Selecting a Windows Server 2012 edition

Microsoft releases all of its operating systems in multiple editions, which provides consumers with varying price points and feature sets. When planning a server deployment, the operating system edition you choose should be based on multiple factors, including the following:
 The roles you intend the servers to perform
 The virtualization strategy you intent to implement
 The licensing strategy you plan to use
Compared with Windows Server 2008, Microsoft has simplified the process of selecting a server edition by reducing the available products. As with Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 requires a 64-bit processor architecture. All of the 32-bit versions have been eliminated, and for the first time since the Windows NT Server 4.0 release, there will be no build supporting Itanium processors. This leaves Windows Server 2012 with the following core editions:
 Windows Server 2012 Datacenter The Datacenter edition is designed for large and powerful servers with up to 64 processors and fault-tolerance features such as hot add processor support. As a result, this edition is available only through the Microsoft volume licensing program and from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), bundled with a server.
 Windows Server 2012 Standard The Standard edition includes the full set of Windows Server 2008 features, differing from the Datacenter edition only in the number of virtual machine (VM) instances permitted by the license.
 Windows Server 2012 Essentials The Essentials edition includes nearly all of the features in the Standard and Datacenter editions, except for Server Core, Hyper-V, and Active Directory Federation Services. The edition is limited to one physical or virtual server instance and a maximum of 25 users.
 Windows Server 2012 Foundation A reduced version of the operating system designed for small businesses that require only basic server features such as file and print services and application support. The edition includes no virtualization rights and is limited to 15 users.
These various editions have prices commensurate with their capabilities. Obviously, the goal of administrators planning server deployments is to purchase the most inexpensive edition that meets all of their needs. The following sections examine the primary differences among the Windows Server 2012 editions.