Introduction to Windows Server 2022

New features of Windows Server 2022 include

Here are some important new features of Windows Server 2022:

•  Core: 

Server 2022 is built on three core pillars: advanced protection, simplified security, and preemptive defense. All of this is aimed at providing Windows Server 2022 with the comprehensive protection that servers need in today’s modern technological world.

•  Security: 

Secure Core Server: This relies on technologies like Windows Defender System Guard and virtualization-based security to reduce risks from advanced firmware vulnerabilities and malware.

TLS 1.3 Support: TLS 1.3 is the latest and most secure version of the Transport Layer Security protocol. Windows Server 2022 supports it by default, providing stronger encryption for your data in transit.

SMB over QUIC Support: SMB over QUIC provides faster and more reliable file sharing over the Internet. It's also more secure than traditional SMBs, as it uses encryption and authentication to protect your data.

Enhanced encryption: Windows Server 2022 includes support for new encryption algorithms, including AES-256 encryption for SMB and DNS-over-HTTPS.

Enhanced security tools: Windows Server 2022 includes a number of enhanced security tools, such as Windows Defender System Guard, Windows Defender Application Control, and Windows Defender Exploit Guard.

Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM 2.0): TPM 2.0 is a small chip that is often integrated into a computer's motherboard to provide hardware-based security. TPM 2.0 stores sensitive information for your Windows Server 2022 system, such as encryption keys and other sensitive related data).

•  Azure hybrid integration and management: 

Azure Arc: Azure Arc extends Azure management and governance to any infrastructure, including on-premises servers, virtual machines, and Kubernetes clusters.

Azure Stack HCI: Azure Stack HCI is a hyperconverged infrastructure solution that brings Azure services to your on-premises datacenter.

Windows Admin Center: Windows Admin Center is a web-based console that allows you to manage your Windows servers from anywhere. It has been updated with new features for managing Azure hybrid environments.

•  Application platform: 

Windows containers: Windows containers have been improved with smaller image sizes, simplified network policy implementation, and containerization tools for .NET applications.

Hyper-V: Hyper-V has been updated with new features for improving performance and security, such as support for Secure Boot and VMConnect on HTTPS.

Web Platform: The Web Platform has been updated with new versions of ASP.NET, .NET, and IIS.

•  Other new features: 

Microsoft Edge is included with Windows Server 2022, replacing Internet Explorer.

New improvements to Windows Admin Center to manage Server 2022 include capabilities to both reports on the current state of the Secured-core features.

Support for new hardware: Windows Server 2022 supports the latest hardware platforms, including AMD EPYC processors and Intel Xeon processors.

Windows Server 2022 includes a number of performance improvements, such as faster startup times and reduced memory usage.

Windows Server 2022 supports the latest versions of Microsoft software, such as SQL Server 2022 and Exchange Server 2022.

Overall, Windows Server 2022 includes a number of new features and improvements that can help you improve the security, performance, and manageability of your servers. 

Windows Server 2022 Hardware Requirements

Before we dive into the installation, let’s look at the minimum hardware requirements for installing Windows Server 2022 operating system.

Following are the minimum and recommended installation hardware requirements for Windows Server 2022:

 Minimum hardware: 

• Processor

 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor Compatible with x64 instruction set. Supports NX and DEP, CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF.

• Memory

512 MB of RAM (2 GB recommended)

• Storage (Disk space)

32 GB of free disk space (64 GB recommended)

• Network adapter Requirements

Ethernet adapter capable of at least 1 gigabit per second throughput. Compliant with the PCI Express architecture specification.

These are considered the basic requirements for running Windows Server 2022, but there are some additional requirements.

 Additional requirements for certain features: 

 1.  Graphics device and monitor capable of Super VGA (1024 x 768) or higher-resolution.

 2.  UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware that supports secure boot. Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.

 3.  Requires a processor that supports the Hyper-V feature.

 4.  Requires a processor that supports the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) instruction set.

 5.  Web Platform: Requires a processor that supports the SSE4.1 instruction set.

All of the above are considered basic requirements for running Windows Server 2022, or what Microsoft says, but there are requirements recommended by some experts and those working on Windows Servers 2022, with the aim of improving performance, server speed, and rapid response from clients joining the server and users.

 Recommended hardware: 

• Processor

2.0 GHz or higher 64-bit processor.

• Memory

8 GB of RAM or more

• Storage (Disk space)

64 GB of free disk space or more.

• Network adapter Requirements

Gigabit Ethernet adapter.

After we learned about the requirements for running Windows Server 2022 and also knowing the recommended requirements, now, before knowing how to obtain Windows Server 2022, let us get to know the options for installing Windows Server 2022.

Windows Server 2022 Installation Options

When installing Windows Server 2022, there are two system installation options:

     1.  Server Core:

This option includes the core components of Windows Server and supports all server roles, but does not include the local graphical user interface (GUI). It is primarily used in deployments, which are managed remotely through the Windows Admin Center, PowerShell, or other server management tools.

     2.  Server with Desktop Experience:

This is a full installation and includes the full GUI for customers who prefer this option. This is what is recommended and I personally prefer this option and This option has a larger footprint than server core.

Please note that you can switch between the Server Core and Server with Desktop Experience installation options at any time.

Conclusion

Windows Server 2022 is a significant upgrade from previous versions of the operating system. It offers a number of new features and improvements that can help organizations improve the security, performance, and manageability of their servers.

 Additional information: 

• Release date: October 14, 2021
• Pricing: Starting at $150 per core per year
• Official websites:

        Microsoft Windows Server 2022

 Additional tips and recommendations: 

• Use a strong password for your Windows Server 2022 administrator account.
• Enable multi-factor authentication for your Windows Server 2022 administrator account.
• Install security updates regularly.
• Use a firewall to protect your Windows Server 2022 servers from unauthorized access.
• Monitor your Windows Server 2022 servers for suspicious activity.