Microsoft Server OS
Microsoft Server OS refers to the family of operating systems developed by Microsoft specifically for server-based computing. These operating systems are designed to provide a stable, reliable, and scalable platform for hosting and managing server applications, services, and resources within an organization’s IT infrastructure.
- Windows Server: Windows Server is the primary server operating system offered by Microsoft. It comes in several editions, each tailored to specific usage scenarios and organizational needs. Some common editions include Windows Server Standard, Windows Server Datacenter, Windows Server Essentials, and Windows Server Core. Windows Server provides features such as Active Directory, file and print services, web server capabilities, virtualization, and remote desktop services.
- Windows Server Core: Windows Server Core is a minimal installation option of Windows Server that excludes the graphical user interface (GUI) components, resulting in a smaller footprint and reduced attack surface. It is optimized for headless server deployments and can be managed remotely using command-line tools, PowerShell, or remote management consoles.
- Windows Server Essentials: Windows Server Essentials is a simplified, cloud-integrated version of Windows Server designed for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices. It provides essential server functionality such as file sharing, data backup, remote access, and user management in an easy-to-deploy and manage package.
- Windows Server Datacenter: Windows Server Datacenter is an edition of Windows Server optimized for datacenter deployments and virtualized environments. It includes unlimited virtualization rights and additional features such as Storage Spaces Direct, Shielded Virtual Machines, and Software Defined Networking (SDN) capabilities.
- Windows Server Nano Server: Nano Server is a lightweight and highly modular installation option of Windows Server designed for cloud-native and containerized workloads. It has a minimal footprint, reduced maintenance requirements, and improved security posture, making it well-suited for modern microservices architectures and DevOps practices.
- Windows Server Hyper-V: Windows Server Hyper-V is Microsoft’s virtualization platform that enables organizations to create and manage virtualized computing environments. It provides features such as virtual machine management, live migration, failover clustering, and integration with Microsoft Azure for hybrid cloud scenarios.