Microsoft Windows Server - Licensing,RDS, CALs Category
Microsoft Windows Server Licensing and RDS CALs
Windows Server is a server operating system developed by Microsoft. It handles all server management roles to ensure an organization’s network runs efficiently.
Build your future with Windows Server
No matter where you want to take your organization, get there with Windows Server — the operating system that innovates at the pace of your business. Run your Windows Server workloads on-premises or in the cloud with Azure.
Virtualization
Networking
Deployment
Recovery
Security at the OS level
Windows Server comes with impressive technical and security features.
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Detect suspicious activity
Windows Server includes built-in breach resistance to help thwart attacks on your systems and meet compliance goals. Even if someone finds a way into your environment, the layers of security built into Windows Server limit the damage they can cause and help detect suspicious activity.
Secure access
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Windows Server provides authorized users with secure access to internal websites and SharePoint sites.Workplace Join
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Workplace Join lets users register personal devices with Active Directory, which authenticates them and allows single sign-on access to applications and data.
Safe file storage
Efficient and secure file storage is a key piece of any enterprise network. One of aims of Windows Server is to provide safe file storage and secure file sharing.
Easy management and cost reduction
Windows Server is quite cost-effective solution.
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Remote access control of PC desktops
Windows Server offers remote access control of PC desktops. Desktop virtualization is one way IT leaders can more securely deliver applications to the wide array of devices that mobile workers use on the job.
Server Containers
Containers allow for applications and services to be isolated. Server Containers can be used for workloads resources can be shared. Hyper-V Containers offer complete isolation from other containers and even the host server. They are perfect for high-trust workloads where security is critical.
Nano Server
Nano Server is a very small version of Windows Server 2016. This is made possible by removing the GUI element. It is around 92% smaller than the regular version.
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More secure
It is a much more secure option because server roles will have to be added from outside Nano Server, leaving less scope for attacks.
Requires less updates
Nano Server requires less updates and can be easily sent over servers and data centers.
For initial configuration, a local management UI called Nano Server Recovery Console exists.
Backups and recovery features
Windows Server has excellent recovery features against system down time.
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Automated backups of computers
- Windows Server offers automated backups of computers. You can preset backup schedules and specify which files and folders to back up.
- You also have the option to start backups manually, if needed.
- If variations to the default backup configurations are required, those changes need to be made via the Dashboard.
Other features
Self-healing NTFS
Another great feature to maintain data integrity is self-healing NTFS. When data corruption is detected in an NTFS-based file system, a “worker thread” is deployed to fix only the damaged parts. The rest of the volume remains unlocked and the server won’t need to go offline.
Cluster validation wizard
Windows Server provides effective diagnosing and monitoring tools. The cluster validation wizard is a welcome addition to Windows Server 2008. Administrators can now run a set of focused tests on a collection of servers. It tests the underlying hardware and software to obtain accurate assessments of how Server 2008 will respond in the event of failover clustering on a given configuration.
Media support and streaming capabilities
Windows Server 2011 has comprehensive media support and streaming capabilities. It supports a variety of codecs like AAC, AVCHD, DivX, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV, and others.
Versions of Windows Server
Windows Server comes with a myriad of features that any organization can benefit from.
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Windows Server 2008
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Windows Server 2008 is built from the same code infrastructure as Windows Vista. So, it shares a lot of the same architecture and functionality. Windows Server 2011
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Windows Server 2011 is a small-scale server operating system. It was built specifically for small offices, departments and home offices.Windows Server 2012
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Windows Server 2012 is a great option if you’re looking for cloud and datacenter platform that that can handle even the most critical workloads.Windows Server 2016
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It is Microsoft's latest server operating system and has been very much anticipated by organizations, IT professionals, and users.
Licensing
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Windows Server 2011
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Server 2011 Essentials does not require the purchase of user or device CALs. These costs are absorbed into the price of the server operating system license. It simplifies deployment and system administration within small organizations of up to 25 users. Windows Server 2012
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For organizations with more than 5 users, Volume Licensing is the most feasible way to access features like Remote Desktop Open Business. For the Server + CAL pricing model, separate device CALs and user CALs Open Business are required.Windows Server 2016
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Thanks to industry-specific variations and volume licensing, organizations can find the perfect edition for their needs. CALs may be purchased in User CALs Open Business, User CALs Open Government and Device CALs Open Business options.
Note that:
To use Microsoft Server, it is important to use the correct CAL versions. For example, Server 2003 user CALs cannot be used in Server 2008.Editions
Version | Editions |
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Microsoft Server 2008 | Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, HPC Server and Itanium, as well as Windows Storage Server 2008 R2. The most common being the Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter editions |
Microsoft Server 2011 | Windows Server 2011 Essentials and Windows Server 2011 Standard A Premium Add-on can also be purchased to add onto the Standard edition, which will enable the use of SQL. |
Microsoft Server 2012 | The most commonly used editions are Server 2012 Essentials, Standard Open Business and Datacenter Open Business. |
Microsoft Server 2016 | Features like Remote Desktop Open Business make Server 2016 a must-have for any organization. Variations like Server 2016 Essentials Open Business, Server 2016 Standard Open Academic and Datacenter Open Business are all possible. |