Support for Microsoft Windows Server

Windows Server 2012

Try it Now: Windows Server 2012
Download the final RTM version of Windows Server 2012.

Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Download
Service Pack 1 provides the latest updates to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Windows Server 2008

How to Obtain the Latest Service Pack for Windows Server 2008
This article provides details on how to obtain the latest service packs, release notes and update details for Windows Server 2008.

Windows Server 2003

How to Obtain the Latest Service Pack for Windows Server 2003
This article provides details on how to obtain the latest service packs, release notes and update details for Windows Server 2003.

Other Downloads

Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool
A blocking tool is available for organizations that would like to temporarily prevent installation of Service Pack updates through Windows Update.

Upgrading

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
Assess your current IT infrastructure and determine the right Microsoft technologies for your IT needs.

Guide for upgrading to Windows Server 2008
This document contains information about upgrading to the Windows Server 2008 operating system including how to upgrade, supported scenarios, frequently asked questions, and known issues about the upgrade process.

Changes in Functionality from Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2008 R2
This document describes the changes in functionality of features and technologies from Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2008 R2.

Guide for upgrading to Windows Server 2008 R2
This document outlines supported and unsupported upgrade paths for Windows Server 2008 R2 SKUs.

Activation

How to troubleshoot Volume Activation error codes on Windows Server 2008
This article discusses how to troubleshoot Activation error codes.

Windows Volume Activation
Learn about the concepts, capabilities, and recommended best practices that can help you manage the activation of Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2 in an enterprise environment.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT)
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit is a Solution Accelerator for operating system and application deployment. MDT supports deployment of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in addition to deployment of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP.

Migration

Migrating Server Roles to Windows Server 2008 R2
By using migration guides linked to on this to migrate roles, you can simplify deployment of new servers, reduce migration downtime, increase accuracy of the migration process, and help eliminate conflicts that could otherwise occur during the migration process

Server Manager Step-by-Step Guide
This step-by-step guide provides an overview of Server Manager and walkthroughs of several common scenarios for using Server Manager in your enterprise, focusing on new and enhanced features of Server Manager.

Migrating DHCP to a Cluster Running Windows Server 2008 R2 Step-by-Step Guide
This guide describes the process of migrating a clustered DHCP server to a cluster running Windows Server 2008 R2.

Hyper-V: Using Live Migration with Cluster Shared Volumes in Windows Server 2008 R2
This guide details the steps required to perform a live migration of Hyper-V virtual machines from one node in a Windows Server 2008 R2 failover cluster to another node.

Migrating Settings to a Failover Cluster Running Windows Server 2008 R2This article provides information about migrating settings to a failover cluster running Windows Server 2008 R2.

Application Compatibility

Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT)
The Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) you to tell whether applications are compatible with a new version of the Windows operating system.

Application Compatibility Web Page on TechNet
Get tools and resources to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of addressing application compatibility.

ISV Application Readiness and Certification
Visit the ISV Application Readiness and Certification page

Application Compatibility Resources for IT Professionals and Developers
Find out if your application is compatible with Windows 2008 R2.

These pages provide featured resources, product evaluations and other technical references for each Server Role Technology

• Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)
• Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
• Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
• Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS)
• Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS)
• Application Server
• Branch Office
• DHCP Server
• DNS Server
• Fax Server
• File and Storage Services
• Group Policy
• Hyper-V
• Network Policy and Access Services
• Networking and Access Technologies
• Print Services
• Remote Desktop Services
• Streaming Media Services (available as a download)
• Terminal Services (Windows Server 2008)
• Remote Desktop Services
• UDDI Services (not included in Windows Server 2008 R2)
• Web Server (IIS)
• Windows Deployment Services
• Windows Server Security
• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)

Getting started with Private Cloud

Private Cloud Solution Hub
Visit the Private Cloud Solution Hub on TechNet for an introduction to Private Cloud computing.

What Is a Private Cloud?
Learn about the implementation of cloud services on resources that are dedicated to your organization.

Hyper-V

Hyper-V TechCenter
Learn more about Hyper-V at the Hyper-V TechCenter.

Hyper-V Gotchas
Avoid common mistakes by reviewing this list of known issues on the TechNet Wiki.

System Center

System Center TechCenter on TechNet
The System Center TechCenter is the primary resource for IT Professionals providing links to technical resources including articles, webcasts, videos, blogs and community forums.

System Center Virtual Machine Manager Solution Center
Check out the latest information for System Center Virtual Machine Manager.

Top System Center Virtual Machine Manager Solutions from Microsoft Support
Subscribe to the RSS feed and receive the latest top solutions for System Center Virtual Machine Manager.

Self-support options

Windows Server 2012 Essentials TechCenter on TechNet
The Windows Server 2012 Essentials TechCenter is the primary resource for IT Professionals providing links to technical resources including articles, documentation, blogs and community forums.

Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB)
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) for technical solutions to common break-fix issues.

Downloads

Try it Now: Windows Server 2012 Essentials
Download the a trial version of Windows Server 2012 Essentials.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials Assessment and Deployment Kit
The Windows Server 2012 Essentials Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) is a collection of tools and binaries that you can use to customize, assess, and deploy Windows Server 2012 Essentials on new computers.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials SDK Installer
Windows Server 2012 Essentials SDK Installer is a tool that helps you install the Windows Server 2012 Essentials SDK. It includes Visual Studio 2012 samples and templates that a developer can use to easily create applications for Windows Server 2012 Essentials.

Community

Got a question? Post a question in the Windows Server Essentials Forums
Ask a question in the Windows Server Essentials Forums. Most questions answered in 24 hours or less.

The Windows Server Essentials and Small Business Server Blog
The official blog for Windows Server Essentials and Small Business Server support and product group communications.

Learn more about Windows Server support lifecycle

Microsoft Product Support Lifecycle Policy page
Visit the Microsoft support lifecycle policy page to view Microsoft’s guidelines for product support from availability to end of product support lifecycle.

Windows Server support lifecycle policies
View the support lifecycle policy information for the Windows Server family of products.

• Windows Server 2012
• Windows Server 2008 R2
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2003 R2
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition