Windows Server 2012 has four editions: Foundation, Essentials, Standard and Datacenter
| Specifications | Foundation | Essentials | Standard | Datacenter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distribution | ||||
| Licensing model | ||||
| Processor chip limit[44] | ||||
| Memory limit | ||||
| User limit | 15 | 25 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| File Services limits | 1 standalone DFS root | 1 standalone DFS root | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Network Policy and Access Services limits | 50 RRAS connections and 10 IAS connections | 250 RRAS connections, 50 IAS connections, and 2 IAS Server Groups | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Remote Desktop Serviceslimits | 50 Remote Desktop Services connections | Gateway only | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Virtualization rights | N/A | Either in 1 VM or 1 physical server, but not both at once | 2 VMs[c] | Unlimited |
| DHCP role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DNS server role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fax server role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UDDI Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Print and Document Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web Services (Internet Information Services) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Deployment Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server Update Services | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Active Directory Rights Management Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Application server role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Powershell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Active Directory Domain Services | Must be root of forest and domain | Must be root of forest and domain | Yes | Yes |
| Active Directory Certificate Services | Certificate Authorities only | Certificate Authorities only | Yes | Yes |
| Active Directory Federation Services | Yes[51] | No | Yes | Yes |
| Server Core mode | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hyper-V | No | No | Yes | Yes |