Windows Server 2012

Windows 8-based member of the Windows Server server operating systems line

Windows Server 2012, codenamed "Windows Server 8",[2] is the sixth release of Windows Server. It is the server version of Windows 8 and succeeds Windows Server 2008 R2. Two pre-release versions, a developer preview and a beta version, were released during development. The software was generally available to customers starting on September 4, 2012.[3]It's mainstream support ended on October 9, 2018 and extended support ended on October 10, 2023. Windows Server 2012 is eligible for the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program (free for Azure Virtual Desktop users). It allows to purchase Security Updates for 3 years, in early installments. Security Updates are available for the operating system until October 13, 2026.

Windows Server 2012
Screenshot of Windows Server 2012. Login screen showing the windows user password and user image.
DeveloperMicrosoft
OS familyWindows Server
Source modelProprietary software
Released to
manufacturing
September 4, 2012
Latest release6.2 (Build 9200) / August 1, 2012
Latest previewR2 6.3 (Build 9600) / October 17, 2013[1]
Kernel typeHybrid kernel
Default
user interface
Windows shell (GUI)
LicenseCommercial proprietary software
Preceded byWindows Server 2008 R2 (2009)
Succeeded byWindows Server 2012 R2 (2013)
Official websiteWindows Server 2012 (archived at Wayback Machine))
Support status
Supported

Start date: October 30, 2012.

  • Mainstream support ended on October 9, 2018;
  • Extended support ended on October 10, 2023; 14 months ago (2023-10-10)
Windows Server 2012 is eligible for the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program (free for Azure Virtual Desktop users). It allows to purchase Security Updates for 3 years, in early installments. Security Updates are available for the operating system until October 13, 2026.

Unlike its predecessor, Windows Server 2012 has no support for Itanium-based computers,[4] and has four editions. Various features were added or improved over Windows Server 2008 R2 (with many placing an emphasis on cloud computing), such as an updated version of Hyper-V, an IP address management role, a new version of Windows Task Manager, and ReFS, a new file system. Windows Server 2012 received generally good reviews in spite of having included the same controversial Metro-based user interface seen in Windows 8.

The successor to Windows Server 2012, called Windows Server 2012 R2, was released along with Windows 8.1 in October 2013. A service pack, formally designated Windows Server 2012 R2 Update, was released in April 2014.[5][6]

History

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Windows Server 2012, codenamed "Windows Server 8",[2] is the sixth release of Windows Server family of operating systems developed concurrently with Windows 8.[7][8] It was not until April 17, 2012 that the company announced that the final product name would be "Windows Server 2012".[2]

Microsoft introduced Windows Server 2012 and its developer preview in the BUILD 2011 conference on September 9, 2011.[9] However, unlike Windows 8, the developer preview of Windows Server 2012 was only made available to MSDN subscribers.[10] It included a graphical user interface (GUI) based on Metro design language and a new Server Manager, a graphical application used for server management.[11] On February 16, 2012, Microsoft released an update for developer preview build that extended its expiry date from April 8, 2012 to January 15, 2013.[12]

Before Windows Server 2012 was finalized, two test builds were made public. A public beta version of Windows Server 2012 was released along with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on February 29, 2012.[7] The release candidate of Windows Server 2012 was released on May 31, 2012, along with the Windows 8 Release Preview.[8]

The product was released to manufacturing on August 1, 2012 and became generally available on September 4, 2012.[3] However, not all editions of Windows Server 2012 were released at the same time. Windows Server 2012 Essentials was released to manufacturing on October 9, 2012[13] and was made generally available on November 1, 2012.[14] As of September 23, 2012, all students subscribed to DreamSpark program can download Windows Server 2012 Standard or Datacenter free of charge.[15]

References

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  1. http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2012/04/25/beta-3-is-go.aspx
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Foley, Mary Jo (April 17, 2012). "Windows Server "8" officially dubbed Windows Server 2012". ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Snover, Jeffrey (August 1, 2012). "Windows Server 2012 released to manufacturing!". Windows Server Blog. Microsoft. TechNet blogs. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  4. Foley, Mary Jo (April 5, 2010). "Microsoft pulls the plug on future Itanium support". ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
  5. http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2014/08/05/august-updates-for-windows-8-1-and-windows-server-2012-r2/
  6. Resseler, Mike (August 2013). "eBook - What's new in Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview". Veeam Software. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Savill, John (February 29, 2012). "Q: Where can I download and get more information on Windows Server "8" Beta and Windows 8 Consumer Preview?". Windows IT Pro. Penton Media. Retrieved February 29, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  8. 8.0 8.1 Snover, Jeffrey (April 24, 2012). "Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate Timing". Windows Server Blog. Microsoft. TechNet blogs. Archived from the original on February 11, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  9. Laing, Bill (September 9, 2011). "Windows Server 8: An Introduction". Server & Cloud Blog. Microsoft. TechNet blogs. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  10. "Download Windows Server 8 Developer Preview via MSDN". Softpedia. SoftNews SRL. September 14, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  11. Bisson, Simon (September 14, 2011). "Windows 8 Server Developer Preview". ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
  12. Arghire, Ionut (February 18, 2012). "Windows 8 Developer Preview Expiration Date Gets Postponed". Softpedia. SoftNews SRL. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  13. Snover, Jeffrey. "Windows Server 2012 Essentials released to manufacturing, available for evaluation today!". Windows Server Blog!. Microsoft. TechNet blogs. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  14. "Windows Server 2012 Essentials reaches general availability!". Windows Server Blog!. Microsoft. TechNet blogs. Archived from the original on April 29, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  15. "Windows Server 2012". Microsoft DreamSpark. Microsoft. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2013.

Further reading

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Other websites

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