An earlier version of Windows Server superseding Windows Server 2008. Microsoft dropped support for the Itanium computer family, and Windows Server 2012 runs only on 64-bit x86 CPUs. Along with updated Hyper-V virtualization software, many improvements in Windows Server 2012 were aimed at supporting cloud computing. It also includes a new file system (see
ReFS) and IP address management (see
IPAM). See
Windows Server 2016.
Revision 2 (Windows Server 2012 R2)
Released in mid-2013, service pack 2 included numerous enhancements to its virtualization capability including Hyper-V Replica, which enables a disaster recovery site to be easily set up and tested. R2 also added storage tiering (see
HSM) and Workplace Join, the latter enabling user's laptops and mobile devices to function in an Active Directory domain. See
Windows Server Essentials.
Edition of SMP
Windows Server 2012 Support RAM
64-bit Foundation 1-way 32GB
64-bit Essentials 2-way 64GB
64-bit Standard 64-way 4TB
64-bit DataCenter 64-way 4TB