Welcome to the first in a two-part series examining server technology. Microsoft’s new server platform,Windows Server 2012 is nearing release, but Linux also offers a stable platform. This series will examine some of the highlights of these platforms. This week, we’ll consider the windows platform. The new Windows Server platform brings several interesting aspects to the table. In harmony with Microsoft’s recent strategy of allowing users to download the newest OS before it’s released, WS2012 is available for download, free, right now. It brings several interesting features, such as better connection to the cloud, and better virtualization control. Microsoft has also simplified it’s licensing scheme, making the choice much easier. Come with me and check it out! The Release Candidate, Ready For Download Microsoft has made available the release candidate version of Windows Server 2012. it can be downloaded for free and evaluated. As a release candidate, it is not ready for a production environment, but it is perfect for evaluation.
Power-Packed With Features
This product brings several new features to the web, and empowers administrators in several ways. As the download site indicates, it brings “a scalable, dynamic, andmultitenant-aware, cloud-optimized infrastructure.” WS2012 offers several virtualization options which gives businesses “the power of many servers with the simplicity of one.” It also offers seamless, on demand access to content and data from any device, anywhere with its “modern workstyle.” These features allow for serious flexibility, but how much does it cost?
New Simplified License Scheme
Microsoft has created a much simpler licensing scheme. Rather than the complex licensing plans that accompanied previous versions, Windows Server 2012 has only 4 models. Each of these models primary limiting factor is “virtualization rights,” the amount of virtual instances that can be running at the same time, and the number of user accountspermissible. Users can purchase anything from the “Essentials” edition with no virtualization rights and 15 user accounts for $425.0, to the “Datacenter” version with unlimited rights for $4809. $4809? Yes, that last $9 is very important to Microsoft, $4800 is just not enough.
Conclusions
Microsoft has released a power-packed product, filled with the features today’s web2.0 or web3.0 apps need, but what are the alternatives? The next article in this series covers another alternative which has been a major player in the server space, Linux.In the meantime, one way to ramp up server performance is by adding memory to your servers. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading, now’s an excellent time. Find DDR3 PC3-10600 Memory Here Click here to read about the competing Linux software
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