Advantages Of Server Operating System

Microsoft Windows Server Os (operating arrangement) is a series of enterprise-class server operating systems designed to share services with multiple users and provide extensive administrative control of data storage, applications and corporate networks.

Development for Windows Server started in the early on 1980s when Microsoft produced two operating system lines: MS-DOS and Windows NT. Microsoft engineer David Cutler developed the kernel of Windows NT with the intent to provide speed, security and reliability that large organizations crave in a server operating organisation.

Prior to the release of Windows NT, many companies relied on the Unix operating organisation that required expensive RISC-based hardware to run file and printing services. Windows NT had the ability to run on less costly x86 machines.

A primal feature in the NT compages is symmetric multiprocessing, which makes applications run faster on machines with several processors.

Later iterations of Windows Server tin exist deployed either on hardware in an arrangement'due south data center or on a cloud platform, such as Microsoft Azure.

Key features in later versions of Windows Server include Agile Directory, which automates the management of user data, security and distributed resources, and enables interoperation with other directories; and Server Managing director, which is a utility to administrate server roles and make configuration changes to local or remote machines.

Microsoft Windows Server OS timeline — A timeline of Windows Server Bone versions

History of Windows Server

1993: Windows NT 3.i Advanced Server

Microsoft released its Windows NT operating system in 2 formats: one for workstations and the other for servers. The 32-bit operating arrangement featured a hardware abstraction layer (HAL), which provided more arrangement stability by blocking applications from direct admission to system hardware. Companies could use Avant-garde Server as a domain controller to store user and group rights.

1994: Windows NT 3.5 Server

Microsoft updated key networking features in this server release and added integrated support for TCP/IP and Winsock. Other networking improvements allowed users on other non-Microsoft operating systems to access files and applications on the domain.

1995: Windows NT Server 3.51

Microsoft fine-tuned this release to boost performance and reduce the amount of required memory. This server Os was optimized to deliver services faster to users through its updated networking stack. Microsoft added more connectivity support for companies in a mixed surround with both Windows NT and NetWare servers to permit users to get services from each with a single credential.

1996: Windows NT Server 4.0

Microsoft borrowed the Windows 95 interface for this server OS release and as well used many of the applications in the client OS, such equally the File Explorer. Microsoft expanded the networking protocol capabilities in this release to make network resources available to a wider array of non-Microsoft machines. Key features in this release were the ability to use a server every bit an Internet Information Server -- now called Cyberspace Data Services (IIS) -- and a domain proper noun organisation server. This server OS besides could walk administrators through various tasks, such as sharing a hard disk drive with a feature called Authoritative Wizards.

2000: Windows 2000

Windows 2000 introduced Active Directory, a directory service that stores and manages information almost network objects, including user data, systems and services. Active Directory lets administrators perform diverse tasks, such every bit virtual private network configuration, information encryption and granting access to file shares on networked computers.

Microsoft also introduced several other key features in this release, including:

Microsoft Management Console (MMC),
NTFS 3.0 file system and
support for dynamic disk volumes.

Windows 2000 had three editions -- Server, Advanced Server and Datacenter -- that were built to work with Windows 2000 Professional, the client Bone.

2003: Windows Server 2003

Microsoft introduced the "Windows Server" make with the release of Windows Server 2003 and touted its security improvements over Windows 2000. Microsoft hardened IIS, the web server feature, and disabled more than default services to reduce exploit opportunities.

Microsoft introduced server roles with this release, which allowed administrators to assign a specific function to a server, such every bit domain controller or DNS server.

Other new features in this release included expanded encryption functionality, congenital-in firewall, greater Network Address Translation (NAT) support and Volume Shadow Re-create Service.

Windows Server 2003 had 4 editions: Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter and Web.

2005: Windows Server 2003 R2

Rather than a version number, Microsoft began using the R2 -- or release ii -- designation with Windows Server 2003 R2. Organizations always need to buy a new Windows Server license to apply the new server operating system, but R2 releases used the client access licenses (CALs) of the immediately preceding server version to eliminate the need to upgrade those licenses.

This version improved on the security and safety features in Windows Server 2003.

Fundamental new features in this release were:

Active Directory Federation Services, which lets administrators broaden single sign-on access to applications and systems beyond the corporate firewall.
Active Directory Application Mode, which stores information for applications that may be considered non secure enough to use in the Active Directory system.

This version also added enhancements to file replication and data compression for branch office servers. Amidst the security improvements in this release was the Security Configuration Wizard, which let administrators apply consistent security policies to multiple machines.

2008: Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 added new features such as:

Hyper-V virtualization software,
failover clustering,
Effect Viewer,
Server Core -- the minimal deployment choice managed via the command line, and
Server Manager console, used to add and manage server roles and features on local and remote machines.

Microsoft as well overhauled the networking stack and Agile Directory to enhance its Group Policy and identity management capabilities.

Windows Server 2008 came in four editions: Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter and Spider web.

2009: Windows Server 2008 R2

Microsoft used its Windows vii kernel for this server operating organisation and touted its improved scalability and availability features.

Microsoft enhanced Agile Directory for improved handling of user accounts and more granular control with policies. The company too updated Final Services functionality and rechristened it to Remote Desktop Services (RDS).

New features in this release include BranchCache and DirectAccess, both aimed at improving how users in remote locations are able to get their work washed.

This server OS, like its predecessor, shares some of the administrative and security functionality used in the Windows Vista client operating arrangement. Windows Server 2008 R2 also marked a modify from a 32-bit server operating organization to a 64-scrap version.

2012: Windows Server 2012

Microsoft embedded a number of cloud-related features to Windows Server 2012, going so far as to dub it the "Deject OS," so organizations could run services more easily in public or private clouds. The company also fabricated pregnant updates to the operating system's storage infrastructure and Hyper-V virtualization platform.

New features worth noting in this release were the Hyper-V virtual switch, Hyper-V Replica, Storage Spaces and ReFS file system.

In another alter with this release, Microsoft switched the default installation choice to Server Cadre, which requires administrators to utilise PowerShell. Upon this release, PowerShell had 2,300 cmdlets available for management.

This server version came in iv editions: Essentials, Foundation, Standard and Datacenter. The Standard and Datacenter editions had the aforementioned feature set, but a Standard license permitted organizations to run two virtual machines (VMs), while Datacenter permitted an unlimited number of VMs.

2013: Windows Server 2012 R2

Microsoft made expansive changes across the board with Windows Server 2012 R2, including pregnant updates to virtualization, storage, networking, information security and web services.

New features of note:

Desired Land Configuration (DSC) built on PowerShell to prevent configuration drift and maintain consistency beyond the organization's machines.
Storage tiering added to Storage Spaces boosts functioning by automatically moving ofttimes called blocks of information to solid-land storage.
Work Folders allow users to retrieve and save company files on work and personal devices through replication to servers in the organization's data center.

2016: Windows Server 2016

Microsoft nudged enterprises closer to the cloud with a number of new features tailored to ease workload migrations, such as support for Docker containers and software-defined enhancements in networking.

Microsoft debuted Nano Server, a minimal server deployment option intended to boost security by shrinking the attack vector. Microsoft says Nano Server is 93% smaller than a full Windows Server deployment.

Another nod to security comes in the new Hyper-Five shielded VM feature, which uses encryption to forestall data inside a VM from being compromised.

The Network Controller is a key new networking feature that allows administrators to manage the switches, subnets and other devices on the virtual and physical networks.

This server Bone comes in Standard and Datacenter editions. In previous Windows Server versions, the Standard and Datacenter editions had the aforementioned feature prepare, simply different license rights and use restrictions. In Windows Server 2016, the Standard edition does non have the more than advanced features in virtualization, storage and networking.

2017: Semi-Annual Channel and Long-Term Servicing Channel releases

In June 2017, Microsoft announced it would split Windows Server into 2 channels: the Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) and the Long-Term Servicing Aqueduct (LTSC) -- formerly the Long-Term Servicing Branch.

The SAC caters to enterprises with a DevOps framework that adopt a shorter term between feature updates to go the most recent updates for rapid application development cycles. SAC releases will come every half-dozen months -- one in the spring and one in the fall -- with mainstream support of simply 18 months. Microsoft tailors the LTSC for companies that prefer the more traditional release wheel of two to iii years between major feature updates with the typical five years of mainstream support followed past five years of extended back up.

The LTSC naming convention will retain the Windows Server YYYY format -- such as Windows Server 2016 -- while the SAC releases volition follow a format of Windows Server version YYMM. Microsoft said information technology plans to add about of the enhancements -- with some variations -- from the SAC releases into upcoming LTSC releases.

Microsoft released its commencement SAC release -- Windows Server version 1709 -- in October 2017. Highlights of this release were support for Linux containers with kernel isolation provided by Hyper-V and a refactored Nano Server strictly for utilise as a base Bone container paradigm.

Businesses with Software Assurance on their Windows Server Standard or Datacenter licenses or a Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) license tin download the SAC releases from Microsoft's Book Licensing Service Middle. Organizations without Software Assurance can use SAC releases in Azure or some other cloud or hosting environs.