Windows Server 2012 is the latest release of the Windows Server product. With a Metro user interface similar to that of Windows 8, the installation of Windows Server 2012 differs from previous versions of Windows Servers in the following ways:
- Editions of Windows Server 2012 support only 64-bit processors.
- You must enter the product key when you are installing the product.
- There are four editions of Windows Server 2012.
- All editions are on the same installation DVD. The product key determines which edition is installed.
When choosing an edition of Windows Server 2012, make sure that you are aware of the features that it supports and select the edition that meets the needs of your organization. The following table lists the Windows Server 2012 editions.
| Edition | Features |
| Foundation | The Foundation edition is a scaled down version of the server operating system, used for small businesses and supports most server roles. Foundation supports:
Foundation does not support:
|
| Essentials Edition | The Essentials edition provides additional hardware support and role support above what is provided by the Foundation edition. Essentials supports:
Essentials does not support:
|
| Standard Edition | The Standard edition is available for medium and large businesses. Standard edition supports:
|
| Datacenter Edition | The Datacenter edition provides much more capability than the other Windows Server 2012 editions.
|
The following table identifies the minimum requirements for all editions of Windows Server 2012.
| Component | Minimum |
| CPU | 1.4GHz (x64) |
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Free space for System Volume | 32 GB |
The following table identifies Windows Server 2012 Upgrade paths.
| If you are running these editions | You can upgrade to these editions |
| Windows Server 2008 Standard with SP2 or Windows Server 2008 Enterprise with SP2 |
Windows Server 2012 Standard or Windows Server 2012 Datacenter |
| Windows Server 2008 Datacenter with SP2 | Windows Server 2012 Datacenter |
| Windows Web Server 2008 | Windows Server 2012 Standard |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard with SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise with SP1 |
Windows Server 2012 Standard or Windows Server 2012 Datacenter |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter with SP1 | Windows Server 2012 Datacenter |
| Windows Web Server 2008 R2 | Windows Server 2012 Standard |
In addition to the various server editions, you can install Windows Server 2012 as a Server Core installation. Server Core is a minimal server installation option which does not provide a graphical user interface. Unlike previous versions of Windows Server, you can switch between a Server Core installation and a full installation.
Once the software has installed, Server Manager opens when you log in for the first time. Using Server Manager:
- Provide a computer name
- Set the time zone
- Configure network settings