Microsoft announced the availability of Windows Server 2012 in Malaysia last week. Window Server 2012 is the server version of Windows 8 and the successor to Windows Server 2008 R2.
Windows Server 2012 will be available in two editions in Malaysia- Standard & Datacenter.
The main difference between the two edition is that the Standard edition comes with two virtualization rights while the Datacenter edition is unlimited.
Microsoft said that it built Windows Server 2012 from the cloud up, applying its experience operating global datacenters that rely on hundreds of thousands of servers to deliver more than 200 cloud services. Windows Server 2012 also expands the definition of a server operating system, with significant new advancements in virtualization, storage, networking and automation.
Eric Liew, Microsoft Malaysia Product Marketing Manager, Core Infrastructure, said that the new operating system has 107 brand new features compared to Windows Server 2008 R2.
Some of the key features of Windows Server 2012 include Data Deduplication(to prevent duplication of data), uses the new Resilient File System(ReFS), Hyper-V 3.0, PowerShell 3.0, the ease of adding more storage, among others.
“Cloud computing is driving a massive transformation in the IT industry, giving customers the opportunity to move faster, innovate for their businesses with more focus, and to reduce costs,” said Danny Ong, Chief Marketing & Operations Officer, Microsoft Malaysia.
“The operating system has always been the heartbeat of IT and is now undergoing a renaissance in the new world of continuous cloud services, connected devices and big data. Microsoft’s unique legacy in the most widely used operating systems, applications and cloud services positions us to deliver the Cloud OS — based on Windows Server and Windows Azure — that can help customers achieve a datacenter without boundaries,” added Ong.
In response to TheTechInsider, Microsoft Malaysia Managing Director Ananth Lazarus said that the new Windows 8 operating system will launch in Malaysia and globally on October 26. He added that Windows 8 is the most tested operating system in Microsoft’s history and it has been downloaded over 60 million times.
Microsoft claims that it has some 60-70% server market share in Malaysia.
[PDF]– Windows Server 2012 Licensing-Pricing Datasheet