Implementing Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Foundation on HP ProLiant servers

Abstract

Windows Server 2012 Foundation is a 64-bit operating system for single processor (one socket, single- or multi-core)

servers. It offers small business with up to 15 users to run applications and share information and resources by enabling

the following resources:

• File and print sharing

• Remote access

• Security

Although the core features among the different Windows Server 2012 editions are identical, important differences exist.

To determine what edition is right for your environment, Microsoft provides a comparison of Windows Server 2012

Foundation and other editions on the Microsoft website at

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-

server/buy.aspx.

Note

Storage Spaces is a new technology in Windows Server 2012 Foundation that

facilitates aggregation of different types of storage into highly available

volumes. Storage Spaces does not currently support smart array controllers.

HP has elected not to support Storage Spaces at this time. We will continue to

drive joint innovation with Microsoft in the storage resource management area.

If you wish to create high performance, highly available pools of internal or

mixed internal and external storage should continue to use HP Smart Array and

SAN storage products for this purpose.

This paper identifies the HP ProLiant servers that we support with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Foundation and

provides information that can assist you during your OS installation. This paper addresses the following key topics:

• Recommended system configurations

• Supported HP ProLiant servers

• Procedures for a new installation

• Known issues and workarounds

Recommended system configurations

Microsoft has established the recommended system configurations listed in this section. Carefully review this

information for the recommended system configurations. Do not use this document as the sole source of information.

Additional server configuration information is available on the Microsoft website at

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/jj134246.aspx. Table 1 lists key server hardware requirements.

We recommend configuring your server with either of the following processor families:

• Intel® Xeon® Processors with Intel 64 architecture

• Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD64) Opteron™ Series Processors