Description

Windows Server 2019 is the operating system that bridges on-premises environments with Azure services enabling hybrid scenarios maximizing existing investments. Increase security and reduce business risk with multiple layers of protection built into the operating system. Evolve your datacenter infrastructure to achieve greater efficiency and scale with Hyper-converged Infrastructure. Windows Server 2019 also enables you to create cloud native and modernize traditional apps using containers and micro-services.

In addition to downloading the ISO, run Windows Server on Azure. Azure provides a great way to test Windows Server 2019 with pre-built images.

The Datacenter edition is the most complete edition and includes the new Datacenter-specific features (Shielded Virtual Machines, Storage Spaces Direct, and Software-Defined Networking) in addition to unlimited server virtualization. Below you can see the comparison between editions.

Standard 2019

Datacenter 2019

Ideal for

Physical or minimally virtualized environments

Highly virtualized datacenters and cloud environments

Licensing model

Core-based

Core-based

CAL requirement

Windows Server CAL

Windows Server CAL

Features available generally

Software-defined Networking

No

Yes

Storage Replica

Yes, (1 partnership and 1 resource group with a single 2TB volume)

Yes, unlimited

Storage Spaces Direct

No

Yes

Inherited activation

As guest if hosted on Datacenter

Can be a host or a guest

Locks and Limits

Can be used as virtualization guest

Yes; 2 virtual machines, plus one Hyper-V host per license

Yes; unlimited virtual machines, plus one Hyper-V host per license

Windows Server roles available

Network Controller

No

Yes

Windows Server Features available

Containers

Yes (unlimited Windows containers; up to two Hyper-V containers)

Yes (unlimited Windows and Hyper-V containers)

Host Guardian Hyper-V Support

No

Yes