Microsoft Server 2022 is the latest version in the server operating system lineup, succeeding the 2019 release. As with previous editions, Microsoft has added several new features and improvements in various areas, such as security, storage systems, networking capabilities, and cloud integration.
In this article, we will examine the key innovations and enhancements of Windows Server 2022 in detail. This will help IT professionals and decision-makers evaluate the potential benefits of upgrading to the latest version of the server operating system, for your webhosting needs.
Installing Server 2022
To begin, running Server 2022 requires a server with the following minimum specifications:
- Processor with a clock speed of at least 1.4 GHz.
- RAM of 512 MB or more.
- Disk space of at least 32 GB.
Server 2022 is available in two editions: Standard and Datacenter. The differences are minor, primarily related to limitations on the number of virtual machines and containers.
The easiest way to practice installing the system is on a virtual machine, for example, in the free Oracle VirtualBox. The process is standard: mount the ISO image, allocate resources, and follow the wizard. You can also upgrade to Server 2022 from previous versions of Windows Server, starting in 2012 R2.
New Features and Improvements in Active Directory
In Server 2022, Microsoft continued to develop its flagship directory service, Active Directory (AD). A special AD Recycle Bin container has been introduced, allowing the recovery of accidentally deleted AD objects such as users, groups, and organizational units. This is very convenient in the event of errors.
AD security has also received attention. Privileged Access Security (PAS) has been introduced, allowing restrictions on administrator privileges. The encryption of AD data during replication between domain controllers has also been improved.
Working with AD from PowerShell has become more convenient thanks to new cmdlets. These allow automation of typical tasks for managing domains, users, and groups.
Storage Systems and Fault Tolerance
If data integrity and uninterrupted service operation are critical to you, you will appreciate the fault tolerance improvements in Server 2022.
Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) technology allows combining local disks into a single pool and building software-defined storage systems based on it. This enables flexible scaling of storage capacity and performance.
Storage Replica (SR) is used for data replication between servers. In Server 2022, the synchronization distance has been increased to 150 km, and SR performance has been improved.
Failover Clustering has been significantly redesigned. Integration with S2D has been added, node monitoring has improved, and operation in Azure has been optimized.
Network Functions and Security
In terms of network infrastructure and security, Server 2022 also has noteworthy improvements.
The built-in Windows Defender antivirus has learned to detect anomalies and malicious behavior through event analysis. It will promptly react to all suspicious activities.
Windows Admin Center (WAC) is a separate tool for managing servers through a web interface. In the version for Server 2022, its security and usability have noticeably improved.
For modern applications, Windows Server 2022 has improved support for containers and Kubernetes orchestration. Software-defined networking (SDN) capabilities for traffic microsegmentation have also been expanded.
Infrastructure Services
Basic infrastructure services are essential in any network, and Server 2022 has not overlooked them.
New features have been added to the DNS, DHCP, and IPAM services responsible for IP address management. For example, in DNS, you can configure response policies for queries based on time and client location.
For remote access to corporate resources, DirectAccess and VPN technologies have been improved. For instance, Always On VPN provides constant network connectivity.
The IIS 10 web server included in Server 2022 has received support for the HTTP/2 protocol and the new TLS 1.3 encryption version. This will increase the speed and security of your websites.
Azure Hybrid Cloud
Many organizations are gradually moving their infrastructure and applications to the Microsoft Azure cloud. Server 2022 offers additional capabilities for hybrid scenarios.
Using Azure Arc, your local Windows Server instances become visible and manageable from a single Azure console. It’s convenient to apply policies and updates to both cloud and physical servers.
Azure File Sync allows centralized synchronization of files between local servers and Azure Files cloud storage. No more scattered file resources.
Server backups can be configured directly to the cloud using Azure Backup. In case of a disaster, virtual machines can be deployed from copies using Azure Site Recovery.
If some applications cannot yet, be moved to Azure, secure remote access to them can be provided through Azure AD Application Proxy. It works on the principle of reverse proxy and does not require opening inbound ports.
Conclusion
Windows Server 2022 is a worthy continuation of Microsoft’s server OS lineup. It has introduced many improvements compared to the 2019 version.
The main focus has been on the following aspects:
- Enhancing security and threat protection.
- Integration with Azure cloud for hybrid scenarios.
- Support for modern applications on containers and Kubernetes.
- Improving fault tolerance and flexibility of data storage systems.
Therefore, if these issues are relevant to you, it makes sense to consider upgrading to Windows Server 2022. Considering Microsoft’s extended support, this upgrade will serve you for many years to come.