Windows Server 2022

Windows Server 2022
Version of the Windows NT operating system
	Screenshot of Windows Server 2022
Developer	Microsoft
Written in	C, C++, Rust, C#, Assembly language
OS family	Windows Server
Working state	Current
Source model	Closed-source
General; availability	August 18, 2021; 3 years ago
Latest release	21H2 (10.0.20348.3207) (February 11, 2025; 6 days ago) [±]
Marketing target	Business
Available in	110 languages
Update method	Windows Update; Windows Server Update Services; SCCM;
Package manager	Windows Package Manager
Platforms	x86-64
Kernel type	Hybrid (Windows NT kernel)
Default; user interface	Windows Shell
License	Proprietary
Preceded by	Windows Server 2019 (2018)
Succeeded by	Windows Server 2025 (2024)
Official website	www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server at the Wayback Machine (archived October 14, 2024)
Support status
	Mainstream support until October 13, 2026; Extended support until October 14, 2031;

Windows Server 2022 is the thirteenth major version of the Windows NT operating system produced by Microsoft to be released under the Windows Server brand name. It was announced at Microsoft's Ignite event from March 2–4, 2021.^[4] It was released on August 18, 2021,^[1]^[3] almost 3 years after Windows Server 2019, and a few months before the Windows 11 operating system.

Windows Server 2022 is based on the "Iron" codebase.^[5] It is similar to Windows 10 21H2, but its updates are incompatible with it.^[5] Like its predecessor, Windows Server 2019, it requires x64 processors.

It was succeeded by Windows Server 2025 on November 1, 2024.^[6]

History

Microsoft announced Windows Server 2022 on February 22, 2021, scheduled for March 2.^[4] On March 3, Microsoft started distributing preview builds on Windows Update. Windows Server 2022 reached general availability on August 18, 2021.^[1]^[3]

In June 2022, as a part of its monthly schedule for preview updates (also known as the "C updates"), Microsoft released KB5014665 to test upcoming fixes for Windows Server 2022. The update aimed to address connectivity issues with RDP, RRAS, SSTP VPN clients, and Wi-Fi hotspots.^[7]

Features

Windows Server 2022 has the following features:^[8]^[9]

Security

Enhanced boot-time security via TPM 2.0 and System Guard (a component of Microsoft Defender Antivirus)^[10]
Credential Guard^[11]
Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI)^[11]
UEFI Secure Boot^[8]
Protection against malicious attacks via the DMA path^[10]
DNS over HTTPS^[8]
AES-256 encryption of SMB traffic^[8]
SMB over QUIC instead of TCP^[10]

Storage

Storage Migration Service (SMS)
Compression of SMB traffic

Cloud

Azure hybrid capabilities^{[clarification needed]}

Software

Microsoft Edge

Editions

Essentials

Only available through Microsoft OEM partners^[12]
Intended for small businesses
Supports a maximum of 25 users and 50 devices
Requires no client access licenses (CALs)^[13]

Standard

Intended for physical or weak VCC environments
Only two virtual machines and one Hyper-V host are deemed usable.^[9]^[14]^[15]

Datacenter

Intended for highly virtualized data centers and cloud environments

Azure Datacenter

Designed for the Microsoft Azure platform^[9]

Hardware requirements

Minimum hardware requirements for Windows Server 2022^[13]^[16]
Hardware	Minimum requirement
CPU	1.4 GHz x86-64 processor
RAM	512 MB for Server Core or 2 GB for Server with Desktop Experience
Hard disk space	At least 32 GB free space
Display	1024 x 768 pixels resolution (only required for certain features)
Network	A wireless adapter that supports 802.11, or An Ethernet adapter capable of at least 1 Gbit per second throughput, or NIC card with a minimum bandwidth of 1 Gbit^[9]
Firmware	UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware that supports secure boot (only required for certain features)
Security	Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (only required for certain features)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Windows Server release information". Windows Server Portal. Microsoft. December 23, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2022 – via Microsoft Learn.
^ "February 11, 2025—KB5051979 (OS Build 20348.3207)". Microsoft Support. Microsoft.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Windows Server 2022". Microsoft Lifecycle. Microsoft. Retrieved January 12, 2022 – via Microsoft Learn.
^ ^a ^b "Announcing Windows Server 2022—now in preview". Microsoft Windows Server Blog. March 2, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Bowden, Zac (December 14, 2020). "Microsoft releases final Windows 10 'Iron' build to Insiders in the Dev Channel". Windows Central.
^ Woolsey, Jeff. "Introducing Windows Server 2025!". Microsoft Tech Community. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
^ Sergiu Gatlan (June 24, 2022). "June Windows preview updates fix VPN, RDP, RRAS, and Wi-Fi issues". Bleeping Computer. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "What's new in Windows Server 2022". Windows Server Portal. Microsoft. Retrieved January 12, 2022 – via Microsoft Learn.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "10 New Things in Windows Server 2022 to Know". Geekflare. November 11, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Windows Server 2022 has Very Interesting Security Features". Altaro DOJO. October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Protect your infrastructure with Secured-core server". TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM. March 2, 2021.
^ "Windows Server 2022 Licensing & Pricing | Microsoft". www.microsoft.com. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Simon Bisson (September 30, 2021). "Windows Server 2022: A cheat sheet". TechRepublic. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
^ Posey, Brian (January 28, 2022). "Compare the features in the Windows Server 2022 editions". TechTarget. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
^ "Pricing and licensing for Windows Server 2022". Microsoft. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
^ "Hardware requirements for Windows Server". Windows Server Portal. Microsoft. December 23, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022 – via Microsoft Learn.

External links

Official website

[DocsPreviewReleaseInfo-1] "Windows Server release information". Windows Server Portal. Microsoft. December 23, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2022 – via Microsoft Learn.

[2] "February 11, 2025—KB5051979 (OS Build 20348.3207)". Microsoft Support. Microsoft.

[Lifecycle-3] "Windows Server 2022". Microsoft Lifecycle. Microsoft. Retrieved January 12, 2022 – via Microsoft Learn.

[Announcing_Server_2022_preview-4] "Announcing Windows Server 2022—now in preview". Microsoft Windows Server Blog. March 2, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.

[windows-central-iron-5] Bowden, Zac (December 14, 2020). "Microsoft releases final Windows 10 'Iron' build to Insiders in the Dev Channel". Windows Central.

[6] Woolsey, Jeff. "Introducing Windows Server 2025!". Microsoft Tech Community. Retrieved January 26, 2024.

[7] Sergiu Gatlan (June 24, 2022). "June Windows preview updates fix VPN, RDP, RRAS, and Wi-Fi issues". Bleeping Computer. Retrieved June 24, 2022.

[wn-8] "What's new in Windows Server 2022". Windows Server Portal. Microsoft. Retrieved January 12, 2022 – via Microsoft Learn.

[10_New_Things-9] "10 New Things in Windows Server 2022 to Know". Geekflare. November 11, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.

[:1-10] "Windows Server 2022 has Very Interesting Security Features". Altaro DOJO. October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2022.

[:2-11] "Protect your infrastructure with Secured-core server". TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM. March 2, 2021.

[12] "Windows Server 2022 Licensing & Pricing | Microsoft". www.microsoft.com. Retrieved October 1, 2022.

[cheat_sheet-13] Simon Bisson (September 30, 2021). "Windows Server 2022: A cheat sheet". TechRepublic. Retrieved January 12, 2022.

[14] Posey, Brian (January 28, 2022). "Compare the features in the Windows Server 2022 editions". TechTarget. Retrieved January 3, 2023.

[15] "Pricing and licensing for Windows Server 2022". Microsoft. Retrieved January 3, 2023.

[16] "Hardware requirements for Windows Server". Windows Server Portal. Microsoft. December 23, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022 – via Microsoft Learn.

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