What is Microsoft Windows Server?

Microsoft Windows Server is a line of operating systems that are designed for server use, meaning they run on powerful machines that provide resources and services to other computers. Windows Server is mainly used in business settings, where it can perform various roles such as file server, domain controller, web server, database server, and more. In this article, we will explain what Windows Server is, how it differs from regular Windows, and what are some of its features and benefits.

Windows Server vs. Regular Windows

Windows Server and regular Windows share the same code base and desktop interface, but they have many differences in terms of functionality and purpose. While regular Windows is intended for general use on personal computers, laptops, tablets, and other devices, Windows Server is optimized for running on servers that handle heavy workloads and high demands.

Some of the main differences between Windows Server and regular Windows are:

Windows Server includes enterprise management software. Windows Server comes with various tools and services that allow administrators to manage and configure servers, networks, users, and applications. For example, Active Directory is a user management service that allows a server to act as a domain controller, which authenticates and authorizes users and computers on a network. Another example is Internet Information Services (IIS), which is a web server that hosts websites and web applications.
Windows Server has more scalability and performance. Windows Server can support more memory, processors, cores, sockets, and storage than regular Windows. For instance, Windows Server 2022 can support up to 48 TB of memory, 64 sockets, and 2048 logical cores, while Windows 10 Pro can only support up to 2 TB of memory, 2 sockets, and 128 logical cores. This means that Windows Server can run more applications and handle more requests at the same time.
Windows Server has more security features. Windows Server has several security enhancements that protect the server from threats and attacks. For example, Secured-core server is a feature that applies advanced multi-layer protection against malware, ransomware, and other sophisticated attacks. Another example is Shielded Virtual Machines (VMs), which are encrypted VMs that prevent unauthorized access or tampering.
Windows Server has less graphical user interface (GUI) elements. Windows Server has a minimal GUI that only includes the essential components such as the taskbar, the Start menu, and the desktop. This reduces the system resources that are consumed by the GUI and improves the performance and reliability of the server. Additionally, Windows Server can be installed without any GUI at all, using the Server Core option or the Nano Server option. These options provide a command-line interface (CLI) or a remote management interface for administering the server.

Windows Server Features and Benefits

Windows Server has many features and benefits that make it a powerful and versatile platform for building an infrastructure of connected applications, networks, and web services. Some of these features and benefits are:

Windows Admin Center. Windows Admin Center is a web-based console that provides a unified and modern interface for managing servers, clusters, hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), Azure resources, and Windows 10 PCs. It simplifies common tasks such as deploying VMs, configuring storage spaces direct (S2D), monitoring performance and health, updating drivers and firmware, and connecting to Azure services.
Azure integration. Windows Server has a deep integration with Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing platform. This allows administrators to extend their datacenter to Azure for greater IT efficiency and flexibility. For example, Azure Arc is a service that enables administrators to manage servers across on-premises, edge, and cloud environments using a single pane of glass. Another example is Azure Stack HCI, which is a hybrid cloud solution that combines the best of Windows Server and Azure to run traditional and modern workloads on-premises.
Container support. Windows Server supports both Windows containers and Linux containers, which are isolated environments that run applications without affecting the host system or other containers. Containers provide portability, agility, scalability, and security for developing and deploying applications. Windows Server also supports Kubernetes, which is an open-source system for orchestrating containers across multiple nodes.
Hotpatching. Hotpatching is a feature that allows administrators to apply security updates to servers without having to reboot them. This reduces downtime and disruption for critical workloads such as SQL Server or Exchange Server. Hotpatching is available only on Azure VMs running Windows Server 2022.
SMB over QUIC. SMB over QUIC is a feature that enables users to securely access files on remote servers without using a virtual private network (VPN). SMB over QUIC uses the QUIC protocol, which is a fast and encrypted transport protocol that runs over UDP. SMB over QUIC improves the user experience and reduces the network latency when working remotely.

Conclusion

Microsoft Windows Server is a line of operating systems that are designed for server use. It differs from regular Windows in many aspects such as functionality, performance, security, and GUI. Windows Server has many features and benefits that make it a powerful and versatile platform for building an infrastructure of connected applications, networks, and web services. Windows Server also has a deep integration with Azure, which allows administrators to extend their datacenter to the cloud for greater IT efficiency and flexibility.

What is Microsoft Windows Server?