Save 15% off Windows Server! Use Code: SRVRSL619
15% off Server! Code: SRVRSL619
Call 949-520-1876 or Text 949-229-3545 Sales and Support: M - F 5:00 am to 5:00 pm PT
American Flag American Owned and Operated
Browse

Compare features in Windows Server versions

Microsoft Logo



View the security, infrastructure, and application workload features of Windows Server 2019 as compared to previous versions.

 View the complete feature comparison guide

 Shop Windows Server 2019



Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2019
EXTENDED SUPPORT END DATE
Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 1/20/2020
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 10/10/2023
Windows Server 2016 1/12/2027
Windows Server 2019 1/9/2029
EXPLOITS DISCOVERED 2019 YTD
Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 29
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 19
Windows Server 2016 12
Windows Server 2019 6
Performance and scalability Physical (host) memory support
Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 Up to 4 TB per physical server
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Up to 4 TB per physical server
Windows Server 2016 Up to 24 TB per physical server (6x)
Windows Server 2019 Up to 64 TB per physical server (6x)
Performance and scalability Physical (host) logical processor support
Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 Up to 320 LPs
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Up to 320 LPs
Windows Server 2016 Up to 512 LPs
Windows Server 2019 Up to 512 LPs
Performance and scalability Virtual machine memory support
Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 Up to 1 TB per virtual machine
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Up to 1 TB per virtual machine
Windows Server 2016 Up to 12 TB per virtual machine (12x)
Windows Server 2019 Up to 12 TB per virtual machine (12x)
Performance and scalability Virtual machine virtual processor support
Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 Up to 64 VPs per virtual machine
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Up to 64 VPs per virtual machine
Windows Server 2016 Up to 240 VPs per virtual machine (3.75x)
Windows Server 2019 Up to 240 VPs per virtual machine (3.75x)
SHOP NOW
Windows Server 2008/2008 R2
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2019
EXTENDED SUPPORT END DATE 1/20/2020 10/10/2023 1/12/2027 1/9/2029
EXPLOITS DISCOVERED 2019 YTD 29 19 12 6
Physical (host) memory support Up to 4 TB per physical server Up to 4 TB per physical server Up to 24 TB per physical server (6x) Up to 64 TB per physical server (6x)
Physical (host) logical processor support Up to 320 LPs Up to 320 LPs Up to 512 LPs Up to 512 LPs
Virtual machine memory support Up to 1 TB per virtual machine Up to 1 TB per virtual machine Up to 12 TB per virtual machine (12x) Up to 12 TB per virtual machine (12x)
Virtual machine virtual processor support Up to 64 VPs per virtual machine Up to 64 VPs per virtual machine Up to 240 VPs per virtual machine (3.75x) Up to 240 VPs per virtual machine (3.75x)


Security

Not supported Not supported    Limited support Limited support    Fully supported Fully supported   
Feature description Enhanced Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Shielded Virtual Machines
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Just Enough Administration
Windows Server 2008 R2 Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Just-in-Time Administration
Windows Server 2008 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Credential Guard
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Remote Credential Guard
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Device Guard
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description AppLocker
Windows Server 2008 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Windows Defender
Windows Server 2008 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Control Flow Guard
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Enhanced threat detection
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
SHOP NOW
Windows Server 2008/2008 R2
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2019
Feature description Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2019
Enhanced Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Shielded Virtual Machines for Windows Not Included Not Included Included Included
Shielded Virtual Machines for Linux Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
HGS offline mode for shielded VMs Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
VM Connect for shielded VMs Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Cluster hardening Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
SDN encrypted subnet Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Just Enough Administration Partially Included Partially Included Included Included
Just-in-Time Administration Partially Included Included Included Included
Credential Guard Not Included Not Included Included Included
Remote Credential Guard Not Included Not Included Included Included
Device Guard (code integrity) Not Included Not Included Included Included
AppLocker Partially Included Included Included Included
Windows Defender Partially Included Partially Included Included Included
Control Flow Guard Not Included Not Included Included Included

Software-defined datacenter: compute, networking, and storage

Not supported Not supported    Limited support Limited support    Fully supported Fully supported   
Feature description Unified management
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Partially Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Storage Spaces
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Enhanced Storage Spaces Direct (S2D)
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Partially Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Mirror-accelerated parity
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Partially Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Nested Mirror Accelerated parity
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Storage class memory
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Partially Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description USB thumb drive (as cluster witness)
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Storage Replica
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Partially Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Storage Quality of Service (QoS)
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Data deduplication
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Deduplication for ReFS
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Cloud Witness
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Partially Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Storage health monitoring
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Cluster-wide monitoring
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Cluster sets
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Cluster OS Rolling Upgrade
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Site-aware failover clusters
Windows Server 2008 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Persistent memory
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Linux and FreeBSD workloads
Windows Server 2008 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Hot add and remove for disk, memory, and network
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Network Controller
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Virtual networking
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Software Load Balancer
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Virtual network peering
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Distributed firewall and micro-segmentation
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Hybrid SDN
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Improved SDN
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Hybrid SDN
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Improved SDN
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Converged RDM
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Precision Time Protocol (PTP)
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Leap Second
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description HTTP/2
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Latency Optimized Background Transport - LEDBAT
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description IP address management (IPAM) and DNS
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description High-availability RDS connection broker
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Software defined networking (SDN) with IPv4/IPv6
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
SHOP NOW
Windows Server 2008/2008 R2
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2019
Feature description Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2019
Unified management Not Included Not Included Partially Included Included
Storage Spaces Not Included Included Included Included
Enhanced Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) Not Included Not Included Partially Included Included
Mirror-accelerated parity Not Included Not Included Partially Included Included
Nested Mirror Accelerated parity Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Storage class memory Not Included Not Included Partially Included Included
USB thumb drive (as cluster witness) Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Storage Replica Not Included Not Included Partially Included Included
Storage Quality of Service (QoS) Not Included Not Included Included Included
Data deduplication Not Included Partially Included Included Included
Deduplication for ReFS Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Virtual machine storage resiliency Not Included Not Included Included Included
Cloud Witness Not Included Not Included Partially Included Included
Storage health monitoring Not Included Not Included Included Included
Cluster-wide monitoring Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Cluster sets Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Cluster OS Rolling Upgrade Not Included Not Included Included Included
Site-aware failover clusters Partially Included Partially Included Included Included
Persistent memory Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Linux and FreeBSD workloads Partially Included Partially Included Included Included
Hot add and remove for disk, memory, and network Not Included Partially Included Included Included
Network Controller Not Included Not Included Included Included
Virtual networking Not Included Included Included Included
Software Load Balancer Not Included Not Included Included Included
Virtual network peering Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Distributed firewall and micro-segmentation Not Included Not Included Included Included
Hybrid SDN Not Included Included Included Included
Improved SDN Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Converged RDM Not Included Partially Included Included Included
Precision Time Protocol (PTP) Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Leap Second Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
HTTP/2 Not Included Not Included Included Included
Latency Optimized Background Transport - LEDBAT Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
IP address management (IPAM) and DNS Not Included Partially Included Included Included
High-availability RDS connection broker Not Included Partially Included Included Included
Software defined networking (SDN) with IPv4/IPv6 Not Included Partially Included Included Included

Cloud-ready application platform

Not supported Not supported    Limited support Limited support    Fully supported Fully supported   
Feature description Linux containers
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Windows Server containers
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Server Core base container image
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Nano Server base container image
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Server Core Features on Demand (FoD)
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Kubernetes platform support
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA)
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Partially Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Not Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Hyper-V containers
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Azure Service Fabric for Windows Server
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Windows PowerShell 5.1
Windows Server 2008 R2 Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
Feature description Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC)
Windows Server 2008 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2012 R2 Partially Included
Windows Server 2016 Included
Windows Server 2019 Included
SHOP NOW
Windows Server 2008/2008 R2
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2019
Feature description Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2019
Linux containers Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Windows Server containers Not Included Not Included Included Included
Server Core base container image Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Nano Server base container image Not Included Not Included Included Included
Server Core Features on Demand (FoD) Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Kubernetes platform support Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA) Not Included Partially Included Partially Included Included
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Not Included Not Included Not Included Included
Hyper-V containers Not Included Not Included Included Included
Azure Service Fabric for Windows Server Not Included Included Included Included
Windows PowerShell 5.1 Partially Included Partially Included Included Included
Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) Partially Included Partially Included Included Included

Shop versions

2008 R2

2012 R2

2016

2019

View all Windows Server products