Windows Server

{{Expand section|Each subsection as each is quite short or has nothing|date=February 2024|small=no}}

{{main article|Windows NT 3.1|Windows NT 3.5|Windows NT 3.51}}

Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server was released on July 27, 1993{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} as an edition of Windows NT 3.1, an operating system aimed towards business and server use. As with its Workstation counterpart, Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server was a 32 bit rewrite of the Windows kernel that retained a similar use interface to Windows 3.1. Unlike the latter, however, Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server was a complete operating system that did not need to be run from DOS. Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server, like its Workstation counterpart, featured new features such as multiuser support and preemptive multitasking.{{Cite web |title=30 years of Windows Server |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-essentials-and/30-years-of-windows-server/ba-p/3884810 |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM |language=en}}

In 1994, Microsoft released Windows NT Server 3.5. It introduced TCP/IP and Winsock support integrated into the operating system, alongside the ability to use FTP. It also supported VFAT.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

In 1995, Microsoft released Windows NT Server 3.51, an update to Windows NT Server 3.5, which added NTFS compression and support for the PowerPC architecture.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

{{main article|Windows NT 4.0}}

In 1996, Microsoft released Windows NT Server 4.0. It added the new user interface introduced in Windows 95 the previous year. In addition, it dropped support for the PowerPC, Alpha, and MIPS architectures. Microsoft updated Winsock to version 2 and IIS 2.0 and FrontPage are included.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

{{main article|Windows 2000}}

{{main article|Windows Server 2003}}

Windows Server 2003 is based on a modified version of Windows XP.

{{main article|Windows Server 2008|Windows Server 2008 R2}}

Windows Server 2008 is based on Windows Vista SP1, while Windows Server 2008 R2 is based on Windows 7.

{{main article|Windows Server 2012|Windows Server 2012 R2}}

Windows Server 2012 is based on Windows 8, while Windows Server 2012 R2 is based on Windows 8.1.

{{main article|Windows Server 2016|Windows Server 2019|Windows Server 2022}}

These versions of Windows Server are all based on Windows 10. Windows Server 2016 is based on Windows 10, version 1607, Windows Server 2019 is based on Windows 10, version 1809 and Windows Server 2022 is based on a modified version of Windows 10, version 21H2.

{{main article|Windows Server 2025}}

This version of Windows Server is based on Windows 11. Windows Server 2025 is based on Windows 11, version 24H2.{{cite web |last=Woolsey |first=Jeff |title=Introducing Windows Server 2025! - Microsoft Tech Community |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-news-and-best/introducing-windows-server-2025/ba-p/4026374 |access-date=January 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917105409/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-news-and-best/introducing-windows-server-2025/ba-p/4026374|archive-date=2024-09-17}}

Main releases include:

• Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server (July 27, 1993)
• Windows NT Server 3.5 (September 21, 1994)
• Windows NT Server 3.51 (May 30, 1995)

• Windows NT 4.0 Server (August 24, 1996)
• Windows 2000 Server (December 15, 1999)
• Windows Server 2003 (April 24, 2003){{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2003-|title=Windows Server 2003 – Microsoft Lifecycle|publisher=Microsoft|date=March 8, 2008|access-date=August 19, 2021}}
• Windows Server 2003 R2 (December 6, 2005){{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2003-r2|title=Windows Server 2003 R2 – Microsoft Lifecycle|publisher=Microsoft|date=March 8, 2008|access-date=August 19, 2021}}
• Windows Server 2008 (February 27, 2008){{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2008|title=Windows Server 2008 – Microsoft Lifecycle|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=September 25, 2012}}
• Windows Server 2008 R2 (October 22, 2009){{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2008-r2|title=Windows Server 2008 R2 – Microsoft Lifecycle|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=September 25, 2012}}
• Windows Server 2012 (September 4, 2012){{cite web|title=Windows Server 2012 – Microsoft Lifecycle|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2012|work=Microsoft Support|publisher=Microsoft|date=January 2012|access-date=October 10, 2012}}
• Windows Server 2012 R2 (October 17, 2013){{cite web|title=Windows Server 2012 R2 – Microsoft Lifecycle|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2012-r2|publisher=Microsoft.com|access-date=December 27, 2018}}
• Windows Server 2016 (October 12, 2016){{cite web|title=Windows Server 2016 – Microsoft Lifecycle|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2016|work=Microsoft Support|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=December 7, 2016}}
• Windows Server 2019 (October 2, 2018){{cite web|title=Windows Server 2019 – Microsoft Lifecycle|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2019|work=Microsoft Support|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=August 19, 2021}}
• Windows Server 2022 (August 18, 2021){{cite web|title=Windows Server 2022 – Microsoft Lifecycle|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2022|work=Microsoft Support|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=August 19, 2021}}
• Windows Server 2025 (November 1, 2024){{cite web|url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-news-and-best/introducing-windows-server-2025/ba-p/4026374|title=Introducing Windows Server 2025|first=Jeff|last=Woolsey|website=Microsoft Tech Community Hub|access-date=January 26, 2024}}

Traditionally, Microsoft supports Windows Server for 10 years, with five years of mainstream support and an additional five years of extended support. These releases also offer a complete desktop experience. Starting with Windows Server 2008, Server Core and Nano Server configurations were made available to reduce the OS footprint.{{cite news|url=https://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com/definition/Microsoft-Windows-Server-LTSC-Long-Term-Servicing-Channel|title=What is Microsoft Windows Server LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel)? – Definition from WhatIs.com|work=SearchWindowsServer|access-date=March 22, 2018|language=en-US}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thomasmaurer.ch/2017/11/windows-server-semi-annual-channel-sac-vs-long-term-servicing-channel-ltsc|title=Windows Server – Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) vs Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) – Thomas Maurer|date=November 19, 2017|work=Thomas Maurer|access-date=March 22, 2018|language=en-US}} Between 2015 and 2021, Microsoft referred to these releases as "long-term support" releases to set them apart from semi-annual releases (see below.)

For sixteen years, Microsoft released a major version of Windows Server every four years, with one minor version released two years after a major release. The minor versions had an "R2" suffix in their names. In October 2018, Microsoft broke this tradition with the release of Windows Server 2019, which would have been "Windows Server 2016 R2". Windows Server 2022 is also a minor upgrade over its predecessor.{{cite web|last=Sommergut|first=Wolfgang|title=Windows Server 2022 released: Overview of new features|url=https://4sysops.com/archives/windows-server-2022-released-overview-of-new-features|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824222556/https://4sysops.com/archives/windows-server-2022-released-overview-of-new-features|date=August 24, 2021|archive-date=August 24, 2021|url-status=live|website=4sysops}}{{cite web|last=Foley|first=Mary Jo|author-link=Mary Jo Foley|date=August 20, 2021|title=Microsoft's Windows Server 2022 is rolling out to mainstream users|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-windows-server-2022-is-rolling-out-to-mainstream-users/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822023622/https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-windows-server-2022-is-rolling-out-to-mainstream-users|archive-date=August 22, 2021|url-status=live|website=ZDNet|publisher=CBS Interactive}}

Certain editions of Windows Server have a customized name:

• Windows Storage Server (editions of Windows Server 2003 through 2016; editions of Windows Server IoT 2019 and its successors){{cite web|title=Windows Storage Server Lifecycle (EOL)|url=https://endoflife.software/operating-systems/windows/windows-storage-server|website=EndOfLife.Software}}{{cite web|title=Windows Server IoT 2019 for Storage|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-iot-2019-for-storage|website=Microsoft.com|access-date=August 10, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Windows Server IoT 2022|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-iot-2022|website=Microsoft.com|access-date=August 10, 2022}}
• Windows HPC Server 2008
• Windows HPC Server 2008 R2
• Windows Home Server (an edition of Windows Server 2003)
• Windows Home Server 2011 (an edition of Windows Server 2008 R2)
• Hyper-V Server (a discontinued,{{cite web|first=Elden|last=Christensen|title=Hyper-V in the 2022 Wave|website=Microsoft Tech Community|url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-insiders/hyper-v-server-2022/m-p/3266371/highlight/true#M2448|publisher=Self-published|date=March 25, 2022}} freeware edition of Windows Server 2008 through 2019){{cite web|title=Hyper-V Server|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/?products=windows&terms=Hyper-V%20Server|access-date=September 2, 2021|website=Search Product and Services Lifecycle Information|publisher=Microsoft}}
• Windows MultiPoint Server
• Windows Server Essentials{{cite web|title=Windows Small Business Server 2008 Technical FAQ|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-essentials-sbs/cc514417(v=msdn.10)|work=Windows Server Essentials documentations|publisher=Microsoft|date=December 14, 2010|via=Microsoft Docs}}{{cite web|last=Thurrott|first=Paul|title=Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials|url=https://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-server/windows-small-business-server-2011-essentials-140451|work=Supersite for Windows|publisher=Penton Media|access-date=September 26, 2011|date=September 3, 2011|archive-date=September 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927055035/http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-server/windows-small-business-server-2011-essentials-140451|url-status=dead}}
• Windows Essential Business Server (discontinued){{cite web|title=Windows Essential Business Server|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/tn-archive/cc540094(v=ws.10)?|work=TechNet Archive|publisher=Microsoft|date=February 7, 2012|via=Microsoft Docs}}
• Azure Stack HCI (an edition of Windows Server 2019 and later){{cite web|title=Deploy the Azure Stack HCI operating system|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure-stack/hci/deploy/operating-system|website=Azure Docs|publisher=Microsoft|date=October 22, 2021}}

Following the release of Windows Server 2016, Microsoft attempted to mirror the lifecycle of Windows 10 in the Windows Server family, releasing new versions twice a year which were supported for 18 months. These semi-annual versions were only available as part of Microsoft subscription services, including Software Assurance, Azure Marketplace, and Visual Studio subscriptions, until their discontinuation in July 2021.{{cite web|date=July 28, 2021|title=Microsoft to retire semi-annual Windows Server updates, will move entirely to LTSC releases|url=https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-to-retire-semi-annual-windows-server-updates-will-move-entirely-to-ltsc-releases|website=Neowin}}

The semi-annual releases do not include any desktop environments. Instead, they are restricted to the Nano Server configuration installed in a Docker container, and the Server Core configuration, licensed only to serve as a container host.{{cite web|date=July 5, 2022|title=Windows Server servicing channels|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/servicing-channels-comparison|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713163859/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/servicing-channels-comparison|archive-date=July 13, 2022|url-status=live|website=Windows Server Library|publisher=Microsoft}}

Semi-Annual releases include:{{cite web|title=Windows Server|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server|website=Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=February 19, 2022}}

• Windows Server, version 1709 (unsupported as of {{End date and age|2019|4|9}})
• Windows Server, version 1803 (unsupported as of {{End date and age|2019|11|12}})
• Windows Server, version 1809 (unsupported as of {{End date and age|2020|11|10}})
• Windows Server, version 1903 (unsupported as of {{End date and age|2020|12|8}})
• Windows Server, version 1909 (unsupported as of {{End date and age|2021|5|11}})
• Windows Server, version 2004 (unsupported as of {{End date and age|2021|12|14}})
• Windows Server, version 20H2 (unsupported as of {{End date and age|2022|8|9}}){{cite web|title=Windows message center: Windows Server, version 20H2 has reached end of servicing|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows-message-center#321|date=August 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810205455/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows-message-center#321|archive-date=August 10, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Windows Server release information|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows-server-release-info|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809222910/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows-server-release-info|archive-date=August 9, 2022|access-date=August 10, 2022|url-status=live|website=docs.microsoft.com}}{{cite web|title=Windows 10, version 20H2 and Windows Server, version 20H2|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-10-20h2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809234814/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-10-20h2|archive-date=August 9, 2022|access-date=August 10, 2022|url-status=live|website=docs.microsoft.com}}{{cite news|title=Microsoft Retires Windows Server Version 20H2|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/microsoft-retires-windows-server-version-20h2-535913.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810203442/https://news.softpedia.com/news/microsoft-retires-windows-server-version-20h2-535913.shtml|archive-date=August 10, 2022|access-date=August 10, 2022|url-status=live|website=news.softpedia.com|first=Bogdan|last=Popa}}

The Annual Channel was first announced in July 2023, with the first version being released on September the same year. Unlike the Semi-Annual releases, each Annual Channel release would receive six months of extended support in addition to the 18 months of regular support. Annual releases are made available every twelve months, hence the name. Datacenter is the only edition available.

Annual releases include:{{cite web|title=Windows Server|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-annual-channel|website=Windows Server Annual Channel|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 9, 2024}}

• Windows Server, version 23H2

• List of Microsoft Windows versions
• Microsoft Servers
• {{section link|Linux range of use|Servers, mainframes and supercomputers}}
• NetWare
• Open Enterprise Server

{{reflist}}

{{Wikiversity|Windows Server}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Microsoft Windows family}}

Category:Windows NT

Server