I'm building a new server for my small business. I'm currently running WS 2012 R2 on the old server. I really like the Windows Server Essentials Experience, but WS 2016 is the last version to use it. Question please. Is there really that much difference between WS 2016, WS 2019 and WS2022??? I use the server just as a file manager for my office, we only have about 8 people using it. Another option is to use WS 2022 and install that Powershell script that adds back the WSE Role. Thank you for any thoughts, opinions!
i think it must be package not hack like we do integerate desktop experience package esd in core for complete desktop exp.
Thx guys, I'm probably going to go with WS 2022, and figure out how to configure my server without WSEE.
Unless you really need some of the latest novelty there isn't really any valid reason to use something newer than 2016. As a brief list, LXSS is not officially supported in 2016, but easily installable You need at least windows 2004 to use VMware side by side with hyper-V (technically speaking is nested virtualization), you need at least 1803 to run VBox side by side with Hyper-V Deduplication on disc format changed since 1703 (so it's a problem if you dual boot 2016 and 1703+ and you want to access the same data). Server 2022 may works better to the latest CPUs (Rizen /Treadripper/Epyc/ Alder Lake..) due to supposed improvements to the scheduler. Remote FX is disabled in server 2019, is completely unavailable in 2022 (and any supported version since April/ 2021 LCU Essential role is unavailable on latest servers but easily restorable As you can see most of the above impacts on specialized use, then is up to you to decide depending your usage scenario.
Thx for the reply acer. My server is almost exclusively a file server for folks on the LAN. I am getting a new Xeon 2336, so I'm not certain if it can use any WS 2022 tricks or features. From what I can tell WS 2019, and WS 2022 are simply newer Windows 10 kernels, and offer more cloud type stuff, which I do not need at all. Regarding restoring the WSEE to WS 2022, how do you suggest I do that? "Essential role is unavailable on latest servers but easily restorable" I've seen a now discontinued PS script on Github, is that what you're talking about, or something else? Should I be afraid of screwing up my WS 2022 by installing that script? I appreciate the help and suggestions.
Frankly, i would go with 2016 or even stay in 2012r2 (which has still a relatively long support via ESU). The xeon you are going to use looks just like a plain rocket lake, which hasn't any NUMA complication or Big/Little core that may require the latest novelty. Perhaps a file server is not a demanding task unless you are in a large organization Take a look here, for example. https://forums.mydigitallife.net/th...ials-experience-on-windows-server-2019.78725/ Nothing is granted 100% trouble free even using fully supported configurations, and this is clearly not among them, but you know... little risk, little gain... Just test the procedure on a virtual machine and have an image of the old os (if you are not installing from scratch)
Windows Server 2022 is the best optimized Win10-based version of Windows Server. But for your purposes, you can also choose 2019 version, but Refresh variant, because of known bugs which came out with release of Windows 10, version 1809 which reflected to LTSC and Server also (build 17763.1).
Thank you for the reply! I'm a business owner, self-taught IT guy. I really, really like the Windows Server Essentials Experience, it makes setting my server up much faster and easier. I hate MS has eliminated it. I've seem a script that can install WSEE on 2019 or 2022, but it is a bit of a kludge, and I'm concerned some future update may break it, or screw up what I've already configured. From looking over the features of 2019 and 2022, I'm not seeing anything I can't live without, and certainly nothing that is making me want to skip having WSEE, and manually learn how to configure all that WS stuff. My mind is not made up yet, if I feel there will be some tangible/measurable improvement I'd get from one of the newer Server OSs. I have 2-3 weeks to decide. I welcome all thoughts and comments.
I repeat, it's unlikely. The only thing that may change is that 2016 may require a bit of more drivers downloads, not because the CPU but because the chipset drivers, usb and alike. Perhaps nothing prevents you to install two (or more) installations and test them in dual boot. Just use two (or more) native vhdx or, if you are old school, two (or more) different partitions. That sounds more like a MS AD rather than a real suggestion. There is no "best" in IT just like in real life, there are solutions that fits better in a definite scenario. Say server 2022 is completely useless if you need remoteFX or the essential role. (The latter can be achieved by patching as stated above, the former is out of question) Server 2008R2 is completely useless if you need the deduplication role, but is the only reliable choice if you need RemoteFX enabled Win7 virtual machines. We can continue for a day listing pros and cons of each build. Aside the (nasty) bug in 17763.1 (which affected only in place upgrades, not clean installs) In my experience 1809 (no matter if server or win10) proved to be the worst version of the Win10 family. Then the mileage may vary depending on the underlying HW, but frankly I don't see any reason to prefer it over 2016 or 2022
Thank you Acer! I found and loaded the WSEE PS script, but it is a kludge, and makes WS2022 a little glitchy, IMO too glitchy for my company's server. https://forums.mydigitallife.net/th...experience-on-windows-server-2019-2022.84492/ Also the creator of the script has stopped updating it, so as WS 2022 gets updates and presumably WS2016 WSEE, the WSEE PS script he made is frozen in time, and future updates may break his PS WSEE. Take care, thank you again!
I am currently 2 Servers are running 2012 R2 and works charm with Windows 7, 8.1, 10 and 11.. Seem just fine for me.. I need Improve with a IIS Server that handle better than older IIS 6.. I use IIS 8.0 with PHP 7.4.x and PHP 8.1.x, PHP Manger, MariaDB 10.7.x Stable, IIS URL Rewrite Module 2, Web Deploy 3.6, and Web Platform 5.1. ... I add interface Start by "Start Menu 8" .. 2- 25GB SSD and 2 - 750GB HDD 7200 rpm 2.5" drives.. I am running i3-core 3.10ghz, 16GB DDR3 and my system way enough perform.. So, therefore wait price drop on Windows Server 2019 or 2022 Standard Editions. ATGPUD2003