Windows Server 2012 R2

Not to be confused with Windows Server 2012.
Windows Server 2012 R2
Version of the Windows NT operating system
Screenshot of Windows Server 2012 R2, showing the Server Manager application which is automatically opened when an administrator logs on, start button, taskbar, and the blue color of Aero Lite
DeveloperMicrosoft
OS familyWindows Server
Working stateCurrent
Source modelClosed source / Shared source
Released to
manufacturing		August 27, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-08-27)[1]
General
availability		October 17, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-10-17)[2]
Latest release6.3 (Build 9600) / October 11, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-10-11)[3]
Marketing targetBusiness
Update methodWindows Update, Windows Server Update Services, SCCM
Platformsx86-64
Kernel typeHybrid (Windows NT kernel)
Default
user interface		Windows shell (GUI)
LicenseTrialware
Preceded byWindows Server 2012 (2012)
Succeeded byWindows Server 2016 (2016)
Official websiteWindows Server 2012 R2 (archived at Wayback Machine)
Support status
  • Start date: October 17, 2013
  • Mainstream support ended on October 9, 2018
  • Extended support ended on October 10, 2023[4]
  • Paid support via the Extended Security Updates program until October 13, 2026, only for volume licensed editions.

Windows Server 2012 R2, codenamed "Windows Server Blue", is the tenth version of the Windows Server operating system by Microsoft, as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was unveiled on June 3, 2013, at TechEd North America,[5] and released on October 18 of the same year.[2] It is the successor to Windows Server 2012, and is based on the Windows 8.1 codebase. Windows Server 2012 R2 is the final version of Windows Server to use the "R2" suffix, which had been used since the release of Windows Server 2003 R2 in 2005.[6]

Windows Server 2012 R2 removed support for processors without CMPXCHG16b, PrefetchW, LAHF and SAHF.

A further update, formally designated Windows Server 2012 R2 Update, was released in April 2014.[7] It is a cumulative set of security, critical and other updates.[8] Windows Server 2012 R2, like previous versions of Windows Server before it and versions after it, is only compatible with 64-bit processors.

Windows Server 2012 R2 was succeeded by Windows Server 2016, which is derived from the Windows 10 codebase. Mainstream support for Windows Server 2012 R2 ended on October 9, 2018, and extended support ended on October 10, 2023. Windows Server 2012 R2 is eligible for the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which offers continued security updates until October 13, 2026.

  1. ^ Anderson, Brad (27 August 2013). "Today is the RTM for Windows Server 2012 R2!". Enterprise Mobility and Security Blog. Microsoft.
  2. ^ a b Jeff Meisner (August 14, 2013). "Save the date: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows System Center 2012 R2 and Windows Intune update coming Oct. 18 - The Official Microsoft Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs". TechNet Blogs. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  3. ^ "October 11, 2022—KB5018474 (Monthly Rollup)". support.microsoft.com. October 11, 2022.
  4. ^ "Search product lifecycle – Windows Server 2012 R2". Microsoft.com. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  5. ^ Damien Caro (June 10, 2013). "Windows Server 2012 R2–First look - Damien Caro's Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs". Blogs.technet.com. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  6. ^ "What is Windows Server?—IT Glossary | SolarWinds".
  7. ^ "August updates for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 - Windows Experience BlogWindows Experience Blog". blogs.windows.com.
  8. ^ "Windows Server 2012 R2 Update (KB2919355)". Microsoft Download Center.