Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials License

A lighter and more affordable edition to manage your IT park with this Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials license

All businesses need the efficiency of a server, but not all have the luxury of hiring technical experts to configure and maintain a server. At the same time, while basic server use, like email and data storage, is necessary for everyone, not all businesses need or can afford to use more advanced server functions.

Microsoft has provided a solution to all this: the Windows Server 2012 Essentials license. With this server, small businesses can easily provide access to all their employees, while benefiting from an easy-to-configure and maintain server, reduced to the basic uses necessary for small businesses.

What is the Windows Server 2012 Essentials license?

Microsoft Windows Server is an operating system designed to provide quality Windows usage for users and administrators, while offering the most advanced solutions for every aspect of using a server, from server management, to data storage and security, to application use and communication.

The 2012 edition includes a number of improvements that allow a business to have a more powerful server and also easier to use at all levels.

What does the Server Essentials edition bring?

Each version of Microsoft Windows Server includes several different editions that are designed to meet the specific needs of different clienteles. Windows Server 2012 includes four editions, ranging from the Datacenter edition, which includes all the advanced features and unlimited virtualization, to the Essentials edition, which is a lighter version of the server designed to be easy to use and only include basic features.

Moreover, this edition has merged with previous editions of Windows Small Business Server to offer the same type of user experience.

The list of features of this more basic edition

Data-focused upgrades

Support for larger disks: Previous editions did not support disks of 2 TB or more. This limitation has been removed.

Support for a larger number of devices: previous editions could only support 25 client machines. This number has doubled in the 2012 edition.

Integration of Storage Spaces: this feature, new in the 2012 edition, offers better resistance to disk failures, while making it easier to add disks. All of this is guided by wizards for easy use.

File history to find old versions of files: Keep a history of changes made to your files, so you can easily go back and find previous versions. There’s no longer a need to contact administrators to revert to an earlier version of the file, saving time and giving the user better control over their files.

Online backup: This is one of the biggest advancements of the Windows Server 2012 Essentials license. Now, you can enjoy all the benefits of cloud backup on your server thanks to Microsoft Online Backup Service. You’ll have safer files, without risk of failure, and easy access.

Access upgrades

Enhanced touch remote access: Remote access has always been an important aspect of using the Essentials server, but this access has been significantly improved by enhancing access for touch devices like phones and tablets.

Monitoring of administration connections: Administrators can now monitor who connects with what devices thanks to remote connection monitoring.

Server access from outside the network: for the first time, the 2012 Essentials server license allows people outside the company’s network to access the server, enabling external users to get access.

Core infrastructure upgrades

Easier migration to Standard: previous Essentials editions had difficulty migrating to Standard when they exceeded the user and device limits set in Essentials. Migration is now easier in this edition.

More multimedia capabilities: Essentials benefits from some of the improvements made to other Microsoft servers in terms of media, making it easier to stream videos and music and share images.

More extension capabilities: the server can more easily accommodate all the add-ons available for the previous Small Business Servers, allowing for more capabilities on the server.

Dashboard improvements: the dashboard is now easier to use from the start and displays more information, such as the progress of tasks. Administrators can also more easily view their dashboard and see the overall state of the server. Security and updates are also easier to see at a glance for administrators.

Email upgrades

Messaging choices with your server: In previous server editions, Microsoft made the choice of how your business wanted to interact through messaging and Exchange collaboration. Now, you can make that choice. Exchange Server can be run as a second on-premises server. It can also be integrated with Office 365 as a cloud solution. Exchange can also be hosted.