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Windows Server 2012 Editions

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Windows Server 2012 comes in four editions

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Windows Server 2012 Datacenter and Standard are technically identical – there is absolutely no difference between them with regard technical capabilities.

The only difference is the virtualisation rights included with the license (two VMs for Standard and as many as you like for Datacenter).  So if you’re virtualising you should be using Datacentre – that’s the only decision you have to make.  As a rule of thumb, once you get to around five VMs you should have gone with Datacentre.

You can download Windows Server 2012 form here.  And read all about it here.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials has not released to manufacture (RTM) yet, it is still in a Release Candidate stage.  It is targeted at Small and Medium businesses with less than 25 PCs.  It is an ideal first server that works seamlessly with Office 365.  You can download the RC here and learn all about it here.

Windows Server 2012 Foundation is only available pre-installed onto a new server from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).  It is designed for organisations with up to 15 users who need a great general purpose (and economical) server.

Licensing and pricing info for all editions is here.

Dave

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Great ,Many Thanks

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    The information is well understood. could you pls. let me the price difference in percentage between standard and data centre editions?

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    What about the CALs calculations? what if I have over 100 users in my environment and visualization is required on two servers only?Regards,AteeqAtiqse@hotmail.com

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Good to know.  Thank you.

  • Anonymous
    November 10, 2012
    Great Article, simple and to the point, answered everything I wanted to know!

  • Anonymous
    November 24, 2012
    helpful article need more information.

  • Anonymous
    January 02, 2013
    Isn't it once you get to around 9 VM's you should have gone with Datacenter?  The standard license (around $850 US) gives you 2 VM's.  Datacenter costs around $4500 US for 2 processors.  4 Standard licenses (good for 8 VMs) costs less than 1 Datacenter license . . . Unless you mean "per processor".

  • Anonymous
    November 30, 2013
    Nice article . . . The information provided by u is very helpful... Thankyou...

  • Anonymous
    February 28, 2014
    Does apply for Windows Server 2012 R2 Editions too?

  • Anonymous
    March 11, 2014
    it clear my question, thanks you so much !

  • Anonymous
    June 20, 2014
    Thanks for the article ...
    What do u mean by some technical capabilities

  • Anonymous
    October 30, 2014
    Thanks for short viewing about the server 2012.

  • Anonymous
    February 15, 2015
    I really like this comment, clear and to the point, what I needed.

  • Anonymous
    April 13, 2015
    Thanks for guidance

  • Anonymous
    May 13, 2015
    its totally different

  • Anonymous
    May 13, 2015
    its totally different

  • Anonymous
    June 08, 2015
    i really understand this concepts

  • Anonymous
    August 06, 2015
    I think if you are planning to implement virtualization into your network then get datacenter license one time investment and you can put unlimited servers on the top of your vmware its pretty cost saving for a long run. But if you know there wont be any expansion into the network for a long time then stick with standard license which is cheap.

  • Anonymous
    October 30, 2015
    Hello,
    is the Datacenter licence valid for 2 processors?