The Complete Guide to Windows Server

As one of the most widely used server operating systems in business environments worldwide, Windows Server plays a vital role in running mission-critical infrastructure and applications. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about Windows Server.

A Brief History of Windows Server

Windows Server can trace its origins back to the early 1990‘s with the initial release of Windows NT. This built the foundation for a server-focused operating system from Microsoft.

Over the subsequent versions and decades, Windows Server has evolved rapidly to become the robust, secure and full-featured OS it is today:

Windows NT 3.1 – Released in 1993, first true 32-bit Windows server OS
Windows NT 4.0 – Major upgrade introducing Active Directory and other key features
Windows 2000 Server – First usage of "Server" branding rather than NT
Windows Server 2003 – Focused on security and Active Directory improvements
Windows Server 2008 – Server Core option and Hyper-V virtualization introduced
Windows Server 2012 – Storage spaces and workplace join capabilities
Windows Server 2016 – Native container support and shielded VMs
Windows Server 2019 – Hybrid cloud and Linux subsystem integration

As we can see from the brief timeline, with every release Windows Server has added major new functionality for businesses. The scope has expanded dramatically from the early Windows NT days.

Key Editions of Windows Server

Windows Server is available in different editions tailored to organizations of various sizes. The key options include:

Standard – For small to medium sized organizations with basic server needs
Datacenter – Advanced features for large datacenters and mission-critical workloads
Essentials – For small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices
Storage Server – Specialized file and storage management capabilities
Hyper-V Server – Specifically for running virtual machine workloads

The edition you choose determines the scale you can support and the advanced capabilities available to meet your requirements.

Why Use Windows Server?

There are some key reasons Windows Server is trusted to power critical infrastructure globally:

Active Directory – Centralized authentication, authorization and administration of users, devices and other resources on the network.
Group Policy – For managing configuration of users and computers across an Active Directory environment.
Hyper-V – Built-in virtualization technology to consolidate server workloads and enable flexibility.
Remote Management – Manage Windows Server environments remotely using tools like Remote Desktop.
Security Features – Advanced security capabilities like BitLocker, Windows Defender and more.
Scalability – Windows Server can scale from small business servers to massive enterprise datacenters.
Reliability – Proven track record running critical production workloads across industries.

These capabilities and more make Windows Server a versatile, enterprise-ready operating system.

Key Differences From Desktop Windows

While Windows Server shares much of its codebase with desktop Windows, there are some notable differences:

Purpose – Desktop OS focused on personal computing. Server OS focused on networked operations.
Interface – No default GUI shell in Server Core install. Emphasis on command line administraton.
Applications – Does not include desktop app productivity suite. More focused set of server-centric tools.
Licensing – Server licenses allow multiple user connections based on CALs. Not one device.

So while the underlying technology has much in common, the usage scenarios differ significantly.

Managing and Maintaining Windows Server

To leverage Windows Server most effectively, administrators need to follow best practices around setup, management and maintenance. Here are key guidelines:

Always install the latest updates promptly to ensure optimal security and reliability.
Use Group Policy to configure baseline settings for your server fleet.
Monitor event logs and bail-in tools like PowerShell to stay on top of issues.
Configure remote management so you can administer servers without physical access.
Take backups regularly and validate restores periodically.
Have a disaster recovery strategy with options like failover clustering or Hyper-V Replica.

Following these steps will help ensure your Windows Server deployments run smoothly while avoiding downtown.

Is Windows Server Right for You?

Windows Server brings enterprise-calibre capabilities that excel across several usage scenarios:

Active Directory Infrastructure – The bedrock for authentication and identity management.
Application Servers – Hosting backend apps like Microsoft SQL Server.
Web Servers / Web Apps – Serving intranet sites, public websites and web applications.
Virtualization Hosts – Hyper-V provides solid virtualization for SMBs to large enterprises.
Storage Servers – Managing file shares and storage infrastructure.
Print Servers – Centralized print management.

If your business relies on any of those solutions, Windows Server deserves strong consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Windows Server:

What are the system requirements to run Windows Server?

Windows Server requires a 64-bit x64 compatible processor, minimum of 512 MB RAM (2 GB recommended), 32 GB disk space, and TCP/IP network connectivity.

Does Windows Server include desktop productivity applications?

No, Windows Server does not include desktop apps like Word, Excel etc. It‘s focused on core networking services, infrastructure and server-based workloads.

What skills do I need to administer Windows Server?

Familiarity with key technologies like Active Directory, DHCP, DNS, IIS, PowerShell and Hyper-V are recommended. Plus a good understanding of networking and server management.

What is the difference between Windows Server and Linux servers?

Windows Server is proprietary software from Microsoft building on top of the Windows ecosystem. Linux servers like Red Hat Enterprise Linux use open source software for more customization.

Is Windows Server difficult to manage?

Thanks to graphical tools plus PowerShell, managing Windows Server has become much easier over time. But you still need to invest time into learning best practices.

Conclusion

Windows Server brings enterprise-grade technology down to organizations of all sizes. With its versatile feature set enabling critical networking infrastructure, identity management, application hosting and more – Windows Server adapts to deliver what modern businesses demand.

Backed up by Microsoft‘s long term support lifecycles, on top of the huge ecosystem of compatible software solutions, it‘s clear why Windows Server maintains its position as the go-to platform underpinning systems worldwide.

Whether self-hosted or as part of Hybrid Azure infrastructure, Windows Server is sure to continue as a mainstay in powering IT operations for the foreseeable future.