Windows Server 2025 Release Date
From May 29, 2024, Microsoft Windows Server 2025 is available in public preview and will become generally available in Q4 of 2024. This release is the most secure and innovative version to date. It offers advanced security features, new Azure hybrid capabilities, and enhanced performance for AI and application workloads. It will be available as a perpetual license and as a subscription, with the latter offering enhanced rights. The main editions will remain Standard and Datacenter. The release date for the Essentials edition is yet to be announced.
What is Windows Server?
Windows Server is an operating system created by Microsoft for servers. It is engineered to manage networked systems, host databases, and run enterprise applications. Unlike the Windows OS for personal computers, Windows Server is optimized for tasks that require high levels of reliability, scalability, and security. It is widely used in business environments to support the infrastructure for connected applications, networks, and web services.
Main new features of Windows Server 2025
Microsoft Windows Server 2025 provides a more secure, versatile, and high-performing server environment than ever before. The main enhancements have been made in these areas:
Security
- Active Directory now includes additional security features for robust identity management.
- Server Message Block (SMB) has been updated to include SMB over Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC) and defenses against common network attacks.
- Security Updates require fewer system restarts, facilitated by Azure Arc’s hotpatching and improvements in Active Directory and SMB.
Hybrid Capabilities
Windows Server supports hybrid and multicloud environments with:
- Software-defined Networking (SDN) features for better connectivity and management across multiple sites.
- Azure Arc tools for integrating Azure services into on-premises datacenters.
AI and Performance
New functionalities support AI and enhance system performance:
- GPU Partitioning for virtual machines, aiding AI workloads with live migration and clustering support.
- Network Features like Adaptive Traffic Control (ATC) and Health and Usage Dashboard (HUD) for improved network management.
- Storage and Hyper-V see performance gains and scalability improvements.
Hotpatching
Hotpatching now lets the admin apply security updates without a reboot. This has only been available in the Azure Edition of Windows Server 2022 Datacenter before. Typically, to apply updates to system files, a server must undergo a restart to finalize the patching procedure, which is not necessary anymore due to hotpatching.
Hotpatching will become available as an add-on monthly subscription. This feature will necessitate the use of Azure Arc and Software Assurance. If you are using Azure Edition, Hotpatching comes at no additional cost, available on Azure and Azure Stack HCI.
Licensing Editions
Microsoft Windows Server 2025 still offers three primary licensing editions, tailored to fit different organizational sizes and needs regarding virtualization and datacenter requirements:
| Windows Server 2025 Edition | Ideal for | Licensing model [1] | CAL requirements |
| Datacenter | Highly virtualized datacenters and cloud environments. Includes features like Azure Hybrid Benefit and unlimited OSEs/Hyper-V isolated containers | Core-based | Windows Server CAL |
| Standard | Physical or minimally virtualized environments. Provides core Windows Server functionality. Includes two OSEs/Hyper-V isolated containers. | Core-based | Windows Server CAL |
| Essentials | Small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices | Specialty servers (server license) [2] | No CAL required |
[1] CALs are required for every user or device accessing a server. See the Product Use Rights for details.
[2] Up to 10 cores and 1 VM on single-socket servers. Windows Server Essentials is available through Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Server Hardware partners of Microsoft.
Licensing Model
The licensing model for Windows Server 2025 has been updated to provide more flexibility for organizations. It introduces a new pay-as-you-go option, alongside the traditional perpetual licensing.
Pay-as-you-go subscription
Under this new licensing approach, companies can opt for a subscription-based model, in which you pay based on actual usage. It is managed and billed via Azure. This requires using Azure Arc, which is designed to oversee enterprise workloads across various platforms. The advantage of this model is that it enables organizations to scale their server capacity up or down based on fluctuating demands, such as seasonal spikes in activity, without the need for permanent infrastructure expansion. This offers a cost-effective solution for managing short-term increases in server load.
Perpetual license
The perpetual license option remains available for those who prefer the conventional method. It offers five years of standard support followed by five years of extended support.
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Quarterly Release Cycle
Hotpatch Servicing starts after the baseline and is only for security updates, which are being released monthly. .NET Updates are not part of Hotpatching. Regular Servicing also releases monthly updates but necessitates reboots. Regular Servicing includes security and non-security updates. Organizations using Hotpatching need to do a quarterly, rebooted baseline update.
Upgrading from Windows Server 2022 to 2025
When upgrading from Windows Server 2022 to 2025, an Operating System (OS) upgrade through Windows Update is possible. This makes the upgrading experience similar to Windows 11 and easy.
Are you interested in Windows Server 2025?
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Windows Server 2025 FAQ
When will Windows Server 2025 be released?
Windows Server 2025 is expected to be released in Q4 of 2024. The preview version of Windows Server 2025 is available for download currently.
What editions of Windows Server 2025 will be available?
The main editions of Windows Server 2025 will be Standard and Datacenter. There will also be an Essentials edition, but its release date is not yet known.
What is SMB over QUIC and why is it important?
SMB over QUIC is a new feature that brings the benefits of the QUIC protocol to Server Message Block (SMB). QUIC is a modern transport protocol that offers a number of advantages over TCP, including:
- Improved performance: QUIC often provides better performance than TCP, especially in situations with high latency or packet loss.
- Enhanced security: QUIC connections are always encrypted using TLS 1.3.
- Increased resilience: QUIC connections can tolerate changes in IP address and port during transmission.
SMB over QUIC was previously only available in Windows Server Azure Edition, but it is now available in the Standard and Datacenter editions of Windows Server 2025.
What are some of the key improvements in Hyper-V?
Hyper-V in Windows Server 2025 includes:
- Increased processor support: Support for up to 2,048 virtual processors for Generation 2 virtual machines, and Hyper-V hosts can now support up to 2,048 logical processors.
- GPU partitioning: GPUs can now be partitioned and assigned to virtual machines, improving performance for graphics-intensive workloads and enabling migrations between servers while maintaining high availability.
- Workgroup clusters: You can now deploy workgroup clusters with certificate-based authentication, eliminating the need for Active Directory.
What is the future of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)?
Microsoft has stated that WSUS will no longer be actively developed. Although the WSUS role can still be selected during installation, there will be no new features or updates. Microsoft recommends that organizations transition to cloud-based update management tools like Windows Autopatch or Microsoft Intune.
More information
Find details on what is new in Windows Server 2025 here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/whats-new-windows-server-2025.
Find videos on the Windows Server Summit 2024 here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/tech-community-live/windows-server-summit-2024/ev-p/4068971 and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j470Tp4b6es.
Get started with Windows Server 2025 Preview here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2025.
For pricing info, please visit: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/pricing and contact SCHNEIDER IT MANAGEMENT.
For more on Microsoft licensing, visit our Microsoft vendor page at: https://www.schneider.im/software/microsoft/.
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