Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 is the server version of Windows 8.1 and the successor version of Windows Server 2012. Compared to the predecessor version 2012, it has some important innovations and optimizations to offer - especially in the area of virtualization, which is playing an increasingly important role.
Windows Server 2012 R2 is therefore characterized primarily by innovations in Hyper-V and by the connection to the Windows Azure cloud services. New services such as Windows Azure Services for Windows Server make it possible to manage cloud-based virtual servers and local servers in corporate networks together and to control them centrally via a web portal.
Companies that increasingly use these technologies will therefore particularly benefit from an update to Windows Server 2012 R2. In addition, the cooperation between Windows Server and System Center and Windows has also been intensified.
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Editions Datacenter and Standard at Wiresoft
Both the Edition Standard as well as the Datacenter edition for Windows Server 2012 R2 are available from Wiresoft. They differ primarily in the different levels of virtualization they offer users; in terms of the features the 2012 R2 version offers as such, they are the same.
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard Edition is primarily designed for customers who either do not use virtualization at all, or only run a few virtual machines.
The Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter Edition, on the other hand, includes all the necessary features for a virtualized private cloud environment. This makes it possible to run any number of virtual machines in the Hyper-V role on the Windows Server in use.
The most important innovations of Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 at a glance
The new server operating system Windows Server 2012 Standard R2 offers numerous improvements and features in the areas of networking, storage and management, and especially in virtualization, web and application platforms; in addition to improved access and information protection - including a virtual desktop infrastructure.
Also in Windows Server 2012 R2, the proven server feature IP Address Management (IPAM) supports virtual environments and works even more efficiently with System Center 2012 R2.
With Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2, you get a reliable, efficient server system that impresses with many optimizations as well as new features and programs:
- Modern user interface, optimized for touchscreens
- Microsoft Windows Azure for backup in the Azure cloud
- PowerShell 3.0 for effective management of system settings
- New task manager offers more performance through optimized processes
- IIS (Internet Information Service 8.0) with Extended Validation certificate management
- SMB 3.0 allows even faster and better access to file shares
The following features of the Windows Server 2012 R2 version are particularly worth mentioning:
Higher virtualization level with Hyper-V
Windows Server 2012 R2 is even more cloud-oriented than the previous versions. The most important and also the most innovations that Windows Server 2012 R2 offers compared to the predecessor version are contained in Hyper-V. Here, in particular, access to virtual servers has been improved. In particular, access to virtual servers based on RDP has been improved here, so that the efficiency of VM Connect has been significantly optimized. Sessions via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) run in Windows Server 2012 R2 via the host, so a direct RDP connection to the virtual server is no longer necessary. A virtual server can thus be activated more quickly in an automated manner and thus works even more efficiently.
Another important innovation for the System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 R2 is the support of Windows Server 2012 R2 and Hyper-V Server 2012 R2. Both systems can be operated in parallel in System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 R2 and virtual servers can thus be moved between the network and the cloud. This allows a server to be backed up to the cloud via Windows Azure online backup, while Hyper-V works with Windows Azure virtual machines.
Hyper-V works closely with the new Hyper-V Recovery Manager. This now enables cloud-based replication or backup of virtual servers based on Hyper-V (Hyper-V Replica) or Windows Azure Virtual Machines: it also allows replication to a third host versus Windows Server 2012 with just two hosts.
VMs Generation 2
Virtual machines - also called VMs Generation 2 by Microsoft - support the new BIOS-Standard UEFI as well as the integrated Secure Boot function in the Windows Server 2012 R2 version. And with the Storage Quality of Service feature, administrators can now control data throughput for virtual servers in addition to network bandwidth.
Support for Linux as a virtual server has also been improved so that Dynamic Memory can also be used in Linux clients.
With VM Connect, files can now be copied and moved via drag and drop. Virtual hard disks (VHDX) can be enlarged or reduced in Windows Server 2012 R2 while the system is running; virtual servers can also share a virtual hard disk.
Similarly, moving and copying virtual servers between Hyper-V hosts is possible with Live Migration on the fly at a much higher speed. This feature has also been optimized in Windows Server 2012 R2 for 10 Gigabit/s networks, and with Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), it provides the ability to move memory data between hosts very quickly, it also supports their efficient compression.
Work Folders in Windows Server 2012 R2 with Windows 8.1
Windows Server 2012 R2 naturally works with Windows 8.1. This makes it possible with Work Folders to collaborate with Windows Server 2012 R2 and share data via the cloud. The transfer to the Work Folders is encrypted to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access by third parties.
Data deduplication on virtual hard disks
With Windows Server 2012 R2, data deduplication can be used to find and eliminate duplicate files not only on file servers, but also on virtual hard disks. This can save a lot of space on Hyper-V hosts.
SSD and SATA disks are combined into Storage Spaces
Windows Server 2012 R2 Storage Pools allow traditional hard disks and SSDs to be combined and shared, significantly speeding up file server performance. The server thereby analyzes the stored data and places the more frequently used ones on the faster disks.
Improved data management and access control
In Microsoft Server 2012 R2, the NTFS file system has been supplemented by the new ReFS (Resilient File System). It is designed exclusively for storing data on servers to maximize data availability and effectively scale large data sets while ensuring data integrity through resilience to corruption.
Dynamic Access Control uses metadata to control access to data. The new feature complements Active Directory security lines and protects data by preventing unauthorized access while it is being moved.
System requirements for Windows Server 2012 R2
The following minimum requirements are necessary for the secure and trouble-free operation of Windows Server 2012 R2. Actual requirements also depend on the particular system configuration as well as other installed applications:
Platform: Windows
Processor: at least 1.4 GHz processor with 64 bit
RAM: at least 512 MB
Hard disk space: at least 32 GB
The licensing model for Windows Server 2012 R2
The licensing of Windows Server 2012 R2 is calculated depending on the number of processors of the physical server on which the operating system is used - also virtually. A single license always covers 2 physical processors. It is licensed per physical virtualization host. Each license for the Windows Server 2012 R2 editions Datacenter and Standard is only available as a 2-processor package, one license covers 2 processors on one server.
It is therefore not possible to split licenses across multiple servers, nor is it possible to assign a license to a virtual machine. The previous licensing model per processor is only valid up to Windows Server 2012 R2. Licenses for any higher version are now calculated on a core-based model. The two Windows Server 2012 R2 editions Standard and Datacenter differ in virtualization rights as follows:
Licensing of Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard Edition
A license of the Standard edition contains virtualization rights for 2 virtual machines. This corresponds to the usual needs of smaller companies in particular, which require either no virtualization at all or only a small amount of virtualization. The number of rights can be increased by purchasing additional Standard editions. For example, with three Server 2012 R2 Standard editions, you can correctly license a server with 2 processors and 6 VMs (virtual machines).
Licensing of Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter Edition
The Datacenter Edition does not have this limitation of 2 VMs. With the purchase of a Datacenter Edition, theoretically an unlimited number of virtual machines can run on the licensed server, practically depending on the performance of the hardware used. It is therefore the right solution for companies and organizations that run a high degree of virtualization or use a hybrid cloud environment.
So, to put it simply, which edition of Windows Server 2012 R2 is best suited in a particular case depends on the number of virtual servers a user wants to run.
In addition to the server license for the two editions Standard and Datacenter, users also need CALs (client access licenses) - user-based or device-based - which are also available at a reasonable price from Wiresoft.
Buy Windows Server 2012 R2 Editions at a reasonable price at Wiresoft
The Windows Server 2012 R2 Editions Standard and Datacenter are available at a reasonable price from Wiresoft. Depending on whether you want to supplement your Windows Server 2012 R2 licenses or license your servers with one of the two editions, Wiresoft offers you unused licenses from European companies that are purchased legally - at an unbeatable price!
When you purchase Windows Server 2012 R2 lic enses from Wiresoft, you will receive only original licenses that have been thoroughly tested by Wiresoft for authenticity and proper functionality. Many satisfied Wiresoft customers confirm the price advantage with Wiresoft Microsoft licenses. Please contact us for questions regarding your license needs for Windows Server editions 2012 R2 Standard and Datacenter:
