Domain controller - Windows 2012 r2 vs. Windows 7

[morten-splint]

I'm in the middle of a school project where i am building a little network. I used Windows 2012 R2 as the domain controller, but now i'm in a bit of a dilemma. I have to explain why i used Windows 2012 r2 instead of Windows 7 as the domain controller. So here is my question:

What are the benefits of using Windows 2012 R2 instead of Windows 7 as a domain controller?

[GoodBytes]

As you installed Windows 2012 R2, you probably noticed that it asked you if you want a GUI or just command line, and even if you picked the GUI, you still didn't get the full GUI experience that you get from Windows 8. You probably noticed also how Windows Server 2012 R2 installed in a flashed compared to Windows 7 or 8, you need to install the full GUI from Programs and Features. The reason is that Windows Server is designed to be thin and light, and includes pretty much nothing beside the basics. If you want things, you need to add them from Programs and Features. This is designed to maximize server performance by taking little resources, and you get to install what you really need. This also makes it great to install the OS under Virtual Environments (VMs). These days, companies no longer wants 1 computer per server. Now they want 1 really powerful server, run multiple VMs. It is cheaper that way, and also increases security (than having 1 server that will do multiple things. For example: if you host a company web site as well as domain controller, and the website server is compromised, well under a VM, only that VM iwll be down, not your domain controller which resides on a different VM), and if you need to upgrade the server in some fashion, you don't need to re-install every VM. In fact, you can transport it from 1 system to another. All you need is the same VM software (and even then, some VM software supports other VMs)

Also, Windows Server includes Hyper-V, Microsoft powerful VM. Unlike other VM software, it knows what the OS it runs on is doing.

If you restart the computer, the Hyper-V will save all VMs it has, session, and resume them from where they left off upon main system restart.

Also, it starts automatically with the system. While other VMs, you have to manually start it, and start each VM it runs.

A note however: Windows 8 Pro does come with Hyper-V now.

In addition, as you noticed, Windows Server comes with a Server Manager giving you status update on the server. This is important for diagnosing the server, by making sure everything is up and running, and fully updated from 1 location. Windows 7 or 8 doesn't have this. You most likely encountered this.

In addition, Windows Server is configured to be locked down. You probably noticed the moment you open IE, IE was not allowing web surfing on sites except the ones in its white list.

Everything is just locked down, this is provide maximum security. YOU need to open what you need. Windows 7/8 is about giving everything to the user to have a great experience, and make it all easy to use.

In addition, using the latest version of Windows Server 2012, give you longer support from Microsoft over older version of Windows Server (obviously), and well, Windows 7.

End of support for Server 2012 R2 is 1/10/2023. Windows 7 end of support is 1/13/2015, and extended support 2020. So with Server 2012 R2, as it is newer then Windows 7, its product life cycle is loner.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/lifecycle

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?sort=PNα=Windows+server&Filter=FilterNO

The above is some points at an overview level.

In a bit details:

Security. Windows Server is more secure than normal Windows, and as previously mentioned, everything is locked down by default, and you need to open them based on what you are doing. Windows non-Server, is all pretty much open.

Licensing. Licensing restriction, if affected on why you trying to do, will make you pick from one choice to another

Features and Abilities. Windows Server allows (well depends on the edition) unlimited user connections for example, while Windows 7 has 10 TCP, if I am not mistaken (I am going from memory). Please double check.

Other features are CPU and memory support. Windows 7 Pro supports 2 physical CPUs and 192GB (16GB for Home Premium). Windows Server supports 64 physical CPUs, and 4TB of RAM (yes, TeraBytes)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Server_2012

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

Now, all the above is ignoring the obvious. Which is, Windows Server is the only edition of Windows that can host a domain server. Normal Windows (Pro versions - XP Professional, XP Professional 64-bit, Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Pro with Media Center), can only join a domain (Windows XP Home, 7 Home Basic, 7 Home Premium, Windows 8, etc. can't join a domain).

Active Directory can only be hosted on Windows Server.

Hope this helps.

[morten-splint]

Thanks you so much !