Windows Server 2012 CALs provide access to the first Microsoft operating system for servers designed specifically for touchscreens. It features the Modern UI interface originally developed for Windows Phone 8 and (in a slight twist) for Windows 8. But it's not just the look that sets Windows Server 2012 apart from its predecessor, Windows Server 2008 R2. The software solution is significantly more powerful in various areas.

Buy one of the Windows Server 2012 CALs: The most important features at a glance

• Optimized for touchscreens (Modern UI interface)
• Revised Task Manager
• Introduction of the Active Directory Administrative Center
• Optimized version of Hyper-V
• ReFS as new file system
• Support of SMB 3
• Connection to Microsoft Windows Azure

Windows Server is one of the oldest operating systems written for use by machines with server capabilities. The first version was Microsoft Windows Server 2000 and was developed back in 1999. However, the software development at that time was actually just an evolution of Windows NT 4.0, so the origins of Windows Server actually date back to the early 1990s (Windows NT 3.1 was introduced in 1993). So users who purchase one of the Windows Server 2012 CALs are getting a software solution that has been consistently evolved and optimized over decades.

Windows Server 2012 CALs: Mature for all modern demands

Windows Server 2012 CALs offer access to a mature operating system that meets all modern requirements, but hardly has to fight with the bugs of more modern versions. In addition to the aforementioned touchscreen optimization, Windows Server 2012 offers, for example, access to a connection to the Microsoft Cloud Azure. An optimized version of Hyper-V makes it comparably easy to set up and run virtual machines. The improved Task Manager categorizes running processes. They can be assigned more easily accordingly. The Task Manager also pauses non-active applications to ensure that the operating system's performance is always as good as possible.

Windows Server 2012 CALs: These operating system variants are available

Users who buy one of the Windows Server 2012 CALs can basically choose between the Standard and the Datacenter version. The name of the second variant already expresses what it is intended for: Datacenter Windows Server 2012 is particularly well suited for use in data centers. Moreover, the versions are now marked with an "R2". This is an update that was released in October 2013 at the same time as Windows 8.1. All innovations that were added to the main operating system also found their way into Windows Server 2012 through the R2 update.

User or device: the Windows Server 2012 licenses explained

Users who want to buy one of the Windows Server 2012 CALs basically have a choice between a user license and a device license. The user license is made clear by the term "User" in the product name. The device license carries the phrase "Device". Some of the licenses also quantify: For example, "10 Device" means that the operating system may be installed on ten different devices. In principle, user licenses are device-independent and device licenses are user-independent.