Draft:Windows Server

Windows Server
Version of Microsoft Windows
Logo
Screenshot
Initial releaseWindows NT 3.1 Advanced Server
(27 July 1993)
Latest releaseWindows Server 2022
(18 August 2021)
Latest previewWindows Server 2025 (build 26100.1742)
(10 September 2024)

Windows Server (formerly Windows NT Server) is a series of server operating systems based upon Microsoft Windows, developed by Microsoft. The first server release of Microsoft Windows was Windows NT 3.1. The family was rebranded to Windows Server following the release of Windows Server 2003.

Windows Server Core[edit source]

Windows Server, version 23H2 in its Server Core configuration

Windows Server Core is a reduced-functionality version of the Windows Server operating system designed to reduce system overhead, containing only the essential components required to run the operating system and make use of existing server roles and features. Server Core releases utilize a command-line interface (CLI) in place of a complete graphical user interface (GUI), support running without any peripherals present and are usually managed remotely, either over a local network or through a serial connection.

Specialized releases[edit source]

Certain versions of Windows Server have specific purposes attributed to them which target specific server markets. These are often based on mainline releases of Windows Server, acting as individual releases or as additional SKUs building on top of the original OS release.

Separate releases[edit source]

Small Business Server[edit source]

A reduced-functionality version of Windows Server that targets small- to medium-sized businesses, containing the absolute necessary components needed for server hosting.

Essential Business Server[edit source]
Home Server[edit source]

A short-lived spin-off of Windows Small Business Server, offering online services to devices inside of a local home network. Users can remotely log onto an online server dashboard, host personal file shares on the server and publish images to the Internet—all of which is achieved through the use of the Home Server Connector software.

MultiPoint Server[edit source]

Designed for use in educational institutions. Students are allocated their own dedicated station that is managed through a single server, capable of processing large numbers of simultaneous requests from various clients.

SKU releases[edit source]

List of Windows Server releases[edit source]

Name Version Code name Release date Support end date Notes
Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1 3.10 Razzle 1993-07-27 2000-12-31 First release of Windows Server.
Windows NT Server 3.5 3.50 Daytona 1994-09-21 2001-12-31
Windows NT Server 3.51 3.51 1995-05-30 2002-09-30
Windows NT Server 4.0 4.0 Shell Update Release 1996-07-31 2004-06-30 Introduces desktop shell enhancements from Windows 95.
Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition Hydra 1998-06-16 2006-12-31
Windows 2000 Server 5.0 2000-02-17 2010-07-13
Windows Server 2003 5.2 Whistler Server 2003-04-24 2015-07-14
Windows Small Business Server 2003 Bobcat 2003-10-09
Windows Home Server Quattro 2007-11-04 2013-01-08
Windows Server 2008 6.0 Longhorn Server 2008-02-27 2020-01-14[a] Development was reset in 2004.
Windows Small Business Server 2008 Cougar 2008-08-21
Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Centro 2008-09-15
Windows Server 2008 R2 6.1 Windows Server 7 2009-07-22
Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Solution Server 2010-02-24 2020-07-14
Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Windows MultiPoint Server "2" 2011-05-12 2021-07-13
Windows Small Business Server 2011 SBS "7" 2010-12-13 2020-01-14
Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials Breckenridge 2011-04 2020-01-14 Originally planned to act as a separate licensing tier for Windows Home Server 2011, was rebranded as a Windows Storage Server release for unknown reasons
Windows Home Server 2011 Vail 2011-04-06 2016-04-12
Windows Server 2012 6.2 Windows Server 8 2012-09-04 2023-10-10[b]
Windows MultiPoint Server 2012 Windows MultiPoint Server "3" 2012-10-30
Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3 Server Blue 2013-10-18
Windows Server 2016 10.0 Redstone 1 2016-10-12 2027-01-11
Windows Server, version 1709 Redstone 3 2017-10-17 2019-04-09 First Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel release
Windows Server, version 1803 Redstone 4 2018-04-30 2019-11-12
Windows Server 2019 Redstone 5 2018-10-02
2018-11-13 (re-release)
2020-11-10 (SAC)
2029-01-09 (LTSC)
Windows Server, version 1903 Titanium 2019-05-21 2020-12-08
Windows Server, version 1909 2019-11-12 2021-05-11
Windows Server, version 2004 Vibranium 2020-05-27 2021-12-14
Windows Server, version 20H2 2020-10-20 2022-08-09 Last Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel release
Windows Server 2022 Iron 2021-08-18 2031-10-14
Windows Server, version 23H2 Zinc 2023-10-24 First Windows Server Annual Channel for Containers release
Windows Server 2025 Germanium 2024 TBA
Legend:
Never released
Old version
Older version, still supported
Current stable version
Latest preview version
Future release

Notes[edit source]

  1. Supported until 10 January 2023 (9 January 2024 for Azure customers) via the paid Extended Security Updates service for volume licensed Standard, Datacenter and Enterprise copies.
  2. Supported until 13 October 2026 via the paid Extended Security Updates service.