Windows Server 2012 Server Roles
Content
Windows Server 2012 Server Roles
Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS) – enables Windows Server 2012 to provide
certificates to clients and servers.
Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS) – configures server to host Active Directory database,
and to use this database to authenticate users to logon to the network and authorize their use of
resources.
Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) – enables a Windows Server 2012 sever to use
login information for a variety of severs and services so that a single login provides users with
access to all resources.
Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (ADLDS) – used to setup a small version of
Active Directory database for the purpose of Active Directory – integrated applications.
Active Directory Rights Management Services (ADRMS) – enables Active Directory to exchange
information with AD RMS- compatible software. Enabling an additional layer of security that content
owners can use to protect their documents. Content owners can specifically set permissions that
controls who can open, modify, forward or print each document.
Application Server – a server on which you have installed an server application such as Microsoft
SQL Server or Microsoft Exchange Server.
DHCP Server – enables a Windows server to automatically lease IP addresses to different clients
such as computers and printers instead of requiring you to manually configure each devices IP
address settings.
DNS Server – configures a Windows server to provide name resolution services the process by
which a computer finds a computer’s IP address based on a provide computer name.
FAX Server – a fax server sends and receives faxes for multiple users. When it receives faxes, a fax
server forwards those faxes to the relevant users mailbox.
File and Storage Services – a server service, used to manage access to files on the server. Also
used to implement Distributed File Services (DFS) and access to network storage.
Hyper-V – Hyper –V service is installed and configured to support the implementation of virtual
machines.
Print and Document Services – enables you to centrally manage printers and scanners, as well as
their queues on the network.
Network Policy and Access Services – enables you to secure remote access to the network,
meeting requirements that all remote users authenticate to the server running Network Policy and
Access Services before gaining access to the corporate network.
Remote Access - enables users to connect to the network remotely without requiring virtual private
network (VPN) connections.
Remote Desktop Services – enables a Windows server to provide access to virtual desktops,
session-based desktops, and applications that encompass Remote App.
Volume Activation Services – configures a Windows server to automate the process of tracking
volume license keys and their activation. The service can also be used to implement Key
Management Services (KMS) host or Active Directory-based license activation for domain members.
Web Server (IIS) – enables the setup of a Windows server as a web server.
Windows Deployment Services (WDS) – a service used to install and configure Windows
operating systems across the network.
Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) – enables automated deployment of updates for
Microsoft products such as Windows and Microsoft Office.
Windows Server 2012 Features
Windows BitLocker® Drive Encryption – enable or disable encryption at the disk or volume level.
Enables encryption at the Windows startup environment.
Failover Clustering – used to set up server clusters, increasing the reliability of you your servers by
providing back up servers.
Group Policy Management – an administrative console used to implement Group Policy on an
organizations network.
Ink and Handwriting Services – enables the network to support input via pens, and recognition of
handwriting and math equations.
Internet Printing Client – configure support for user to connect and print to local printers or Internet
printers using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP).
Network Load Balancing (NLB) – used to balance the user workload across multiple servers
running a stateless application. Stateless applications respond independently to each client request,
making it possible for multiple servers to balance the client requests.
Remote Assistance – enables support to clients that send invitations, by providing remote
assistance you can access the client desktop as if you were sitting at the actual computer.
Remote Server Administration Tools – enables remote management of servers running Windows
Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012. It is also possible to manage Windows Server 2003
servers as long as you connect to them through a server running either Windows Server 2008 R2 or
Windows Server 2012.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol – use to configure a server to send email messages.
Telnet Client, Telnet Server – enables setup of server to support uses connecting and accessing
files using the Telnet Protocol. The Telnet Client is used to connect to Telnet servers.
Windows PowerShellä- provides a command-line interface for running commands or scripts to
perform administrative tasks.
Windows Server Backup – use to backup a Windows server and if necessary to restore a backup
after a server failure.
Windows System Resource Managerä(WSRM) - enables the configuration of the allocation of both
a server’s CPU and RAM resources.
Wireless Local Area Network Service (LAN) – configure the wireless LAN service to enable a
server to communicate using a wireless network adapter.
Windows on Windows (WoW) 64 Support – Windows Server 2012 64-Bit servers use this feature
to allow 32-Bit applications to run.
New Features Added to Windows Server 2012
Command auto-completion – a feature that displays clickable lists of cmdlets as you type in
Windows PowerShell. Lists include matching cmdlets, parameters, parameter values, files, folders.
Enhanced storage – Windows Server 2012 includes features that enable the operating system to
support large disk workloads on virtual machines. Also included is a new virtual hard disk format
(VHDX) which improves performance, support for Virtual Fibre Channel enabling virtual machines to
communicate with Fibre Channel Storage Area Networks (SANs); The ability to implement 4-KB disk
sectors on Hyper-V virtual disk for improved capacity and reliability; and support for Offloaded Data
Transfer (ODX), enabling the virtual machine host to focus CPU time on the application and rely on
the SAN to manage reading and writing to disk.
Features on Demand – Choosing this feature during installation prevents Setup from copying all
operating system source files to the server’s disk. The advantage is it eliminates the use of disk
space for storage of resource files. To install a feature or role you use Features on Demand to install
features and roles by obtaining source files and resources stored in a remote location, Windows
update, or the installation media. The disadvantage of implementation is that you must provide the
source files whenever you want to install a feature or sever role.
IP Address Management (IPAM) Server – enables central management of both DHCP and DNS
servers. Can also be used to discover, monitor, and audit DHCP and DNS servers.
New Cmdlets – new cmdlets for configuring and managing Active Directory replication and
replication topology.
Resilient File System (ReFS) – included in Windows Server 2012 is this new file system provides
enhanced reliability, better data integrity, and compatibility with existing API’s and file system filters.
Revised Task Manager – The new Task Manager includes a new Processes Tab, enabling you to
identify the processes that are consuming server resources.
User interface – you are prompted during installation whether you want to install a Server Core
installation, a Minimal Server Interface, a server with a graphical user interface (GUI), or full desktop
experience interface. After installing a server different options can be chosen by using PowerShell
cmdlets.
Windows BrancheCache® - a bandwidth optimization technology designed to optimize the traffic
on a wide area network (WAN). BranchCache optimizes performance by caching content from a
headquarters office and storing it locally on the BranchCache Server.
Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS) – enables Windows Server 2012 to provide
certificates to clients and servers.
Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS) – configures server to host Active Directory database,
and to use this database to authenticate users to logon to the network and authorize their use of
resources.
Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) – enables a Windows Server 2012 sever to use
login information for a variety of severs and services so that a single login provides users with
access to all resources.
Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (ADLDS) – used to setup a small version of
Active Directory database for the purpose of Active Directory – integrated applications.
Active Directory Rights Management Services (ADRMS) – enables Active Directory to exchange
information with AD RMS- compatible software. Enabling an additional layer of security that content
owners can use to protect their documents. Content owners can specifically set permissions that
controls who can open, modify, forward or print each document.
Application Server – a server on which you have installed an server application such as Microsoft
SQL Server or Microsoft Exchange Server.
DHCP Server – enables a Windows server to automatically lease IP addresses to different clients
such as computers and printers instead of requiring you to manually configure each devices IP
address settings.
DNS Server – configures a Windows server to provide name resolution services the process by
which a computer finds a computer’s IP address based on a provide computer name.
FAX Server – a fax server sends and receives faxes for multiple users. When it receives faxes, a fax
server forwards those faxes to the relevant users mailbox.
File and Storage Services – a server service, used to manage access to files on the server. Also
used to implement Distributed File Services (DFS) and access to network storage.
Hyper-V – Hyper –V service is installed and configured to support the implementation of virtual
machines.
Print and Document Services – enables you to centrally manage printers and scanners, as well as
their queues on the network.
Network Policy and Access Services – enables you to secure remote access to the network,
meeting requirements that all remote users authenticate to the server running Network Policy and
Access Services before gaining access to the corporate network.
Remote Access - enables users to connect to the network remotely without requiring virtual private
network (VPN) connections.
Remote Desktop Services – enables a Windows server to provide access to virtual desktops,
session-based desktops, and applications that encompass Remote App.
Volume Activation Services – configures a Windows server to automate the process of tracking
volume license keys and their activation. The service can also be used to implement Key
Management Services (KMS) host or Active Directory-based license activation for domain members.
Web Server (IIS) – enables the setup of a Windows server as a web server.
Windows Deployment Services (WDS) – a service used to install and configure Windows
operating systems across the network.
Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) – enables automated deployment of updates for
Microsoft products such as Windows and Microsoft Office.
Windows Server 2012 Features
Windows BitLocker® Drive Encryption – enable or disable encryption at the disk or volume level.
Enables encryption at the Windows startup environment.
Failover Clustering – used to set up server clusters, increasing the reliability of you your servers by
providing back up servers.
Group Policy Management – an administrative console used to implement Group Policy on an
organizations network.
Ink and Handwriting Services – enables the network to support input via pens, and recognition of
handwriting and math equations.
Internet Printing Client – configure support for user to connect and print to local printers or Internet
printers using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP).
Network Load Balancing (NLB) – used to balance the user workload across multiple servers
running a stateless application. Stateless applications respond independently to each client request,
making it possible for multiple servers to balance the client requests.
Remote Assistance – enables support to clients that send invitations, by providing remote
assistance you can access the client desktop as if you were sitting at the actual computer.
Remote Server Administration Tools – enables remote management of servers running Windows
Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012. It is also possible to manage Windows Server 2003
servers as long as you connect to them through a server running either Windows Server 2008 R2 or
Windows Server 2012.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol – use to configure a server to send email messages.
Telnet Client, Telnet Server – enables setup of server to support uses connecting and accessing
files using the Telnet Protocol. The Telnet Client is used to connect to Telnet servers.
Windows PowerShellä- provides a command-line interface for running commands or scripts to
perform administrative tasks.
Windows Server Backup – use to backup a Windows server and if necessary to restore a backup
after a server failure.
Windows System Resource Managerä(WSRM) - enables the configuration of the allocation of both
a server’s CPU and RAM resources.
Wireless Local Area Network Service (LAN) – configure the wireless LAN service to enable a
server to communicate using a wireless network adapter.
Windows on Windows (WoW) 64 Support – Windows Server 2012 64-Bit servers use this feature
to allow 32-Bit applications to run.
New Features Added to Windows Server 2012
Command auto-completion – a feature that displays clickable lists of cmdlets as you type in
Windows PowerShell. Lists include matching cmdlets, parameters, parameter values, files, folders.
Enhanced storage – Windows Server 2012 includes features that enable the operating system to
support large disk workloads on virtual machines. Also included is a new virtual hard disk format
(VHDX) which improves performance, support for Virtual Fibre Channel enabling virtual machines to
communicate with Fibre Channel Storage Area Networks (SANs); The ability to implement 4-KB disk
sectors on Hyper-V virtual disk for improved capacity and reliability; and support for Offloaded Data
Transfer (ODX), enabling the virtual machine host to focus CPU time on the application and rely on
the SAN to manage reading and writing to disk.
Features on Demand – Choosing this feature during installation prevents Setup from copying all
operating system source files to the server’s disk. The advantage is it eliminates the use of disk
space for storage of resource files. To install a feature or role you use Features on Demand to install
features and roles by obtaining source files and resources stored in a remote location, Windows
update, or the installation media. The disadvantage of implementation is that you must provide the
source files whenever you want to install a feature or sever role.
IP Address Management (IPAM) Server – enables central management of both DHCP and DNS
servers. Can also be used to discover, monitor, and audit DHCP and DNS servers.
New Cmdlets – new cmdlets for configuring and managing Active Directory replication and
replication topology.
Resilient File System (ReFS) – included in Windows Server 2012 is this new file system provides
enhanced reliability, better data integrity, and compatibility with existing API’s and file system filters.
Revised Task Manager – The new Task Manager includes a new Processes Tab, enabling you to
identify the processes that are consuming server resources.
User interface – you are prompted during installation whether you want to install a Server Core
installation, a Minimal Server Interface, a server with a graphical user interface (GUI), or full desktop
experience interface. After installing a server different options can be chosen by using PowerShell
cmdlets.
Windows BrancheCache® - a bandwidth optimization technology designed to optimize the traffic
on a wide area network (WAN). BranchCache optimizes performance by caching content from a
headquarters office and storing it locally on the BranchCache Server.
