Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Datacenter

Microsoft's goal is to give people the ability to communicate anytime, anywhere, and with any access device through world-class software. For many years, the world's leading software company has been developing software that makes it easier for people to use PCs at home, at work and at school, and opens up new dimensions for them. This is coupled with a strong commitment to the Internet, which is increasingly becoming the service center and the connecting element for all these devices.

Comparison Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Standard & Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Datacenter

 Windows Server 2022 Standard Edition is targeted at organizations that only deploy physical servers or use minimally virtualized environments, with only a few VMs. Standard Edition does not offer Shielded Virtual Machines, Software Defined Networking (SDN) features, and Storage Spaces Direct and Storage Replica. These features are only available with Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Edition.

Win Server 2022 Datacenter 16/24 Core

Microsoft offers Windows Server 2022 in two different core editions: Win Server 2022 Standard and Win Server 2022 Datacenter 16/24 Core. As the successor to Windows Server 2019, Windows Server Datacenter is particularly suitable for modern data centers that have reached a high level of virtualization. Users benefit equally from the numerous innovations and improved features.

By the way: Only those who opt for Windows Server Datacenter benefit from features such as Shielded Virtual Machines for Linux or encrypted virtual networks. These are not included in the Standard Edition.

Scope of the system

The new Server edition extends Windows Server 2019 and offers additional practical functionalities. Existing features such as container technology or Kubernetes have been noticeably improved. Thus, it likewise includes the updates and improvements that have resulted from the Windows Server r2 Service Pack 1 in the past.

While the Datacenter edition basically includes all the functionality of the Standard edition, the focus on the other hand is on the operation of hybrid networks. This means that virtual servers from Microsoft cloud services or Microsoft Azure can be used in parallel with local servers. At the same time, this facilitates the use of Microsoft Exchange software, which more and more companies are relying on.

A particular focus for the 2022 edition, regardless of version, is security. For this reason, Microsoft is integrating numerous new functions and making the Admin Center more convenient and clear. Users benefit from additional convenience, while the entire IT infrastructure is better protected and offers less room for cyber attacks.

Image credit: © Gorodenkoff - stock.adobe.com

New application possibilities

Due to its proximity to Microsoft cloud services, Windows Server 2022 can basically be deployed in on-premises data centers, but it can equally be operated as a cloud solution. In this case, the Microsoft Azure Edition of the Windows Server 2022 Datacenter is a good choice. This approach is a forward-looking solution, especially in medium-sized companies, since on-site resources are usually limited.

Licensing the Datacenter Edition

In order to be able to operate the Datacenter Edition as desired, a sufficient number of licenses is required. Also in the current version Microsoft relies on the well-known CAL system. Therefore the Win Server 2022 User CAL as well as the Win Server 2022 Device CAL is necessary. The number of licenses required depends on the size of the company and the number of users or devices.

For the remote desktop session, i.e. for access from outside, licenses are also required. These are the Remote Desktop 2022 Device CAL for devices accessing remotely and the Remote Desktop 2022 User CAL for users.

System requirements for the Win Server 2022 Datacenter

The new Server Edition can only be installed with the correct hardware. It must meet the following minimum requirements:

• 1.4 GHz processor in 64-bit variant.
• 512 MB RAM.
• 32 GB hard disk.

However, the exact requirements depend on whether the pure Datacenter Edition or the combination with Microsoft Azure is chosen.