MS outlines new Windows Server 2012 editions

Microsoft has released information on the new versions of Windows Server 2012; there will be four versions covering small businesses through to a cloud-enabled data centre version, Tech Radar reports.

The four versions are: Essentials, Standard, Datacentre and Foundation.

Starting at the top, the Datacenter edition, which costs $4 809, is aimed at "highly virtualised, private and hybrid cloud environments", with full Windows Server functionality for unlimited virtual instances. Its licensing model is per processor, Computing.co.uk writes.

Sharing the same licensing model is the Standard edition, which is recommended for "low density or non-virtualised environments", offering full Windows Server functionality across only two virtual instances. An outlay of $882 buys users those privileges.

Tech Target reports that the Essentials and Foundation versions, limited to 25 and 15 users, respectively, feature restricted functionality; they are missing Server Core and Active Directory Federated Services, and have no virtualisation rights.

The Essentials version is priced at $425, while the Foundation version is made available for OEMs only.