Notes for each version of Windows Server 2016
Version
Description
Windows Server 2016 Essentials edition
Windows Server 2016 Essentials is designed for small businesses. It corresponds to Windows Small Business Server in earlier versions of Windows Server. This version can accommodate up to 25 users and 50 devices. It supports two processor cores and RAM up to 64GB. It does not support many of the features of Windows Server 2016, including virtualization.
Windows Server 2016 Standard edition (Standard Edition)
Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition is designed for physical server environments with little or no virtualization. It provides many roles and features available to the Windows Server 2016 operating system. This version supports RAM with up to 64 slots and up to 4TB. It includes licenses for up to two virtual machines and supports Nano server installation
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter edition (data Center Edition)
Windows Server 2016 data Center Edition is designed for highly virtualized infrastructure, including private and hybrid cloud environments. It provides all the roles and features available to the Windows Server 2016 operating system. This version supports up to 64 slots, up to 640 processor cores, and up to 4TB RAM. It provides unlimited virtual machine-based licenses for virtual machines running on the same hardware. It also includes new features such as storage space pass-through and storage copies, as well as the capabilities required for new protected virtual machines and software-defined data center scenarios.
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016
As a stand-alone virtualized server running virtual machines, including all new features of virtualization in Windows Server 2016. There is no licensing cost for the host operating system, but each virtual machine must be licensed separately. This version supports RAM with up to 64 slots and up to 4TB. It supports joining to a domain. It does not support other Windows Server 2016 roles except for limited file service capabilities. There is no GUI in this version, but there is a user interface that displays the configuration task menu.
Windows Storage Server 2016 Workgroup edition (workgroup version)
Act as an entry-level unified storage device. This version allows 50 users, a processor core 32GB RAM. It supports joining to a domain.
Windows Storage Server 2016 Standard edition (Standard Edition)
Up to 64 slots are supported, but licensed in a two-slot increment. This version supports up to 4TB RAM. It includes two virtual machine licenses. It supports joining to a domain. It supports several roles, including DNS,DHCP. But other roles are not supported, AD DS,AD CS,AD FS.
