We look at every version of Windows Server, from NT Server to Windows Server.
Ascertain it's time to upgrade. Servers offer services to other computers in a network. Because of this, they require a different operating system than regular PCs. Microsoft is well-known for its Windows operating system, and it makes a special version to support servers. Windows Server, the most popular system for managing servers, is also the main competitor to Linux. Microsoft continues to rewrite the operating system regularly, up to Windows Server 2019.
Microsoft used the "NT" brand name to market its Windows operating system throughout the 1990s. The NT name was used in several versions of the operating systems.
Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1 was the first version of this system, and it was released in 1993. This 32-bit system was available in two versions: one for terminals and another forServers. This server version led to the creation of the Windows Server family. There was never a Windows NT Server version 1.
Windows NT Server 3.5
The company introduced Windows Server 3.0 in 1994. This enabled interconnectivity with Unix and Novell Netware. Windows Server was a new platform at the time. Most networks were running on Unix and Novell servers. Compatibility with these systems was crucial if Companies adopted windows Server with networks.
Windows NT Server 3.51
Microsoft significantly improved its PC Windows interface in 1995 with Windows 95. Windows NT Server 3.51 was also developed by Microsoft to manage Windows 95-running computers. This server system can manage client software licenses and install and update Windows 95 over the network.
Windows NT Server 4.0
Windows NT Server did not get the Windows 95 interface until
1996 when Windows NT Server 4.0 was released. The
operating system came with IIS 2.0 free of charge. Internet Information
Server (IIS ) is Microsoft's Web server system. Today, it is the most
popular Webserver software worldwide, with Apache HTML Server being a close
competitor. It took Microsoft 22 years to overtake Apache as the most popular
Web server in 2018.
Windows NT Server Enterprise was created in 1997 to address
the increased complexity of network networks. These enhancements included the
integration of public-key encryption services and
management of server clusters' operating systems. The Transaction Server and Mail Queue Server were
two other additions that considered interactions with potentially congested
networks.
Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition was the last
major enhancement of Windows NT Server. It was released in 1998. This enhanced
connectivity to non-Windows systems and created a bridge between 16-bit DOS
apps so they could interface with 32-bit Desktop environments.
The Development History of Windows Server
Microsoft dropped the "NT" brand with Windows Server 2000. Each Edition was released became the year the Windows Server version was named.
Windows Server 2000
Many of the features we use today were made possible by the
Windows Server enhancements. These enhancements included XML support,
creation of Active Server Pages (ASP) and use of Active Directory to
authenticate users. Microsoft also released Advanced Server Server and
Datacenter Server versions of Windows Server 2000.
Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003 was a rewrite of the server software system. It was intended to minimize the need for a system restart. It was possible to update software and install patches on the fly without rebooting the system. This was also a first for the Windows Server operating systems that the.NET ecosystem was added to. The 2003 Windows version included server roles. This allowed the operating system to be customized to specific tasks such as a DNS server. Microsoft also released the Windows Server 2003 Web Edition, in addition to the Standard, Advanced and Datacenter versions. Microsoft released Windows Server 2003 shortly after an update that converted the system into a 64-bit environment.
Windows Server 2003 R2
Windows Server 2003 R2 was released in 2005. Customers who purchased Windows Server 2003 already had access to the new version. Windows Server 2003 R2 was released simultaneously as Windows Server 2003. R2 brought improvements to Windows Server that focused on security. Active Directory was the basis for user authentication, and it still is. Microsoft added a feature to this authentication system, which was included in R2. This was the Active Directory Federation Services. This AD extension allowed external services to be added to the "single signed on" permissions managed within the network. Active Directory was also upgraded to the Active Directory App Mode. This created an "arm's length" relationship between third-party apps. They could be accessed by users who were verified through AD without including the authentication procedures from that software in AD.
The Security Configuration Wizard made it possible to set
security policy for groups of machines using the R2 package. Other improvements
to R2 include better compression of files, transfers, and replication
procedures for multisite WANs.
Windows Server 2008
It took three years for the next version of Windows Server to be ready. This included an additional enhancement to Active Directory. It also introduced fundamental changes in the way network services interact with the software support functions of the operating system. The inclusion of Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualization software was a major benefit for Windows Server users. This may have been done to increase the company's ability to compete in this area, which is becoming a more important requirement in IT management. Why would system administrators bring in another VM system when they already have Hyper-V?
Windows Server 2008 also included Event
Viewer and Server Management. These tools were helpful for
administrators and allowed them to have a better handle on the server's
activities.
Server Core became an increasingly important product for Microsoft. It was the basic version of Windows Server software and allowed command-line access. It can run without the Windows Desktop GUI. It is more appealing to system administrators who are more familiar with the command-line environments on UNIX or Linux. There are four versions of Windows Server 2008: Standard Edition, Enterprise, Datacenter, and Web.
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008 R2 was first released in 2009. It is
still being used today. The majority of the differences between this and the
original Windows Server 2008 were technical. They occurred in the underlying
support services. Windows Vista was the foundation of Windows Server products
up to this point. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a Windows 7 core.
This brings the program execution system to a 64-bit environment.
Active Directory was updated to improve group policy implementation. A few new services were also added to this version of Windows Server. These included Remote Desktop Services, repackaging and an extension of Terminal Services. BranchCache and Direct Access were also included in this Windows Server version to allow remote users to access the server.
Windows Server 2012
Microsoft was determined to win in The Cloud by
2012, so it enhanced Windows Server to allow better interaction with other
services. Microsoft marketed Windows Server 2012 under the name "Cloud
OS", probably the ultimate goal of Hyper-V's inclusion in Windows Server
2008.
This version of Windows Server was focused on improving the
integration of Hyper-V to make Cloud resources as easy as possible to be
integrated into onsite delivery. This version also included an update to the
storage system, managed by Hyper-V. This release included the Hyper-V virtual
switch, HyperV Replica, to increase uptake of hybrid network strategies.
This release saw the importance of PowerShell as well as
Server Core increase.
There were four versions of Windows Server 2012: Essentials Foundation Standard Standard and Datacenter. The Essentials edition was targeted at small businesses.
Windows Server 2012 R2
In 2013, Windows Server 2012 received this revision.
PowerShell was added to the composition of the operating systems. Microsoft's
goal to offer better server functions onsite was continued, which allowed for the integration
of cloud services. This included rewriting network and security
services. The storage and virtualization systems were also redesigned, and web
services were improved.
This upgrade brought improvements to storage features such as replicating distributed files and better access for file sharing. Also, I was able to deliver software to mobile devices from the server. Microsoft has introduced the PowerShell-based Desired Status Configuration system to improve network configuration management.
Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition
Windows Server 2016 came with a new, important server
system. This was a Nano Server, a minimal server system that was lighter
and easier to attack. This Windows Server version also included Server Core.
VM systems could also be added with an encryption system for HyperV. Standard Edition allowed two virtual machines and one Hyper-V host per license. Containers were added to Windows Server Standard Edition as Windows native containers. These could be used in any way that Windows Server Standard Edition allows. This service allowed for the use of two Hyper-V containers.
0 Comments