In every edition, the name of Windows Server 2022 will change because the suffix “LTSC” has been dropped by Microsoft. This acronym stands for Long-Term Service Channel and helped to differentiate this version of the operating system from the Semi-Annual Channel (SAC). This is no longer necessary since the end of the server in the semi-annual channel has recently been announced.
LTSC as the sole channel
Like its predecessors in the LTSC, Windows Server 2022 will receive 10 years of support. As usual, this period is divided into five years of mainstream support and five years of extended support.
The two installation options, Desktop Experience and Server Core, also remain unchanged. Microsoft recommends using the slim version without the GUI for most infrastructure services; it is also the default in the setup.
Server Core is the default installation option in the Windows Server 2022 setup.
To achieve better compatibility with GUI tools for system administration, you can add Core App Compatibility as a feature on demand in Server 2022.
The installation of the Desktop Experience is primarily intended for RD Session Hosts. Its desktop shows that Windows Server 2022 is not a counterpart to Windows 11 but to Windows 10 21H2, and thus still includes the old Start menu.
Windows Server 2022 offers the familiar Windows 10 desktop.
Three editions for Server 2022
Since version 2012, Microsoft has offered the Server OS in two main editions, which differ primarily in terms of virtualization rights. Since Server 2016, however, the Datacenter Edition has received exclusive features that are missing in the standard edition. These include Shielded VMs, Storage Replica, and software-defined storage with Storage Spaces Direct.
This difference remains in the 2022 version, where the Standard Edition is limited to two virtual instances and only includes a stripped-down version of Storage Replica (limited to one partnership with a maximum of 2 TB volumes).
As before, the installation media for Server 2022 contains binaries for the Standard and Datacenter editions.
The two editions are now joined by a third, called Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition. As the name suggests, this is intended only for running in the Microsoft cloud.
It has two exclusive features in its debut, which are not available on-prem, at least not for the time being. These are hotpatching, which allows for installing updates without rebooting the computer, and SMB over QUIC as an alternative to VPNs.
In the SMB settings of the Admin Center the section on SMB over QUIC is missing when connecting to an on prem server 2022.
The Azure edition is otherwise functionally identical to the Datacenter Edition, even if some features don’t seem to offer much benefit in an Azure VM. This applies to Storage Spaces Direct, for example, and SMB Direct and SMB over RDMA are not supported in Azure VMs anyway.
Essentials Edition is no longer a separate product
For Windows Server 2019, Microsoft still offered the Essentials edition, which is aimed at small businesses with a maximum of 25 users. In this version, however, Microsoft removed special functions, such as the dashboard, client backup, and access anywhere.
At the same time, the manufacturer stripped out the Windows Server Essentials Experience role in the main editions. This is also missing in the Standard and Datacenter editions of Server 2022.
Despite expectations, the smallest version of Windows Server will be available again in the 2022 version. However, it is no longer a product on its own; rather, it is a Standard Edition with an alternative license.
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As before, this includes a number of restrictions, for example, a maximum of 25 users and 50 devices. In addition, Server 2022 limits the Essentials Edition to one CPU with a maximum of 10 cores.
Yet another edition under a different product name
Microsoft has another operating system in its portfolio that is based on Windows Server but goes by a different name. We are referring to Azure Stack HCI. It has its own hardware certification, is licensed by subscription, and can only be installed on bare metal, but not in a VM. Unlike Server 2022, it receives feature upgrades at short intervals.
Azure Stack HCI will replace Windows Server sooner or later for hyperconverged infrastructures.
Microsoft is positioning Azure Stack HCI as a competitor to Windows Server for hyperconverged infrastructures. In the future, it alone will get all essential new features for this use case.
With Server 2022, the manufacturer limits Windows Server to improvements in existing functions. So, the OS gets User Adjustable Storage Repair Speed for Storage Spaces Direct as the only significant innovation for hyperconverged infrastructures.
Microsoft not only reserves exclusive features for Azure Stack HCI, but also promotes it with other benefits. For example, extended support for Windows Server 2008 through 2012 as well as for SQL Server 2012 is available for free when these legacy versions are running in a VM on this platform. On Windows Server 2022 Hyper-V, on the other hand, this service is quite expensive.
Also, Datacenter: Azure Edition of Server 2022 will run in VMs on Azure Stack HCI, but not on a Hyper-V server.
Prices
Microsoft has yet to announce the official pricing for Windows Server 2022. The last major change in licensing came with the switch to per-core instead of per-CPU in Windows Server 2016. Microsoft will certainly retain this.
This list shows a significant increase in the price of the Standard Edition by $97 to $1069 for a starter license with 16 cores. This represents an increase of 10 percent. However, the costs for the Datacenter and Essentials editions remained the same according to this source, contrary to the news from some license dealers.
— Update: 25-02-2023 — us.suanoncolosence.com found an additional article Comparison of Standard, Datacenter, and Datacenter: Azure Edition editions of Windows Server 2022 from the website github.com for the keyword windows server 2022 editions compared.
| title | description | ms.topic | author | ms.author | manager | ms.date | ms.prod |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparison of Standard, Datacenter, and Datacenter Azure Edition editions of Windows Server 2022 | Comparison of Standard, Datacenter, and Datacenter Azure Edition editions of Windows Server 2022. | conceptual | dknappettmsft | alalve | femila | 09/16/2022 | windows-server |
Use this article to compare Standard, Datacenter, and Datacenter: Azure Edition editions of Windows Server 2022 to see which will be most appropriate.
Features generally available
| Features available generally | Windows Server 2022 Standard | Windows Server 2022 Datacenter | Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Extended Network | No | No | Yes |
| Best Practices Analyzer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Containers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic Memory (in virtualization) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hot Add/Replace RAM | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hotpatching | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Management Console | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minimal Server Interface | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Network Load Balancing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows PowerShell | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server Core installation option | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMB Direct and SMB over RDMA | Yes | Yes | Yes (not supported in Azure) |
| SMB Compression | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMB over QUIC | No | No | Yes |
| Software-defined Networking | No | Yes | Yes |
| Storage Migration Service | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Storage Replica | Yes, (1 partnership and 1 resource group with a single 2TB volume) | Yes, unlimited | Yes, unlimited |
| Storage Replica Compression | No | No | Yes |
| Storage Spaces | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Storage Spaces Direct | No | Yes | Yes |
| Volume Activation Services | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service) integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server Update Services | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server license logging | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Inherited activation | As guest if hosted on Datacenter | Can be a host or a guest | Can be a host or a guest |
| Work Folders | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|Features available generally|Windows Server 2022 Standard|Windows Server 2022 Datacenter|Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition| |——————-|———-|—————————| |Azure Extended Network|No|No|Yes| |Hotpatching|No|No|Yes| |SMB over QUIC|No|No|Yes| |Software-defined Networking|No|Yes|Yes| |Storage Replica| Yes, (1 partnership and 1 resource group with a single 2TB volume) | Yes, unlimited | Yes, unlimited | |Storage Spaces Direct|No|Yes|Yes| |Inherited activation|As guest if hosted on Datacenter| Can be a host or a guest | Can be a host or a guest |
Locks and Limits
| Locks and Limits | Windows Server 2022 Standard | Windows Server 2022 Datacenter |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum number of users | Based on CALs | Based on CALs |
| Maximum SMB connections | 16,777,216 | 16,777,216 |
| Maximum RRAS connections | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Maximum IAS connections | 2,147,483,647 | 2,147,483,647 |
| Maximum RDS connections | 65,535 | 65,535 |
| Maximum number of 64-bit sockets | 64 | 64 |
| Maximum number of cores | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Maximum RAM | 48 TB | 48 TB |
| Can be used as virtualization guest | Yes; 2 virtual machines, plus one Hyper-V host per license | Yes; unlimited virtual machines, plus one Hyper-V host per license |
| Windows Server Containers | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Virtual OSE/Hyper-V isolated Containers | 2 | Unlimited |
| Server can join a domain | Yes | Yes |
| Edge network protection/firewall | No | No |
| DirectAccess | Yes | Yes |
| DLNA codecs and web media streaming | Yes, if installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, if installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| Locks and Limits | Windows Server 2022 Standard | Windows Server 2022 Datacenter |
|---|---|---|
| Can be used as virtualization guest | Yes; 2 virtual machines, plus one Hyper-V host per license | Yes; unlimited virtual machines, plus one Hyper-V host per license |
Server roles
| Windows Server roles available | Role services | Windows Server 2022 Standard | Windows Server 2022 Datacenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Directory Certificate Services | Yes | Yes | |
| Active Directory Domain Services | Yes | Yes | |
| Active Directory Federation Services | Yes | Yes | |
| Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services | Yes | Yes | |
| Active Directory Rights Management Services | Yes | Yes | |
| Device Health Attestation | Yes | Yes | |
| DHCP Server | Yes | Yes | |
| DNS Server | Yes | Yes | |
| Fax Server | Yes | Yes | |
| File and Storage Services | File Server | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | BranchCache for Network Files | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | Data Deduplication | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | DFS Namespaces | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | DFS Replication | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | File Server Resource Manager | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | File Server VSS Agent Service | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | iSCSI Target Server | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | iSCSI Target Storage Provider | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | Server for NFS | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | Work Folders | Yes | Yes |
| File and Storage Services | Storage Services | Yes | Yes |
| Host Guardian Service | Yes | Yes | |
| Hyper-V | Yes | Yes; including Shielded Virtual Machines | |
| Network Controller | No | Yes | |
| Network Policy and Access Services | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | |
| Print and Document Services | Yes | Yes | |
| Remote Access | Yes | Yes | |
| Remote Desktop Services | Yes | Yes | |
| Volume Activation Services | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Services (IIS) | Yes | Yes | |
| Windows Deployment Services | Yes | Yes | |
| Windows Server Update Services | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server roles available | Role services | Windows Server 2022 Standard | Windows Server 2022 Datacenter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network Controller | No | Yes |
Features
| Windows Server Features available | Windows Server 2022 Standard | Windows Server 2022 Datacenter |
|---|---|---|
| .NET Framework 3.5 | Yes | Yes |
| .NET Framework 4.8 | Yes | Yes |
| Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) | Yes | Yes |
| BitLocker Drive Encryption | Yes | Yes |
| BitLocker Network Unlock | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| BranchCache | Yes | Yes |
| Client for NFS | Yes | Yes |
| Containers | Yes | Yes |
| Data Center Bridging | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Play | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| Enhanced Storage | Yes | Yes |
| Failover Clustering | Yes | Yes |
| Group Policy Management | Yes | Yes |
| Host Guardian Hyper-V Support | No | Yes |
| I/O Quality of Service | Yes | Yes |
| IIS Hostable Web Core | Yes | Yes |
| Internet Printing Client | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| IP Address Management (IPAM) Server | Yes | Yes |
| LPR Port Monitor | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| Management OData IIS Extension | Yes | Yes |
| Media Foundation | Yes | Yes |
| Message Queueing | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus | Yes | Yes |
| Multipath I/O | Yes | Yes |
| MultiPoint Connector | Yes | Yes |
| Network Load Balancing | Yes | Yes |
| Network Virtualization | Yes | Yes |
| Peer Name Resolution Protocol | Yes | Yes |
| Quality Windows Audio Video Experience | Yes | Yes |
| RAS Connection Manager Administration Kit (CMAK) | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| Remote Assistance | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| Remote Differential Compression | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) | Yes | Yes |
| RPC over HTTP Proxy | Yes | Yes |
| Setup and Boot Event Collection | Yes | Yes |
| Simple TCP/IP Services | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support | Yes | Yes |
| SMB Bandwidth Limit | Yes | Yes |
| SMTP Server | Yes | Yes |
| SNMP Service | Yes | Yes |
| Software Load Balancer | Yes | Yes |
| Storage Migration Service | Yes | Yes |
| Storage Migration Service Proxy | Yes | Yes |
| Storage Replica | Yes | Yes |
| System Data Archiver | Yes | Yes |
| System Insights | Yes | Yes |
| Telnet Client | Yes | Yes |
| TFTP Client | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| VM Shielding Tools for Fabric Management | Yes | Yes |
| WebDAV Redirector | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Biometric Framework | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| Windows Identity Foundation 3.5 | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| Windows Internal Database | Yes | Yes |
| Windows PowerShell | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Process Activation Service | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Search Service | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| Windows Server Backup | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server Migration Tools | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Standards-Based Storage Management | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Subsystem for Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Windows TIFF IFilter | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, when installed as Server with Desktop Experience |
| WinRM IIS Extension | Yes | Yes |
| WINS Server | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless LAN Service | Yes | Yes |
| WoW64 support | Yes | Yes |
| XPS Viewer | Yes, installed with Server with Desktop Experience | Yes, installed with Server with Desktop Experience |
| Windows Server Features available | Windows Server 2022 Standard | Windows Server 2022 Datacenter |
|---|---|---|
| Host Guardian Hyper-V Support | No | Yes |
— Update: 19-03-2023 — us.suanoncolosence.com found an additional article Windows Server 2022 Editions compared and discussed from the website www.thewindowsclub.com for the keyword windows server 2022 editions compared.
The Windows Server 2022 is available and it brings along advanced multi-layer security, hybrid capabilities with Azure, and a flexible application platform. It has inbuilt secured-core capabilities to help protect hardware, firmware, and Windows Server OS capabilities against advanced security threats. Secured-core servers are based on technologies such as Windows Defender System Guard and Virtualization-based Security to reduce risk from firmware vulnerabilities and advanced malware.
The connectivity is also more secured than before with faster and more secured encrypted HTTPS connections, industry-standard SMB AES 256 encryption among several others.
Compared to the earlier Server editions, Windows Server 2022 also improves hybrid server management with significantly improved VM management, an enhanced event viewer with more features available in Windows Admin Center. There are improvements to Windows containers, such as smaller image sizes for faster download, simplified network policy implementation, and containerization tools for .NET applications.
Windows Server 2022 Editions compared
There are three editions of Windows Server 2022:
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- Standard
- Datacenter
- Datacenter: Azure Edition
Microsoft has detailed the features in each of these editions.
1] Windows Server 2022 Standard Edition
The Windows Server 2022 Standard Edition is the primary version among the three. Although stuffed with all general features it misses Hotpatching and Software-defined Networking.
The Storage Replica option is available (1 partnership and 1 resource group with a single 2TB volume), however, it misses out on Storage Spaces Direct feature. It offers an option for two virtual machines, plus one Hyper-V host per license along with 2 Virtual OSE/Hyper-V isolated Containers.
Host Guardian Hyper-V Support is not available for the Standard version.
2] Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Edition
The Datacenter Edition of Windows Server 2022 is a step above the Standard Edition. Although Hotpatching is not available here as well, however, it includes Software-defined Networking. The Datacenter edition offers unlimited Storage Replica and includes the Storage Spaces Direct feature as well. Inherited activation can be done as a host or a guest.
A step above the Standard Edition, Datacenter Edition offers unlimited Virtual machines, plus one Hyper-V host per license along with unlimited Virtual OSE/Hyper-V isolated Containers.
Missing in Standard, Host Guardian Hyper-V Support is available for Datacenter Edition. Also, there is support for Shielded Virtual Machines which is not available in Standard Edition.
3] Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition
The Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition is the most premium among the 3 and as the name says is supported on Azure (Azure IaaS or Azure Stack HCI – 21H2) and offers specific features not available outside of these environments (Hotpatching, SMB over QUIC, and Azure Extended Networking). Hotpatching particularly is a great feature here, which lets admins apply patches without rebooting, and SMB over QUIC, for secure access to shared files over the internet without the hassles of setting up a VPN.
The Admin Center includes a menu for Azure Hybrid Center, Azure Kubernetes Services, Azure Backup, Azure File Sync, Azure Monitor, and Azure Security Center.
Talking about the other features, and being the most premium among the three, it includes all the other features that the Standard and Datacenter version comes with.
Standard vs Datacenter vs Datacenter: Azure – All Features comparison table
Features available generally
Locks and Limits
Server roles
Related: Windows Server 2022 vs 2019 vs 2016 Feature differences
Features
Related: Hardware Requirements for Windows Server 2022.
What is the support lifecycle for Windows Server 2022
Its mainstream end date is October 13, 2026, and its extended end date is October 14, 2031.
What are the installation options for Windows 2022?
Windows Server 2022 products come with both Core and Desktop installation options for all editions. The core is the headless low-footprint installation option suggested optimal for remote management and automation purposes. In the Desktop installation option, it installs the server with a graphical user interface, which is a traditionally used method however it is not recommended for organizations that carry out large-scale automation.
Source: https://4sysops.com/archives/windows-server-2022-comparison-of-editions-and-features/