Compare scale of Windows Server

System Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2
Host Logical processors 64 320
Physical memory 1 TB 4 TB
Virtual processors per host 512 2,048
Virtual Machine Virtual processors per VM 64GB 1 TB
Virtual disk capacity 2 TB 64 TB
Active virtual machines 384 1,024
Cluster Nodes 16 64
Virtual machines 1,000 8,000

Compare versions of Windows Server

Features Server 2003 Server 2008 / 2008 R2 Server 2012 Server 2012 R2
Identity and Access Active Directory Service
Dynamic Access Control
AD virtualization support
Virtualization Shared-nothing live migration
Hyper-V Replica
Hyper-V clustering
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Storage Storage Spaces with tiering
Shared VHDX
Live storage migration
Storage QoS
Cluster share volume
Web and App Plat Multi-tenant high density websites
NUMA aware scalability
Dynamic IP restrictions
Networking Hyper-V Network Virtualization
NIC teaming
IP address management
Management and Automation Server Core
Multiserver management
Windows PowerShell
Windows PowerShell Workflow
and Web Access

Windows Server 2012 R2

Windows Server 2012 R2 empowers businesses with enterprise-grade infrastructure management on a scalable, manageable budget. Integrate cloud services into your instance with state-of-the-art features, such as server virtualization and information protection, designed to help manage your workload and applications. Design, deploy, administrate, enforce and monitor your business IT system in real time.

Real-Time Storage Solutions

Design your SAN (Storage-Area-Network) with intent and efficiency. Manage your data and extend your resources to users over the cloud with ease; Windows Server 2012 has built-in features to make sure critical information is continuously available.

Networking

Segment your network based on specific needs, or culminate everything onto a single server. Easily scale your network and storage campaigns all while protecting against outages and hazards. Implement your instance across the cloud, internally, and publicly, in an all-in-one solution that benefits both end users and clients.

Server Virtualization

One Platform – One Experience – 3 Deployment Choices

Pool resources and consolidate processing power across your organization with Hyper-V – run virtual machines for users on one host; reduce overhead, maintenance and hardware outages with this popular hardware investment method.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

Otherwise known as VDI, this premier feature allows for easy virtual resource management across devices and teams. Pooled desktops, Remote Desktops, and Personal desktops are the three options present with VDI; all of which utilize Hyper-V and resource pooling technologies.

A Community Of Millions

Millions around the world choose Windows Server 2012 R2. This means there are thousands of active community resources and applications available to developers and end users.

Store Data Across The Organization

Built in high-performance storage options designed to get you the most out of your precious resources. 

Built-In Security Features – SaaS Cloud Centric Security Policies

– Manage identities for single users or groups

– Easily configure role-based access for your most sensitive data

– DirectAccess, VPN, Windows Server Remote Access (RRAS) Features Included

– Learn more about Open Business here (link to our Open license page) 

Cost Effective

– Share Networking and Storage Resources across the Enterprise

– Reduce Wasted Storage Automatically with DeDuplication*

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