Hello , I was just reading up on the 2012 r2 Evaluation 180 day trial version and the various nag screens and 1 hour shutdown time for the Standard and Datacenter Edition when the trial expires. The Essentials version is listed as not having this 1 hour limit before shutdown so what I was curious about was if you had a Standard Edition and added the Essentials Role would the 1 hour limit be removed or would it continue to operate with the 1 hour time limit .
Hi lilcuda, I've not tried Server2012 R2 Essentials as a trial, as I'm lucky enough to have a Key for R2 Standard. But I was running Server2012 Essentials as a trial from its release till a week ago. All the Server 2012 versions I tried (Datacentre, Standard, Essentials) all rebooted after an hour or so once the 180 day trial finished, but it was more like 200 days before they started rebooting. Also, as has been mentioned plenty of times in this section. Server2012 R2 Essentials is just Server2012 R2 Standard with the Essentials feature installed. Considering those facts I'd say Server2012 R2 Essentials would start rebooting each hour after the trial runs out. As I said above. I've been using Server2012 Essentials as a trial since release, by using the 'rearm' command once the trial ends. It's usually good for try's in Server SKU's Again, I haven't tried this on Server2012 R2 as the 'rearm' command only really works once the trial has ended. But, at the very least installing it as a trial gives you 180 days to find a better solution
I do find it strange that two will shutdown and one won't, especially when that one is just one of the others with a feature switched on. Its the older Server 2012 (Non R2) that I was trying out, not the new Server 2012 R2. I've got a key for the newer R2 version so I don't have to go through all that again. But, To answer your question. Yes, the Essentials feature installs/promotes the server to a Domain Controller. In fact the Domain info is the first thing it asks for when you start to install the feature. And if I remember correctly, it also has to be the first Server on the Domain.
When I read the article I was confused about it as well , I also wondered if having the Essentials Role on the other versions would exhibit this behaviour hence the question . Its very strange indeed . I also wondered if the Domain setup could be bypassed for an ideal home server setup , looks like it cant unfortunately .
You can download full version of Windows Server 2012 R2 if you want to use longer. Check my signature.
Has someone come to the end of the Essentials trial? I am close to the end. TechNet states that, unlike the other servers, the Essentials would not "shut down" after 60 minutes. If it re-boots instead, it isn't much of a difference is it?