Microsoft is dramatically simplifying things for both consumers and business; in this reign, yesterday the company reveals Windows Server 2012 SKUs along with their feature set on the official home page.
There will be a total of 4 Windows Server 2012 SKUs as follows:
- Windows Server 2012 Datacenter edition
- Windows Server 2012 Standard edition
- Windows Server 2012 Essentials edition
- Windows Server 2012 Foundation edition
| Edition | Ideal for… | High Level Feature Comparison |
Licensing Model | Pricing Open NL (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Datacenter | Highly virtualized private & hybrid cloud environments |
Full Windows Server functionality with unlimited virtual instances |
Processor + CAL | $4,809 |
| Standard | Low density or non- virtualized environments |
Full Windows Server functionality with two virtual instances |
Processor + CAL | $882 |
| Essentials | Small business environments |
Simpler interface, pre-configured connectivity to cloud based services; no virtualization rights |
Server (25 User Account Limit) |
$425 |
| Foundation | Economical general purpose server |
General purpose server functionality with no virtualization rights |
Server (15 User Account Limit) |
OEM Only |
If you are new to Windows Server 2012 and willing to dig it; Microsoft released a release candidate version of Windows Server 2012 in June and it’s still available and can be downloaded by signing in the MSDN Evaluation Center with your Windows Live ID.
Source: Windows Server 2012 Homepage