Windows Server 2016 editions
Windows Server 2016 is available in Standard, Datacenter, and Essentials editions. Windows Server 2016 Datacenter includes unlimited virtualization rights plus new features to build a software-defined datacenter. Windows Server 2016 Standard offers enterprise-class features with limited virtualization rights. Windows Server Essentials is an ideal cloud-connected first server. It has its own extensive documentation—the content here focuses on Standard and Datacenter editions. The following table briefly summarizes the key differences between Standard and Datacenter editions:
| Feature | Datacenter | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Core functionality of Windows Server | yes | yes |
| OSEs / Hyper-V containers | unlimited | 2 |
| Windows Server containers | unlimited | unlimited |
| Host Guardian Service | yes | yes |
| Nano Server installation option | yes | yes |
| Storage features including Storage Spaces Direct and Storage Replica | yes | no |
| Shielded Virtual Machines | yes | no |
| Software Defined Networking Infrastructure (Network Controller, Software Load Balancer, and Multi-tenant Gateway) | yes | no |
Installation options
Both Standard and Datacenter editions offer three installation options:
- Server Core: reduces the space required on disk, the potential attack surface, and especially the servicing requirements. This is the recommended option unless you have a particular need for additional user interface elements and graphical management tools.
- Server with Desktop Experience: installs the standard user interface and all tools, including client experience features that required a separate installation in Windows Server 2012 R2. Server roles and features are installed with Server Manager or by other methods.
- Nano Server: is a remotely administered server operating system optimized for private clouds and datacenters. It is similar to Windows Server in Server Core mode, but significantly smaller, has no local logon capability, and only supports 64-bit applications, tools, and agents. It takes up far less disk space, sets up significantly faster, and requires far fewer updates and restarts than the other options.
the minimum requirement to install windows server 2016. Details are as follows:
Processor
• 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor
• Compatible with x64 instruction set
• Supports NX and DEP
• Supports CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF, and PrefetchW
• Supports Second Level Address Translation (EPT or NPT)
Coreinfo is a tool you can use to confirm which of these capabilities you CPU has.
RAM
• 512 MB (2 GB for Server with Desktop Experience installation option)
• ECC (Error Correcting Code) type or similar technology
Storage controller and disk space requirements
Computers that run Windows Server 2016 must include a storage adapter that is compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification. Persistent storage devices on servers classified as hard disk drives must not be PATA. Windows Server 2016 does not allow ATA/PATA/IDE/EIDE for boot, page, or data drives.
The following are the estimated minimum disk space requirements for the system partition.
Minimum: 32 GB
Network adapter requirements
Minimum:
• An Ethernet adapter capable of at least gigabit throughput
• Compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification.
• Supports Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE).