Windows Server 2016 Standard is Microsoft's server operating system aimed at SMEs and lightly virtualised infrastructures. It handles all the classic roles of an enterprise server — Active Directory, files and printing, DNS, DHCP, IIS, Hyper-V — and includes the right to run 2 Windows virtual machines in addition to the physical instance dedicated to the hypervisor. This is the structural difference with the Datacenter edition, which allows an unlimited number of virtual machines.
Key features
- Active Directory Domain Services — central directory, user accounts, group policies and single sign-on for the whole estate.
- Hyper-V — built-in hypervisor, with the right to use 2 Windows virtual machines under this licence.
- File server — SMB 3.1.1 shares, quotas, deduplication, storage spaces.
- Windows and Hyper-V containers — Windows Server 2016 is the first version to integrate Docker natively, with two levels of isolation.
- Security — Credential Guard, Shielded VMs, Just Enough Administration and application control.
- IIS 10 and PowerShell 5.1 — web hosting and automation.
Client access licences (CALs): not to be forgotten
The server licence does not cover access. Each user or device that connects to the server must be covered by a Windows Server 2016 CAL, purchased separately. A CAL is not software: it is a legal right, with no installation. And if you use Remote Desktop, you also need RDS CALs — they add to the Windows Server CALs, they do not replace them.
Installation and activation
The key reaches you by email within 24 hours at most. Download the Windows Server 2016 ISO image from Microsoft, install the system, then enter the key in Settings › System › Activation or via the slmgr command line.
System requirements and end of support
64-bit 1.4 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM minimum (2 GB with a graphical interface), 32 GB of disk space, Gigabit network card. Note: extended support for Windows Server 2016 ends in January 2027. Plan a migration if the server is to remain in production beyond that.
Buy Windows Server 2016 Standard
Odin Key is operated by CHKEY OÜ, an Estonian company. Official invoice, support by e-mail. Key sent by email within 24h after payment is received.
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