Standard

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard edition has seen impressive upgrades when compared to its predecessor. Developments in cloud computing and storage infrastructure have been especially significant. It has all resulted in an operating system designed to take connectivity to maximum functionality. Let’s look at some features that Windows Server 2012 R2 users can enjoy.

Storage Tiering and Pinning

Storage Tiering is the ability to move stored data dynamically between different classes of storage, like SSDs (which are faster) and hard drives (which are slower). This is usually accomplished with leading storage systems but now it can be done by the operating system itself. Essentially, Windows Server 2012 R2 can detect which data segments are accessed most often. These frequently used data segments are stored on the fastest tier to allow for the quickest data retrieval possible. You can adjust these settings using PowerShell. Storage Pinning is the ability to pin entire files to a specific tier, instead of data segments. This essentially “pins” files, like boot disks in a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure deployment, to a fast storage tier. Unlike Storage Tiering, the files will not move to a slower tier because of relative inactivity. It will remain in the faster tier until it is “unpinned”.

Write Back Cache

When a new storage volume is created in Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard, you can enable the Write Back Cache. This allows for a set amount of physical storage, usually on a fast storage device, to be used as a write cache. This helps to steady I/O fluctuations during write-intensive operations. A Write Back cache will stop a storage subsystem from becoming overwhelmed and stalling.

Work Folders

Work Folders uses Dropbox functionality to give you a fully functional, secure file replication service for your corporate work folders. Work Folders will keep copies of all your files on both the server and the client. It performs the necessary sync actions whenever the client makes a connection with the server. It can detect which versions of the same file are the most recent and will keep the correct version.

Parallel Rebuild

Rebuilding a disk after it has failed can take up a huge amount of valuable time. Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard has fixed the problem of lengthy CHKDSK checks and has added the ability to perform a parallel rebuild of failed storage spaces. The data from the failed physical disk will be regenerated in parallel, using all available drives in the pool. The Parallel Rebuild process is designed to return the system to a stable state as quickly as possible.

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard was released to the public on September 4, 2012. The program has four editions and a much greater emphasis on cloud computing compared to its predecessor. Windows Server 2012 has received generally good reviews and is easy to use thanks to a familiar interface. My Choice Software carries several editions of Windows Server 2012 Standard, including R2 and 64-bit editions.

Features

In response to consumer critiques of Windows 2008, Windows 2012 was released with the ability to switch between Server Core and Server with a GUI installation options without having to do a full reinstallation. Server 2012 Standard also features a familiar interface and an all new version of Windows Task Manager which offers the ability to hide select tabs to show applications only.

Technical improvements like the addition of IP address management, an active directory and hyper-v allow the server software to operate with improved speed and efficiency. It is also compatible with existing APIs and technologies.

Scalability and System Requirements

Windows Server 2012 Standard is designed to be scalable to prolong its lifespan and improve customer satisfaction. The server can support up to 64 processors or 640 logical processors when hyper-v is disabled. It has 4 TB of memory and 64 failover cluster nodes. Windows Server 2012 is designed to run only on x64 processors. It does not support Itanium, but does support system upgrades from Windows Server 2008.