Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition is an edition of Windows Server focused on innovation and
virtualization optimized to run on Azure. Azure Edition features a Long-Term Servicing Channel
(LTSC) and yearly product updates, with two major product updates in the first 3 years. Azure
Edition also brings new functionality to Windows Server users faster than the Standard and
Datacenter editions of Windows Server.
The annual Azure Edition updates are delivered using Windows Update, rather than a full OS upgrade.
As part of this annual update cadence, the Azure Edition Insider preview program gives the
opportunity to access early builds - leading to general availability. To get started with Azure
Edition Insider preview, visit the Azure Edition preview Azure
Marketplace offer. Details regarding each preview is shared in release announcements posted to the
Windows Server Insiders
space on Microsoft Tech Community.
Key differences
The following table summarizes the key differences:
Description
Windows Server Standard, Datacenter
Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition
New releases
Typically 2-3 years
Typically 2-3 years
Product updates
With new release
Yearly, with two major updates in the first 3 years
Support
5 years of mainstream support, plus 5 years of extended support
5 years of mainstream support, plus 5 years of extended support
For more information, see the
Microsoft Software Licensing Terms. The licensing terms may
vary based on the distribution channel, for example, a Commercial Licensing program, Retail,
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and so on.
Key capabilities
Hotpatch
Beginning with Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition, Hotpatch gives you the ability to
apply security updates on your VM without rebooting. When used with Azure,
Azure Guest Patching Service, along with
Automanage for Window Server, automate the onboarding, configuration, and orchestration of
hotpatching. To learn more, see Hotpatch for new virtual machines.
Supported platforms
Hotpatch is supported on the following operating systems for VMs running on Azure and Azure Stack
HCI:
Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition Core
Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition with Desktop Experience
Lưu ý
Hotpatch isn't supported on Windows Server containers base images.
SMB over QUIC
Beginning with Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition, SMB over QUIC offers an "SMB VPN" for
telecommuters, mobile device users, and branch offices. SMB over QUIC provides secure, reliable
connectivity to edge file servers over untrusted networks like the Internet.
QUIC is an IETF-standardized protocol used in HTTP/3,
designed for maximum data protection with TLS 1.3 and requires encryption that can't be disabled.
SMB behaves normally within the QUIC tunnel, meaning the user experience doesn't change. SMB
features like multichannel, signing, compression, continuous availability, and directory leasing
work normally.
SMB over QUIC is also integrated with
Azure Automanage machine best practices for Windows Server
to help make SMB over QUIC management easier. QUIC uses certificates to provide its encryption and
organizations often struggle to maintain complex public key infrastructures. Azure Automanage
machine best practices ensure that certificates don't expire without warning and that SMB over QUIC
stays enabled for maximum continuity of service.
Beginning with Update 1 for Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition, you can compress Storage
Replica data between source and destination server. The compression results in fewer network packets
to transfer the same amount of data, allowing for more throughput, and less network utilization.
Higher data throughput should also result in lowering synchronization time for when you need it
most, for example in a disaster recovery scenario.
Beginning with Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition, Azure Extended Network enables you to
stretch an on-premises subnet into Azure to let on-premises virtual machines keep their original
on-premises private IP addresses when migrating to Azure. To learn more, see Azure Extended Network.
Get started with Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition
To get started using Azure Edition, use your preferred method to create an Azure or Azure Local
VM, and select the Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition image that you would like to use.
Quan trọng
Some capabilities have specific configuration steps to perform during VM creation, and some
capabilities that are in preview have specific opt-in and portal viewing requirements. See the
individual capability topics to learn more about using that capability with your VM.
Thận trọng
Once Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition is installed, it isn't possible to switch the OS back to a non-Azure Edition OS. If this occurs, reinstalling the previous OS is required.
Tham gia sự kiện ảo Windows Server cuối cùng từ ngày 29-30 tháng 4 để tham gia các phiên kỹ thuật chuyên sâu và hỏi đáp trực tiếp với các kỹ sư của Microsoft.