- Only 64 Bit versions of Windows Server 2012 are available
- Server Core and Full GUI Option and ne Minimal Server Interface are available and can be changed after installation
- No Itanium Version availlable
Installation requirements for Windows Server 2012
Minimal Requirements for Windows Server 2012
- 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor
- 512 MB RAM
- 32 GB available disk
- DVD drive
- Super VGA (800x600)
- Keyboard and mouse
- Internet access
Maximum Hardware configuration for Windows Server 2012
- 640 logical processors
- 4 TB RAM
- 63 Failover cluster nodes
Server Core
Server Core is just a installation option – no special edition.
Advantage of Server Core
- Uses less ressources
- Uses less disk space
- Needs less patching
- More secure to attacks
With Server Manager and other tools, administrators can install a server using the server core option, join these into existing domain via PowerShell and never touch the console again. All necessary tasks can be run from a remote workstation.
| Roles available in server core installation | Roles not available in server core installation |
| Active Directory Certificate Services | Active Directory Federation Services |
| Active Directory Domain Services | Application Server |
| Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services | Fax Server |
| Active Directory Rights Management Services | Network Policy and Access Services |
| DHCP Server | Remote Desktop Services: Remote Desktop Gateway |
| DNS Server | |
| File and Storage Services | |
| Hyper-V | |
| Print and Document Services | |
|
Remote Desktop Services Remote Desktop Connection Broke | |
| Remote Access | |
| Web Server (IIS) | |
| Windows Server Update Services |
The Minimal Server Interface
The Minimal Server Interface consists of the program an the prompt (as you see in Server Core). To activate the Minimal Server Interface make sure that only the Feature “Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure” is installed. The following video shows how to change between the different options.
Features on demand
Windows Server 2012 has its features in the so called side by
side directory, usually C:WindowsWinSxS.
With features on demand administrators can activate any of the features without
supplying a installation medium. The disadvantage of it is that the WinSxS
Directory is very large. If you are running out of space, perhaps because if you
are using SSDs, you probably have to reduce the amount your installation is
using. You can deinstall features via Powershell.
CBT Nuggets have a really good video for this here
Upgrade paths
Versions prior to 2008 are not supported. Also not supportet are
upgrades from pre-RTM versions and Itanium versions.
| If you are running | You can upgrade to these editions: |
| Windows Server 2008 Standard with SP2 or Windows Server 2008 Enterprise with SP2 | Windows Server 2012 Standard, Windows Server 2012 Datacenter |
| Windows Server 2008 Datacenter with SP2 | Windows Server 2012 Datacenter |
| Windows Web Server 2008 | Windows Server 2012 Standard |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard with SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise with SP1 | Windows Server 2012 Standard, Windows Server 2012 Datacenter |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter with SP1 | Windows Server 2012 Datacenter |
| Windows Web Server 2008 R2 | Windows Server 2012 Standard |
See
http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2012/10/22/windows-8-windows-server-2012-upgrade-paths-and-editions.aspx
and
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj574204.aspx for more infos concerning upgrades.
Upgrades should be avoided and a new installation should be prefered.
If it can’t be avoided, make sure
- To check hardware compatibility
- To check that you have enough disk space available
- That Drivers are signed or disable the driver signature (F8 duringe
Startup) - That you have your mass storage driver available (i. e. on a USB Stick)
- To check application compatibility
- That you have a backup
- To disable Anti Virus
- Disconnect UPS
- That you have the correct version and keys available.
Installation
Read a step by step on how to install Hyper-V on Bare Metal at the Altaro Website.