Windows Server Standard vs Datacenter: Which One Should Dev Choose?

Hello Dev, welcome to our journal article discussing the two most popular Windows Server editions – Standard and Datacenter. If you’re planning to deploy a new server environment or upgrade your existing one, you might be wondering which version is suitable for your needs. In this article, we’ll compare and contrast the features and functionalities of both editions to help you make an informed decision. Let’s dive in!

Overview of Windows Server Standard and Datacenter

Before we start comparing the two versions, let’s take a quick look at what each edition offers.

Windows Server Standard

Windows Server Standard is a reliable and scalable operating system designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It’s capable of handling basic server roles such as file sharing, printing, and web serving. The Standard edition supports up to two virtual machines (VMs) and provides limited virtualization rights.

Windows Server Datacenter

Windows Server Datacenter, on the other hand, is a high-end server operating system that’s ideal for large-scale data centers and cloud environments. It offers advanced features such as storage spaces direct, software-defined networking, and shielded virtual machines. The Datacenter edition allows unlimited virtualization rights and supports an unlimited number of VMs.

Feature Comparison: Windows Server Standard vs Datacenter

Let’s take a closer look at how the two editions differ in terms of features and functionalities.

Licensing and Pricing

Feature	Windows Server Standard	Windows Server Datacenter
Licensing model	Per core	Per core
Maximum number of cores per server	64	No limit
Virtualization rights	2 VMs per license	Unlimited VMs per license
List price per core (USD)	$972	$6,155

One of the biggest differences between Windows Server Standard and Datacenter is their licensing model. Both editions are licensed per core, which means the more cores your server has, the more you’ll have to pay. However, the Standard edition has a maximum limit of 64 cores per server, while the Datacenter edition has no limit.

In terms of virtualization rights, the Standard edition allows up to two virtual machines per license, while the Datacenter edition offers unlimited virtualization rights. This means you can run as many virtual machines as you want on a server licensed with Datacenter.

As for pricing, the Datacenter edition is significantly more expensive than the Standard edition. At the time of writing, the list price per core for Standard is $972, while the price for Datacenter is $6,155 per core.

Server Roles and Features

Both Windows Server Standard and Datacenter offer a wide range of server roles and features. However, there are some differences in the availability of certain features between the two editions.

Here are some of the server roles and features that are exclusive to Windows Server Datacenter:

• Storage Spaces Direct
• Software-defined Networking (SDN)
• Shielded Virtual Machines
• Storage Replica
• Virtual Machine Load Balancing

These features are designed for large-scale data centers and cloud environments that require high availability, scalability, and security. If you’re running a small or medium-sized business, you might not need these advanced features.

However, both editions offer common server roles and features such as file and print services, web server, DNS server, DHCP server, Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), and Hyper-V virtualization.

High Availability and Resilience

Another area where Windows Server Datacenter has an edge over Standard is in high availability and resilience. Datacenter offers advanced features such as failover clustering, live migration, and storage migration that can help minimize downtime and ensure continuity of services.

Failover clustering allows you to group multiple servers together to create a highly available cluster. If one server in the cluster fails, the others can take over automatically without disrupting the services. Live migration enables you to move running virtual machines from one physical host to another with no downtime. Storage migration allows you to move virtual machine storage between hosts and storage without downtime.

While some of these features are available in the Standard edition, they have limitations in terms of scalability and functionality.

FAQ: Windows Server Standard vs Datacenter

Here are some frequently asked questions about Windows Server Standard and Datacenter:

Q: Can I use Windows Server Standard for virtualization?

A: Yes, you can use the Standard edition for virtualization, but it comes with limited virtualization rights. You’re allowed to run up to two virtual machines per license.

Q: Can I upgrade from Windows Server Standard to Datacenter?

A: Yes, you can upgrade from Standard to Datacenter with the appropriate license key. However, you’ll need to pay the price difference between the two editions, and you’ll also need to perform a clean installation.

Q: Is Windows Server Datacenter suitable for small businesses?

A: Windows Server Datacenter is designed for large-scale data centers and cloud environments that require high availability, scalability, and security. Small businesses might not need these advanced features and may find the Standard edition more suitable.

Q: Can I mix Standard and Datacenter editions on the same server?

A: Yes, you can mix Standard and Datacenter editions on the same server, but you need to be aware of their licensing limitations. The Standard edition allows up to two virtual machines per license, while the Datacenter edition offers unlimited virtualization rights.

Conclusion

Choosing between Windows Server Standard and Datacenter depends on your specific needs and budget. If you’re running a small or medium-sized business and don’t require advanced features such as storage spaces direct or shielded virtual machines, the Standard edition can be a suitable option. However, if you’re operating a large-scale data center or cloud environment and need high availability, scalability, and security, the Datacenter edition is the way to go.

We hope this article has helped you understand the differences between the two editions and make an informed decision. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.