Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 (A SKU of Windows Server 2008 R2 for HPC systems)
• Hyper-V Server (A freeware SKU of Windows Server Core from Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2019 for managing Hyper-V servers)
• Windows Server Essentials (A SKU of Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2019, replaced the standalone Home Server and Small Business Server product lines)
• Azure Stack HCI (A SKU of Windows Server Core since Windows Server 2019 for hyperconverged infrastructure integration with the Microsoft Azure cloud service, replaced the Hyper-V Server SKU)

List of Windows Server releases[edit source]

Name	Version	Code name	Release date	Support end date	Notes
Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1	3.10	Razzle	1993-07-27	2000-12-31	First release of Windows Server.
Windows NT Server 3.5	3.50	Daytona	1994-09-21	2001-12-31	—
Windows NT Server 3.51	3.51	—	1995-05-30	2002-09-30	—
Windows NT Server 4.0	4.0	Shell Update Release	1996-07-31	2004-06-30	Introduces desktop shell enhancements from Windows 95.
Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition	Hydra	1998-06-16	2006-12-31	—
Windows 2000 Server	5.0	—	2000-02-17	2010-07-13	—
Windows Server 2003	5.2	Whistler Server	2003-04-24	2015-07-14	—
Windows Small Business Server 2003	Bobcat	2003-10-09	—
Windows Home Server	Quattro	2007-11-04	2013-01-08	—
Windows Server 2008	6.0	Longhorn Server	2008-02-27	2020-01-14[a]	Development was reset in 2004.
Windows Small Business Server 2008	Cougar	2008-08-21	—
Windows Essential Business Server 2008	Centro	2008-09-15	—
Windows Server 2008 R2	6.1	Windows Server 7	2009-07-22	—
Windows MultiPoint Server 2010	Solution Server	2010-02-24	2020-07-14	—
Windows MultiPoint Server 2011	WMS 2	2011-05-12	2021-07-13	—
Windows Small Business Server 2011	SBS 7	2010-12-13	2020-01-14	—
Windows Home Server 2011	Vail	2011-04-06	2016-04-12	—
Windows Server 2012	6.2	Windows Server 8	2012-09-04	2023-10-10[b]	—
Windows MultiPoint Server 2012	WMS 3	2012-10-30	—
Windows Server 2012 R2	6.3	Server Blue	2013-10-18	—
Windows Server 2016	10.0	Redstone	2016-10-12	2027-01-11	—
Windows Server, version 1709	Redstone 3	2017-10-17	2019-04-09	First Windows Server in Semi-Annual Channel to be released
Windows Server, version 1803	Redstone 4	2018-04-30	2019-11-12	—
Windows Server 2019	Redstone 5	2018-10-02 2018-11-13 (Re-Release)	2020-11-10 (SAC) 2029-01-09 (LTSC)	—
Windows Server, version 1903	Titanium	2019-05-21	2020-12-08	—
Windows Server, version 1909	2019-11-12	2021-05-11	—
Windows Server, version 2004	Vibranium	2020-05-27	2021-12-14	—
Windows Server, version 20H2	2020-10-20	2022-08-09	Last Windows Server in Semi-Annual Channel to be released
Windows Server 2022	Iron	2021-08-18	2031-10-14	—
Legend: Never released Old version Older version, still supported Current stable version Latest preview version Future release

Notes[edit source]

From NT Server to Windows Server and all its versions, we look at all the developments for each version and explore whether you need to upgrade or not.

Servers provide services to other computers across a network and so they have a few extra requirements from their operating systems than regular PCs do. Microsoft is well known for its Windows computer operating system and it produces a special flavor of that system to support servers.

Windows Server is the leading system for managing servers and is the main rival to the Linux operating system. Microsoft has produced regular rewrites of the operating system, right up to the latest version, which is Windows Server 2019.

Windows NT Server Versions

Microsoft ran with the “NT” brand name for its commercial Windows operating system all the way through the 1990s. There were several versions of the operating system with the NT name.

Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1

The first version of the system was Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1, which was released in 1993. This was a 32-bit system, which came in a version for terminals and another for servers. The server version is what evolved into the Windows Server family of products. The split out of a specialist server version of the operating system from the standard NT version explains why there never was a Windows NT Server version 1.

Windows NT Server 3.5

In 1994, the company introduced Windows Server 3.5. This allowed interconnectivity with Unix systems and Novell Netware. At the time, Windows Server was the newcomer in the marketplace and most networks ran on Unix or Novell servers. So, compatibility with those two systems was essential if Windows Server was ever going to be adopted by businesses with networks.

Windows NT Server 3.51

In 1995, Microsoft greatly improved its PC Windows interface with Windows 95. The company also produced Windows NT Server 3.51 to manage computers running Windows 95. The server system gained the capability to manage software licenses for client computers and also install and update Windows 95 and operating system elements over the network.

Windows NT Server 4.0

Windows NT Server didn’t get the look and feel of the Windows 95 interface until 1996 with the release of Windows NT Server 4.0. This version of the operating system included IIS 2.0 for free. Internet Information Server (IIS) is Microsoft’s Web server system, which today is the leading Web server software globally, with Apache HTTP Server as a close rival. IIS only overtook Apache as the most widely-installed Web server in 2018, so it has taken Microsoft 22 years since it started including IIS for free to knock the free Apache system off the top spot.

The increased complexity of networks was reflected in enhancements to Windows NT Server through added service packs and the creation of Windows NT Server Enterprise in 1997. These improvements included the integration of public key encryption services and operating system management for server clusters. Two other additions that took account of interactions with possibly congested networks were Transaction Server and Message Queue Server.

The last enhancement to Windows NT Server came with Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition in 1998. This improved connectivity to non-Windows systems and also created a bridge from 16-bit DOS applications so that they could interface with the 32-bit Desktop environment.

The Development History of Windows Server

Microsoft dropped the “NT” brand in the year 2000 with the release of Windows Server 2000. From then on, the version names of Windows Server came from the year that each edition was released.

Windows Server 2000

The enhancements that came with Windows Server gave the operating system many of the features that we still use today. These included support for XML, the creation of Active Server Pages (ASP), and the use of Active Directory for user authentication. The Windows Server 2000 operating system also introduced the concept of tailored versions, as well as the standard Windows Server, Microsoft released Advanced Server and Datacenter Server.

Windows Server 2003

A rewrite of the server system that was released as Windows Server 2003 aimed to reduce the events that would require a system reboot. It was possible to install patches and software updates on the fly without having to restart the system. The company also enhanced the security features of the operating system and this was the first time that the .NET environment was included with the Windows Server operating system.

The 2003 version of Windows included the concept of server roles, enabling the operating system to be tailored to specific specialized tasks, such as a DNS server. As well as the Standard, Advanced, and Datacenter versions, Microsoft produced the Windows Server 2003 Web Edition. A short while after releasing Windows Server 2003, Microsoft produced an update which converted the system to a 64-bit program environment.

Windows Server 2003 R2

Windows Server 2003 R2 came out in 2005. Customers who had already bought Windows Server 2003 were allowed access to this new version for free. All Windows Server 2003 sales from the release of this version, were actually Windows Server 2003 R2.

The improvements to the Windows Server system that appeared with R2 focused on security issues. User authentication was based on Active Directory and still is to this date. However, Microsoft developed an extra feature for this authentication system and that was bundled into R2. This new feature was the Active Directory Federation Services. The purpose of this AD extension was to enable external services to be included in the “single sign on” permissions managed within the network.

Another Active Directory upgrade was the Active Directory Application Mode, which created an “arm’s length” relationship with third-party applications. This enabled them to be accessed with users that were verified through AD without directly including the authentication procedures of that software into AD.

The R2 package also made it possible to set security policies for groups of machines through the Security Configuration Wizard. Other R2 improvements included better data compression for files and transfers and replication procedures for multi-site WANs.

Windows Server 2008

The next version of Windows Server took three years to get ready and it included another enhancement to Active Directory. The company also made some fundamental changes to how network services interacted with the software support features of the operating system.

A big gain for Windows Server users in this version was the inclusion of Microsoft’s Hyper-V virtualization system. This decision may have been taken in order to enhance the company’s competitiveness in this field, which has become a growing requirement in IT management. If system administrators already have Hyper-V installed why go to the expense of bringing in a rival VM system?

Other new utilities bundled into Windows Server 2008 were Event Viewer and Server Manager. These were useful system administration tools that enabled administrators to get better control over the activities of the server.

Server Core was an increasingly important product of Microsoft. It was the bare version of the Windows Server software and it allowed command-line access. It can be run without the familiar GUI Desktop of the Windows environment and appealed more to systems administrators who were more comfortable with the command line environments that they used on Unix and Linux.

There are four editions of Windows Server 2008: Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, and Web.

Related post: Best Hyper-V Monitoring Tools

Windows Server 2008 R2

First made available in 2009, Windows Server 2008 R2 is still in use today. Most of the changes that distinguish this from the original Windows Server 2008 were technical and occurred in the underlying supporting services. Up to this point, Windows Server products were based on Windows Vista. Windows Server 2008 R2 has a Windows 7 heart. So, that takes the program execution system up to a 64-bit environment.

This version of Windows Server saw some more changes in Active Directory to improve group policy implementation and a few new services appeared. These included Remote Desktop Services (RDS) which was a repackaging of Terminal Services. BranchCache and DirectAccess also appeared in this version of Windows Server to improve access to the server from users at remote locations.

Windows Server 2012

By 2012, Microsoft was going all out to win in the Cloud, so it added features to Windows Server to enable better interaction with off-site services. The company marketed Windows Server 2012 as “Cloud OS.” This probably was the ultimate goal of the inclusion of Hyper- V in the Windows Server 2008 version.

All of the improvements to the Windows Server system in this version focused on getting the integrated Hyper-V into shape to make Cloud resources as easy to integrate into onsite delivery as local hosts. The storage system, mediated by Hyper-V was also updated in this version. The Hyper-V virtual switch and Hyper-V Replica were included in this release to enhance the uptake of hybrid network strategies.

Both PowerShell and Server Core grew in importance with this release.

There were four editions of Windows Server 2012: Essentials, Foundation, Standard, and Datacenter. The Essentials edition was aimed at small businesses.

Windows Server 2012 R2

This revision to Windows Server 2012 was released in 2013. The composition of the operating system saw the use of PowerShell extended even further. Microsoft continued its aim to provide better server functions onsite that provided the capability to integrate cloud services. This involved rewriting security systems and network services. Virtualization and storage systems were also overhauled and Web services were enhanced.

The storage features that were enhanced in this upgrade included replication for distributed files and improved access for file sharing. The ability to serve mobile devices with software from the server was also improved. Microsoft introduced the PowerShell-based Desired State Configuration system to enhance network configuration management.

Windows Server 2016 – Standard Edition

An important new server system appeared bundled with Windows Server 2016. This was Nano Server, a lightweight minimal server implementation that had fewer interfaces and so it was harder to attack. This version of Windows Server also included Server Core.

VM systems were also added to with an encryption system for Hyper-V. The Standard Edition was limited to just two virtual machines plus one Hyper-V host per license.

Containers were introduced into Windows Server Standard Edition in the form of Windows native containers, which could be implemented without limit. The service also enabled the use of up to two Hyper-V containers.

There was no R2 version of Windows Server 2016.

Windows Server 2016 – Datacenter Edition

Windows Server 2016 was created in two versions – Standard Edition and Datacenter Edition. The difference between these was based around the expected scale of operations for the customers that would be attracted to each. Clearly, the Datacenter Edition is aimed at much larger organizations. This Edition has all of the same functionality as the Standard Editions but with more capacity.

One example of these differences is related to the management of containerization. While the Standard Edition was only allowed on Windows and Hyper-V containers, the Datacenter Edition wad able to interact with any containerization system and it didn’t have a limit on the number of Hyper-V containers that could be operated. The Datacenter Edition was given the ability to interact with Docker.

A key feature found in Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Edition that isn’t included in the Standard Edition is the Network Controller. This facility enabled administrators to manage both physical and virtual network devices from one console.

Windows Server 2019

Released in October 2018, Windows Server 2019 is the latest version of the server operating system from Microsoft. The new features with this release are:

Project Honolulu

Now called Windows Admin Center, this is a server management utility that is not only designed for Windows Server 2019 but can also manage servers operating Windows server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2016. The console covers multiple servers and it doesn’t matter whether the operating system of a monitored server is the full GUI version, Server Core, or Nano Server. The utility includes performance monitoring, configuration management, and the control of the services that run on each monitored server.

Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)

As you can see from the description of previous versions, Microsoft has been building up the virtualization power of its server operating system since it first bundled Hyper-V with Windows Server 2008. This has been a ten-year campaign and has been mirrored by advances in Microsoft’s cloud services. So, with this latest rollup of all recent VM development over past years in this package, network administrators can have true hybrid network capabilities.

The HCI features of the latest Window Server is aimed more at service consumers rather than providers. However, this system is capable of supporting software-defined data centers as well as their customers. The HCI capabilities offer the ability to adjust virtualized services without taking the system down. Many of the adjustments to the resources supporting VMs can even be executed automatically.

Linux on Windows Server

It is already possible to run Linux on a Windows server through a VM. However, Windows Server 2019 takes this hosting a little further by providing a Linux-compatible subsystem. These are called “native shielded VMs for Linux.”

Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)

The latest security threat to IT systems is the “advanced persistent threat.” These APT attacks are able to bypass traditional antivirus systems because their entry point is often facilitated by whaling, spearphishing, and social media profiling. As traditional defense tactics to block access are no longer sufficient to protect systems and data, advanced threat protection systems have become essential. The inclusion of the Windows Defender ATP in Windows Server 2019 is a very welcome security addition. The ATP monitors account activities, protects log files from unauthorized changes, and keeps track of activities of users around data storage to identify APT intrusion.

Leaner Server Core and services

The Server Core option has been built into Windows Server since the 2008 version. It is now even leaner, representing 50% of the size of the full GUI-led Windows Server 2019. This slimming down also applies to the delivery containerization on software when it is delivered to user-owned devices. The lowering of the overhead created by the containerization mechanism has not been made at the expense of security.

GUI controls

As with all of the Long-Term Service Channel version of Windows Server, users of the 2019 release get access to the full front-end administration tools in a GUI interface. This feature isn’t available to those who just install Server Core or Nano Server.

Long-term Service Channel

Each new version of Windows Server does not necessarily render previous versions obsolete. Microsoft categorizes all of the standard releases of Windows Server as part of its Long-term Service Channel (LTSC). These products are supported for 10 years. That support period is covered by five years of support that is included in the purchase price and the remaining five years requires a support contract extension.

The replacement of the Windows Server operating system is not automatic and requires the new version to be purchased separately. This is with the exception of the R2 versions, which are allowed as a free upgrade to customers of the original version of that release. So, Windows Server 2003 R2 was available for free to those customers who had already purchased Windows Server 2003.

The 2008 R2, 2012 R2, and 2018 versions are still actively operating around the world today.

Semi-Annual Channel

Microsoft created a second purchasing model for Windows Server in 2017. This is the Semi-Annual Channel (SAC). The products available through this channel are not the same as the Windows Server versions that are marketed through the Long-Term Service Channel. The shorter release times for this group of products means that the common elements offered in the two channels will eventually diverge.

SAC products are aimed at software development companies that need newer innovations faster than enterprises that want stable servers to support their regular operations. As the name explains, SAC server versions are released every six months and include support contracts that last only 18 months.

The version numbers of these Windows Server releases come from the year and month of their release. So, to date there has been:

• Windows Server, version 1709 (September 2017)
• Windows Server, version 1803 (March 2018)
• Windows Server, version 1809 (September 2018)

These Windows Server offerings have fewer user interface features than the Windows Server operating systems offered in the Long-Term Service Channel. They are integrated into the Cloud-based subscription services of Microsoft including Software Assurance, Azure Marketplace, and Visual Studio.

Windows Server Cloud

Cloud hosting means that you can get Windows Server on remote infrastructure, not just on your on-premises machines. Microsoft offers its Azure cloud servers on a subscription basis. However, you are not limited to Microsoft’s own services if you want to get Windows Server on the Cloud. Other providers employ Windows Server, enabling you to choose between service plans offered by a range of companies if you want to use Windows Server without having to buy it and run it on your own hardware. For example, Google Cloud includes a Windows Server option.

Whether you choose to migrate all of your server activity to the Cloud or create a hybrid network, the latest versions of Windows Server will enable you to deliver services to your staff and customers seamlessly.

Monitoring Windows Server

Although Windows Server includes many monitoring functions, you will need to add on specialized monitoring software to fully manage the system. Both the Cloud and on-premises server versions of the system rely on hardware elements that can go wrong and you have to keep constant tabs on the connections to your server, whether they are on your own LAN or across the internet.

SolarWinds Microsoft Management Tools (FREE TRIAL)

The number of different components that keep a server running successfully can be difficult to track manually. SolarWinds Microsoft Management Tools will cover the operations of Windows Server and its elements, alerting you when statuses become concerning. This automated assistance leaves you free to focus on more complicated projects, such as budget management and user support.

Why do we recommend it?

SolarWinds Microsoft management tools provide network and application monitoring as well as the supervision of Windows operating systems and Microsoft products, such as IIS, Exchange Server, and Active Directory. This software is presented as individual modules but they all run on a common platform, called Orion so they slot together into a suite.

The Server and Application Monitor from SolarWinds will be your most important assistant when monitoring Windows Server. Keeping on top of your entire network will require the SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor as well. SolarWinds developed its stable of infrastructure management tools on a common platform, called Orion. Thanks to this, the two modules slot together. This enables you to take advantage of multi-module utilities, such as PerfStack. This assistant displays the support services and hardware as well as Windows Server and helps you to identify quickly exactly which element in the stack is running poorly when Windows Server seems to be performing badly.

Who is it recommended for?

The SolarWinds suite of tools runs on Windows Server, so it is a good choice for businesses that have declared a Microsoft-only provisioning strategy for their IT systems. Businesses that have a lot of Linux machines, particularly those that don’t have any Windows servers, would be better off looking for a different package for system monitoring.

You can download and use the SolarWinds Microsoft Management Tools on a 30-day free trial.

SolarWinds Microsoft Management Tools
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Windows Server versions

Not everyone is keen on having the very latest version of software because cutting-edge applications can often be unstable. Given that you get a full ten years of support with the purchase of Windows Server, it doesn’t always make financial sense to pay out all over again every time a new version becomes available.

Those who want the very latest server software from Microsoft would be better off opting for the Semi-Annual Channel or choosing an entirely Cloud-based solution that includes a commitment to keeping up with the latest version of the operating system.

Which version of Windows Server do you currently use? Have you been tempted to try the SAC format of purchase? Do you prefer to keep your servers in-house, or have you already migrated to the Cloud? Leave a message in the Comments section below and share your ideas and experiences with the community.

Windows Server FAQs