Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
Instant activation
Licensed per processor pair with two operating system environments. Extended support ended in October 2023.
$13one-time
Instant Activation
Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
Microsoft · Windows Server
The legacy virtualisation edition with unlimited OS environments per processor pair. Extended support ended in October 2023.
- Platform
- Windows Server
- License Type
- Perpetual, per processor pair
- Edition
- Datacenter
- Delivery
- Digital key by email
- Servers
- 1 server
- Support
- Ended 10 October 2023 — no security updates
Pricing
$13one-time
Covers 1 device.
- Not currently self-service — we confirm price and availability before you pay
- Activated automatically after checkout
- Delivery: Digital key by email
- License Type: Perpetual, per processor pair
- Payment handled by the payment provider
Prices exclude any applicable tax. Licenses are issued to the account used at checkout.
Overview
Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter is the virtualisation edition of the 2012 R2 generation: the same per-processor licensing as Standard, but with unlimited Windows operating system environments on the licensed hardware. It is bought today to keep an existing Hyper-V host running under its original licensing. Microsoft's extended support ended on 10 October 2023 and it receives no further security updates.
Standard or Datacenter?
Both editions of this release install from the same media, carry the same system requirements and are licensed the same way. The difference is how many operating system environments the license grants — and, on the Datacenter side, the virtualisation features that come with it.
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
Licensed per processor pair with two operating system environments. Extended support ended in October 2023.
$13one-time
OpenWindows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
ViewingThe legacy virtualisation edition with unlimited OS environments per processor pair. Extended support ended in October 2023.
$13one-time
This page
Features
Unlimited OS environments
Run as many Windows virtual machines as the licensed hardware supports.
Hyper-V live migration
Move running virtual machines between hosts without shared storage.
Storage Spaces with tiering
Automatic placement of hot data on SSD and cold data on spinning disk within a pool.
Generation 2 virtual machines
UEFI-based VMs with Secure Boot, SCSI boot and no emulated legacy hardware.
License details
- Platform
- Windows Server
- License Type
- Perpetual, per processor pair
- Edition
- Datacenter
- Delivery
- Digital key by email
- Servers
- 1 server
- Support
- Ended 10 October 2023 — no security updates
- OS Environments
- Unlimited
- Processor Licensing
- One license per two physical processors
- CALs
- Client Access Licenses sold separately
- Architecture
- 64-bit
System requirements
Processor and memory
- 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor
- 512 MB RAM minimum
- 32 GB minimum disk space
Licensing
- One license covers up to two physical processors
- Additional licenses are required per processor pair beyond the first
- Client Access Licenses are purchased separately
Installation
Windows Server 2012 R2 is installed from official Microsoft media in Server Core or full installation mode, then activated with the supplied product key.
Frequently asked questions
What does Datacenter add over Standard on 2012 R2?
Unlimited Windows operating system environments on the licensed hardware. Standard grants two per license.
Does Windows Server 2012 R2 still receive security updates?
No. Extended support ended on 10 October 2023. Microsoft no longer issues security patches outside a paid Extended Security Updates agreement, so a 2012 R2 machine should be isolated from untrusted networks or migrated.
Do I need Client Access Licenses?
Yes. Client Access Licenses are required for users or devices accessing the server and are purchased separately from the server license.
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