View source for Windows Server 2012

{{Infobox OS version
| name = Windows Server 2012
| family = [[Windows Server]]
| logo = Windows Server 2012 logo.svg
| screenshot = Windows Server 2012-Login screen.png
| caption = Screenshot of Windows Server 2012. Login screen showing the windows user password and user image.
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20121031152857/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server Windows Server 2012] (archived at [[Wayback Machine]]))
| source_model = [[Proprietary software]]
| license = [[Commercial software|Commercial]] [[proprietary software]]
| kernel_type = Hybrid kernel
| ui = Windows shell ([[Graphical user interface|GUI]])
| preceded by = [[Windows Server 2008 R2]] (2009)
| succeeded by = [[Windows Server 2012 R2]] (2013)
| first_release_date = [[September 4]], [[2012]]
| release version = 6.2 (Build 9200)
| release date = August 1, 2012
| preview_version = R2 6.3 (Build 9600)
| preview_date = October 17, 2013
| preview_url = http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2012/04/25/beta-3-is-go.aspx
| support_status = Supported 
Start date: October 30, 2012.
* Mainstream support ended on October 9, 2018;
* Extended support ended on {{End date and age|2023|10|10}}

Windows Server 2012 is eligible for the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program (free for [[Microsoft Azure|Azure Virtual Desktop]] users). It allows to purchase Security Updates for 3 years, in early installments. Security Updates are available for the operating system until October 13, 2026.
}}
'''Windows Server 2012''', codenamed "Windows Server 8",<ref name="ZDNet1">{{cite web | url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/windows-server-8-officially-dubbed-windows-server-2012/12475 | title=Windows Server "8" officially dubbed Windows Server 2012 | work=ZDNet | publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] | access-date=April 17, 2012 | first=Mary Jo |last=Foley |date=April 17, 2012}}</ref> is the sixth release of [[Windows Server]]. It is the server version of [[Windows 8]] and succeeds [[Windows Server 2008 R2]]. Two pre-release versions, a  developer preview and a [[beta version]], were released during development. The software was generally available to customers starting on September 4, 2012.<ref name="MSofficialRTM">{{cite news |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/08/01/windows-server-2012-released-to-manufacturing.aspx |title=Windows Server 2012 released to manufacturing! |work=Windows Server Blog |agency=[[Microsoft TechNet#Blogs|TechNet blogs]] |publisher=Microsoft |date=August 1, 2012 |last=Snover |first=Jeffrey |access-date=January 29, 2013 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222121938/http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/08/01/windows-server-2012-released-to-manufacturing.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> It mainstream support ended on October 9, 2018 and extended support ended on October 10, 2023. Windows Server 2012 is eligible for the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program (free for [[Microsoft Azure|Azure Virtual Desktop]] users). It allows to purchase Security Updates for 3 years, in early installments. Security Updates are available for the operating system until October 13, 2026.

Unlike its predecessor, Windows Server 2012 has no support for [[Itanium]]-based computers,<ref name="no itanium">{{cite web |url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-pulls-the-plug-on-future-itanium-support/5796 |title=Microsoft pulls the plug on future Itanium support |last=Foley |first=Mary Jo |work=ZDNet |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=April 5, 2010 |access-date=January 1, 2012}}</ref> and has four editions. Various features were added or improved over Windows Server 2008 R2 (with many placing an emphasis on [[cloud computing]]), such as an updated version of Hyper-V, an IP address management role, a new version of [[Windows Task Manager]], and ReFS, a new [[file system]]. Windows Server 2012 received generally good reviews in spite of having included the same controversial Metro-based user interface seen in Windows 8.

The successor to Windows Server 2012, called Windows Server 2012 R2, was released along with [[Windows 8.1]] in October 2013. A service pack, formally designated Windows Server 2012 R2 Update, was released in April 2014.<ref name="R2_Update">http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2014/08/05/august-updates-for-windows-8-1-and-windows-server-2012-r2/</ref><ref name="Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview eBook">{{cite web |url=http://hyperv.veeam.com/backup-resseler-whats-new-windows-server-2012-3071/ |title=eBook - What's new in Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview |last=Resseler |first=Mike | publisher=Veeam Software | date=August 2013 |access-date=September 3, 2013}}</ref>
== History ==
Windows Server 2012, codenamed "Windows Server 8",<ref name="ZDNet1" /> is the sixth release of [[Windows Server]] family of operating systems developed concurrently with [[Windows 8]].<ref name="betawinsupersite" /><ref name="WSVRBlog-RC" /> It was not until April 17, 2012 that the company announced that the final product name would be "Windows Server 2012".<ref name="ZDNet1" />

Microsoft introduced Windows Server 2012 and its developer preview in the BUILD 2011 conference on September 9, 2011.<ref name="serverandcloudblog">{{cite news | url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/server-cloud/archive/2011/09/09/windows-server-8-an-introduction.aspx | title=Windows Server 8: An Introduction | publisher=Microsoft | work=Server & Cloud Blog | agency=[[Microsoft TechNet#Blogs|TechNet blogs]] | date=September 9, 2011 | access-date=January 23, 2013 | first=Bill | last=Laing | archive-date=September 10, 2012 | archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6AZiecsSp?url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/server-cloud/archive/2011/09/09/windows-server-8-an-introduction.aspx | url-status=dead }}</ref> However, unlike Windows 8, the developer preview of Windows Server 2012 was only made available to MSDN subscribers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Download Windows Server 8 Developer Preview via MSDN|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Download-Windows-Server-8-Developer-Preview-via-MSDN-221760.shtml|work=Softpedia|publisher=SoftNews SRL|access-date=January 25, 2013|date=September 14, 2011}}</ref> It included a [[graphical user interface]] (GUI) based on Metro design language and a new Server Manager, a graphical application used for server management.<ref name="win8serverdevpreviewzdnet">{{cite web | url=http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-server-developer-preview-3040093932/ | title=Windows 8 Server Developer Preview | work=ZDNet |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] | date=September 14, 2011 | access-date=January 1, 2012 | last=Bisson |first=Simon}}</ref> On February 16, 2012, Microsoft released an update for developer preview build that extended its expiry date from April 8, 2012 to January 15, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Arghire|first=Ionut|title=Windows 8 Developer Preview Expiration Date Gets Postponed|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Developer-Preview-Expiration-Date-Gets-Postponed-253670.shtml|work=Softpedia|publisher=SoftNews SRL|access-date=July 15, 2013|date=February 18, 2012}}</ref>

Before Windows Server 2012 was finalized, two test builds were made public. A public [[beta version]] of Windows Server 2012 was released along with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on February 29, 2012.<ref name="betawinsupersite">{{cite web | url=http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windows8/download-information-windows-server-8-beta-windows-8-consumer-preview-142434 | title=Q: Where can I download and get more information on Windows Server "8" Beta and Windows 8 Consumer Preview? | work=Windows IT Pro | publisher=Penton Media | date=February 29, 2012 | access-date=February 29, 2012 | last=Savill | first=John }}{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The release candidate of Windows Server 2012 was released on May 31, 2012, along with the Windows 8 Release Preview.<ref name="WSVRBlog-RC">{{cite news |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/04/24/windows-server-2012-release-candidate-timing.aspx |title=Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate Timing |work=Windows Server Blog |agency=[[Microsoft TechNet#Blogs|TechNet blogs]] |publisher=Microsoft |date=April 24, 2012 |access-date=January 21, 2013 |first=Jeffrey |last=Snover |archive-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211102120/http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/04/24/windows-server-2012-release-candidate-timing.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The product was released to manufacturing on August 1, 2012 and became generally available on September 4, 2012.<ref name="MSofficialRTM"/> However, not all [[#Editions|editions of Windows Server 2012]] were released at the same time. Windows Server 2012 Essentials was released to manufacturing on October 9, 2012<ref>{{cite news|last=Snover|first=Jeffrey|title=Windows Server 2012 Essentials released to manufacturing, available for evaluation today!|url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/10/09/windows-server-2012-essentials-released-to-manufacturing-available-for-evaluation-today.aspx|work=Windows Server Blog!|agency=[[Microsoft TechNet#Blogs|TechNet blogs]]|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 25, 2013|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117101705/http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/10/09/windows-server-2012-essentials-released-to-manufacturing-available-for-evaluation-today.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> and was made generally available on November 1, 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Windows Server 2012 Essentials reaches general availability! |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/11/05/windows-server-2012-essentials-reaches-general-availability.aspx |work=Windows Server Blog! |agency=[[Microsoft TechNet#Blogs|TechNet blogs]] |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=January 25, 2013 |archive-date=April 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429170120/http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/11/05/windows-server-2012-essentials-reaches-general-availability.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of September 23, 2012, all students subscribed to DreamSpark program can download Windows Server 2012 Standard or Datacenter free of charge.<ref>{{cite web|title=Windows Server 2012|url=https://www.dreamspark.com/Product/Product.aspx?productid=42|work=[[Microsoft DreamSpark]]|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 25, 2013|archive-date=August 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819092423/https://www.dreamspark.com/Product/Product.aspx?productid=42|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== Further reading ==
* {{cite book| last = Stanek| first = William| title = Windows Server 2012 Inside Out| url = https://archive.org/details/microsoftwindows0000stan_i3o5| year = 2013| publisher = Microsoft Press| isbn = 978-0-7356-6631-3 }}
* {{cite book| last = Stanek| first = William| title = Windows Server 2012 R2 Inside Out Volume 1: Configuration, Storage, & Essentials| url = https://archive.org/details/windowsserver2010000stan_u6t3| year = 2014| publisher = Microsoft Press| isbn = 978-0-7356-8267-2 }}
* {{cite book| last = Stanek| first = William| title = Windows Server 2012 R2 Inside Out Volume 2: Services, Security, & Infrastructure| url = https://archive.org/details/windowsserver2010000stan_f9e9| year = 2014| publisher = Microsoft Press| isbn = 978-0-7356-8255-9 }}
== Other websites ==
{{Wikiversity|Windows Server}}
* {{Official website|http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server/default.aspx}}
* [https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh801901.aspx Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012] on [[Microsoft TechNet|TechNet]]
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn609939%28v=vs.85%29.aspx Windows Server 2012 R2] on MSDN
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn609938%28v=vs.85%29.aspx Windows Server 2012] on MSDN
* [http://www.technig.com/mcsa-lab-manual-articles-windows-server-2012-r2/ Tutorials and Lab Manual Articles of Windows Server 2012 R2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703115835/http://www.technig.com/mcsa-lab-manual-articles-windows-server-2012-r2/ |date=2019-07-03 }}

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