Windows Server

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Microsoft Servers.
Windows Server
Windows Server.png
DeveloperMicrosoft
Source model
Latest releaseWindows Server 2022 (10.0.20348.169) / 18 August 2021; 25 days ago (2021-08-18)[1]
Update methodWindows Update, Windows Server Update Services, SCCM
Default
user interface
LicenseTrialware, SaaS or volume licensing
Official websitewww.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/

Windows Server is a brand name for a group of server operating systems released by Microsoft since 2003. The first Windows server edition to be released under that brand was Windows Server 2003. However, the first server edition of Windows was Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server, followed by Windows NT 3.5 Server, Windows NT 3.51 Server, Windows NT 4.0 Server, and Windows 2000 Server. Windows 2000 Server was the first server edition to include Active Directory, DNS Server, DHCP Server, Group Policy, as well as many other popular features used today.

Members[]

Full releases[]

Traditionally, Microsoft supports Windows Server for 10 years, with five years of mainstream support and an additional five years of extended support. These releases also offer a complete GUI desktop experience. Starting with Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Core and Nano Server configurations were made available to reduce the OS footprint.[2][3] Between 2015 to 2021, Microsoft referred to these releases as "long-term servicing" releases to set them apart from semi-annual releases (see below.)

For sixteen years, Microsoft released a major version of Windows Server every four years, with one minor version released two years after a major release. The minor versions had an "R2" suffix in their names. In October 2018, Microsoft broke this tradition with the release of Windows Server 2019, which should have been "Windows Server 2016 R2". Windows Server 2022 is also a minor upgrade over its predecessor.[4][5]

The full releases include:

Branded releases[]

Certain editions of Windows Server have a customized name:

Semi-annual releases (discontinued)[]

Following the release of Windows Server 2016, Microsoft attempted to mirror the lifecycle of Windows 10 in the Windows Server family, releasing new versions twice a year which were supported for 18 months. These semi-annual versions were only available as part of Microsoft subscription services, including Software Assurance, Azure Marketplace, and Visual Studio subscriptions,[21] until their discontinuation in July 2021.[22][21]

The semi-annual releases do not include any desktop environments. Instead, the they are restricted to the Nano Server configuration installed in a Docker container,[3][21] and the Server Core configuration, licensed only to serve as a container host.[3][21]

Semi-annual releases include:[23]

  • Windows Server, version 1709 (supported until 9 April 2019; 2 years ago (2019-04-09))
  • Windows Server, version 1803 (supported until 12 November 2019; 22 months ago (2019-11-12))
  • Windows Server, version 1809 (supported until 10 November 2020; 10 months ago (2020-11-10))
  • Windows Server, version 1903 (supported until 8 December 2020; 9 months ago (2020-12-08))
  • Windows Server, version 1909 (supported until 11 September 2021; 1 day ago (2021-09-11))
  • Windows Server, version 2004 (supported until 14 December 2021; 3 months' time (2021-12-14))
  • Windows Server, version 20H2 (supported until 11 August 2022; 10 months' time (2022-08-11))

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Windows Server release information". Microsoft Docs. 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  2. ^ "What is Microsoft Windows Server LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel)? - Definition from WhatIs.com". SearchWindowsServer. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Windows Server - Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) vs Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) - Thomas Maurer". Thomas Maurer. 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  4. ^ Sommergut, Wolfgang (24 August 2021). "Windows Server 2022 released: Overview of new features". 4sysops.
  5. ^ Foley, Mary Jo (20 August 2021). "Microsoft's Windows Server 2022 is rolling out to mainstream users". ZDNet. CBS Interactive.
  6. ^ "Windows Server 2003 - Microsoft Lifecycle". Microsoft. March 8, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "Windows Server 2003 R2 - Microsoft Lifecycle". Microsoft. March 8, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  8. ^ "Windows Server 2008 - Microsoft Lifecycle". Microsoft. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  9. ^ "Windows Server 2008 R2 - Microsoft Lifecycle". Microsoft. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  10. ^ "Windows Server 2012 - Microsoft Lifecycle". Microsoft Support. Microsoft. January 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  11. ^ "Windows Server 2012 R2 - Microsoft Lifecycle". Microsoft.com. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  12. ^ "Windows Server 2016 - Microsoft Lifecycle". Microsoft Support. Microsoft. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  13. ^ "Windows Server 2019 - Microsoft Lifecycle". Microsoft Support. Microsoft. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  14. ^ "Windows Server 2022 - Microsoft Lifecycle". Microsoft Support. Microsoft. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "EOL Windows Storage Server | End of Life (EOL) | Microsoft | Lifecycle". endoflife.software. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  16. ^ "Storage Server". Search Product and Services Lifecycle Information. Microsoft. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  17. ^ "Hyper-V Server". Search Product and Services Lifecycle Information. Microsoft. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  18. ^ "Windows Small Business Server 2008 Technical FAQ". Microsoft TechNet. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  19. ^ Thurrott, Paul (3 September 2011). "Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials". Supersite for Windows. Penton Media, Inc. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  20. ^ "Windows Essential Business Server". Microsoft TechNet. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel overview". Windows Server Library. Microsoft. 16 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Microsoft to retire semi-annual Windows Server updates, will move entirely to LTSC releases". Neowin. 28 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Windows Server". Search Product and Services Lifecycle Information. Microsoft.

External links[]

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