Introduction to Windows Server 2012

 in Operating Systems / Windows by

So what is so new about Windows Server 2012? Why do all big MNCs end up spending thousands of bucks on one Server?
Lets take an introduction to this new Windows Server 2012.

The User Interface!

Windows Server 2012 has the new metro look of Windows. You’ll actually think of it as Windows 8 only, when you see it for the first time. The user interface is difficult for new users, and bit confusing. The tough part in Windows Server 2012 is going through this interface and figuring out things. But if you get used to it, if you start enjoying it, you’ll have a very powerful and robust server in your hands.

Main Advantage:

The GUI makes life easy for many of the server administrators. If you have money to spend Windows Server 2012 is perfect for you! Plus the Active Directory Directory Services and its VPN services makes it stand out in the server’s crowd and easy for Server Administrators to manage all the Servers at remote locations.

Money:

When anyone says Microsoft, the first thing that comes into our mind is MONEY! Microsoft sells all the Operating Systems and Servers at a very high price. If you’re in industries and companies, we all know the consequences of using Pirated Softwares. So if Microsoft makes such a beautiful server, it is going to cost you. BUT, the good thing is Microsoft provides users with a free 180 days full version of Windows Server 2012. That is for 180 days, you can use a fully functional server with all the features enabled in it. Microsoft says ‘try the server for 3 months and then decide if its worth the money’

Hardware

Now this is a critical topic.We always think  Server must have more than 4 Gigabits of RAM, more than a TB of hard-disk and a very good i5/i7 processor.
But Windows Server 2012 is compatible with your old hardware too. It will run smoothly on 2 Gigabits of RAM, 500 Gigabits of hard-disk and i3 processor too. You can use even a normal desktop for this server. The only problem is, it downloads generic drivers during the installation.
For example if old machine has an ATI Radeon graphics card, it will not install the ATI drivers, but the generic drivers. These might affect your display. But don’t go out and buy a new CPU for this server!

Only 64-Bit OS. 

One of the things you’ll notice while installing Server 2012 is, there isn’t any option for 32-Bit Operating System. So if your processor ONLY supports 32 Bit, then you will have many problems installing Server 2012. But since a long time, manufactures  give 32 Bit and 64 Bit processors instead of ONLY 32 Bit processors. If you have old softwares working on only 32-Bit also won’t work here.

Various types:

Now Windows Server 2012 comes in 4 different type and if you don’t know these types, don’t go and buy any one of them just because it is cheap.

  1. Data Center: Gives unlimited support for virtual instances of Operating System using Hyper-V.
  2. Standard: Same as data center but limited instances of virtual servers.
  3. Essentials: limited for 25 users.
  4. Foundation: limited only to 12 users.

This is why Essentials and Foundations are cheaper than Data Center and Standard.

Installation:

While installing Windows Server 2012, in the third step it will ask you ‘Which version you want to install?’
Between Server core and GUI, always use GUI.
In server core version, you will get a blank and white screen with a blinking cursor. Like the Linux Servers.
You need to know all the commands if you want to use server core. If you’re a beginner or amateur, just go for GUI version.

Why should you use 2012 server?

  • Back in 2000, when hackers were on the loose, Microsoft introduced Active directory. Active directory gave the servers much-needed security made life and management very very very easy.
  • When when internet was reaching out in the world, we needed better communication. So Microsoft started its own VPN (Virtual Private Network) and Microsoft Exchange for communication.
  • Now we have more security and good communication, but we have lots and lots of data. Not terabytes but petabytes of data and servers are those machines who process, move and save these data.
    1. So in Server 2012, there is an in-built Self-healing NTFS, which runs scans and checks for irregularities and corrupt data every now and then, all by itself.
    2. Also you get smb version 3.0 which transfers the data faster than the old smb. The increase in the speed of data transfer is around 100-150%!
    3. If two users put the same files, Server 2012 recognizes this and keeps only one of them. Suppose User A uploads 100 files and User B uploads 150 files. Out of these 250 files, 125 files were same. So Windows Server 2012 will now create one link for these duplicate files, and point them to the users. So if User A tries to retrieve that file, he’ll get it from a link which will also be given to User B if he tries to get the same file.

So this is all you need to know before Installing Windows 2012 Server.

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