Windows server


Haydon

Haydon

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Many, many moons ago, I experimented with a trial version of Windows server that I installed on a typical office machine (not server hardware)

The difference was like driving a car vs riding a bicycle.

What makes Windows server so good?

I drive a car in real life, I don't even own a bicycle. Why should I not drive a 'computer car' instead of riding a 'computer bicycle'?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
I'm not sure what your point is but if you're asking why not run Windows Server on your desktop instead of a desktop version of Windows it might have something to do with the price of the software.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Professional
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Digital Storm VELOX
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 11900K
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME Z590-P
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
    Sound Card
    Realtek onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer R221Q 21.5"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    2 x Samsung SSD 990 EVO Plus (1 TB)
    2 x Seagate ST4000NE001 (4 TB)
    PSU
    None
    Case
    VELOX
    Cooling
    Cooler Master
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Kensington trackball
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, Malwarebytes
Haydon said:
The difference was like driving a car vs riding a bicycle.

What makes Windows server so good?
Click to expand...
@jimbo45 swears by it....

W22 Server Free 180 days evaluation -- how to extend period - works (legally)

Hi folks If you want to try and learn things about Windows servers then the W22 server Free evaluation is great -- It's a sort of W10/W11 hybrid - very fast and efficient and a great learning tool when at home etc -- and you don't have access to Ms courses etc. I've messed around with mine to...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, and 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, Canary, and Release Preview builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package. In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media. Also running Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, Canary, and Release Preview builds as a native boot .vhdx.
The issue of running Windows server, aside from the obvious price implications, will usually boil down to third party software designed for home use which may or may not install on a server based operating system. Many of these vendors also have a commercial or enterprise application that is intended for a server install and this will be substantially more expensive.

Server is streamlined and has less desktop type things implemented. You typically have less eyecandy type GUI features on the server version.

Windows always offers a 180 day trial and you and rearm the trial a few different times, so you can run on a trial of Windows server for likely 2 years before you have to actually reinstall the software and start fresh.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink SEI8
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8279u
    Motherboard
    AZW SEI
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 2666Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus 655
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus ProArt PA278QV
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
    PSU
    NA
    Case
    NA
    Cooling
    NA
    Keyboard
    NA
    Mouse
    NA
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Mini PC used for testing Windows 11.
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900x
    Motherboard
    Asus Rog Strix X570-E Gaming
    Memory
    64GB DDR4-3600
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 3080 FT3 Ultra
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ. ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2TB WD SN850 PCI-E Gen 4 NVMe
    2TB Sandisk Ultra 2.5" SATA SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus 850
    Case
    Fractal Meshify S2 in White
    Cooling
    Dark Rock Pro CPU cooler, 3 x 140mm case fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Keyboard
    Corsiar K65 RGB Lux
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender.
Yes, I meant running Windows server as a desktop OS.

It is not terribly expensive, Windows server 2022 essentials costs about double Windows 11 Pro (official MS prices)

On my 'essentials' I was able to run all of my common office productivity apps. It even has a browser to load a server with AdWare and PUPs, LOL. But no kidding, windows server has no special hardening against malware, I expected better at the time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
OldMainframeGuy said:
I'm not sure what your point is but if you're asking why not run Windows Server on your desktop instead of a desktop version of Windows it might have something to do with the price of the software.
Click to expand...
180 days free trial and then extendable up to 5 times via slmgr -rearm !!
Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
pparks1 said:
The issue of running Windows server, aside from the obvious price implications, will usually boil down to third party software designed for home use which may or may not install on a server based operating system. Many of these vendors also have a commercial or enterprise application that is intended for a server install and this will be substantially more expensive.

Server is streamlined and has less desktop type things implemented. You typically have less eyecandy type GUI features on the server version.

Windows always offers a 180 day trial and you and rearm the trial a few different times, so you can run on a trial of Windows server for likely 2 years before you have to actually reinstall the software and start fresh.
Click to expand...
Hi there
The only product that I can't run on it is Macrium as it DOES detect a server.

Licensed Retail Office runs perfectly (LTSC 2021) without requiring CAL (Client access licenses). Photoshop / Lightroom also. Even VBOX and VMWare run on the thing without complaining that it's a server.

The only issue is to remove some of the nag things when running a server that you don't need as a desktop and install a decent desktop W10/W11 theme,-- otherwise it does work perfectly -- and is probably a better bet than the basic "Server essentials" version although that's fine if you want to run some VM's on it and are good with scripts / command line.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
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