The question came up today about using Windows Server Essentials as a RADIUS server. Part of the consideration involves the arbitrary restrictions placed on the OS. Microsoft differentiates the server products with what are affectionately know as “Locks and Limits”.
Most folks in IT are aware of OS hosting limits like the number of users in Windows Server or not being able to RDP into Windows 7 Home Edition. But there are other less-obvious limits like RAM or IAS, RRAS & SMB connection limits is probably the most important thing because of the new limitations on the platforms and OS. Hosting is an integral part of what users are doing on the os due to the increase in web services connecting to them.
Fortunately there are two handy spreadsheets that detail the Limits, Roles & Features that are (or are not) available in Windows Server 2012 & R2 Editions.
Windows Server 2012 R2 Locks & Limits
File: Windows Server 2012 R2 Products and Editions Comparison.pdf (222 KB)
URL: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41703
- Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
- Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
- Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
- Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation
- Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2
- Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Standard
- Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Workgroup
Windows Server 2012 Locks & Limits
File: Windows Server 2012 Products and Editions Comparison.pdf (226 KB)
URL: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=38809
- Windows Server 2012 Datacenter
- Windows Server 2012 Standard
- Windows Server 2012 Essentials
- Windows Server 2012 Foundation
- Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012
- Windows Storage Server 2012 Standard
- Windows Storage Server 2012 Workgroup
- Windows MultiPoint Server 2012 Premium
- Windows MultiPoint Server 2012 Standard
Currently, there is no word yet on Windows Server 2016 since it’s still in Technical Preview at this time. However, once the licensing folks figure out how to squeeze every penny out of Server 2016 (I’m very interested to see what they do with Nano Edition) there should be an updated spreadsheet released.