Windows Server 2012 Foundation

• Windows Server 2012 Foundation is full-featured 64-bit version of Windows® Server that enables core IT resources, such as file and print sharing, remote access, and security. It provides a network foundation from which you can centrally manage settings on your computers that are based on the Windows operating system, and upon which you can run the most popular business applications. It also provides a familiar Windows user experience that helps you manage users and safeguard business information.
  

• You can use Windows Server 2012 Foundation in either Active Directory® or workgroup environments to create up to 15 user accounts that can access and use the server software. Each user account permits one user, using any device, to access and use your server software with no client access licenses (CALs) required. In the Windows Server 2012 Foundation operating system, you will receive a warning message if you exceed the fifteen-user limit.
  

• Although most core features are the same, there are important limits in Windows Server 2012 Foundation versus other editions of Windows Server 2012 that you should be aware of before you deploy Windows Server 2012 Foundation.
  

  Parameter	Limit
  Maximum number of users	15 (enforced by license terms)
  Required client access licenses (CALs)	None
  Maximum number of Server Message Block (SMB) connections	30
  Maximum number of Routing and Remote Access (RRAS) connections	50
  Maximum number of Internet Authentication Service (IAS) connections	10
  Maximum number of Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Gateway connections	50
  Maximum number of CPU sockets	1 (no limit on CPU cores)
  Maximum RAM	32 GB
  Virtual image use rights	None; cannot host virtual machines or be used as a guest operating system in a virtual machine.
  Domain requirements	Must be the root domain controller in a domain that has no trusts at the root of the forest. This condition is temporarily allowed for migrations, but if persistent, the system will be forced to restart.

  
  

• Most server roles and features are supported, but not all of them. Certain roles and features are available, but with limits. The following table provides a summary of the supported and unsupported roles and features, as well as applicable limits.
  
  

  Role or feature	Availability and limitations
  Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)	You can create certification authorities, but no other AD CS role services are available.
  Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)	Available
  Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)	Available
  Read-only domain controller (RODC)	The server cannot be used as a read-only domain controller.
  Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS)	Available
  Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS)	Available
  Application Server	Available
  Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server	Available
  Domain Name System (DNS) Server	Available
  Fax Server	Available, but limited to 30.
  File and Storage Services	Available, but limited to one standalone Distributed File System (DFS) root.
  Hyper-Vâ„¢	Not available
  Network Policy and Access Services	Available
  Print and Document Services	Available
  Web Server (IIS)	Available
  Windows Deployment Services	Available
  Remote Desktop Services	Available
  Volume Activation Services	Available
  Print and Document Services	Available
  Hot Add Memory	Not available
  Windows Server Update Services	Not included
  Windows PowerShellâ„¢	Available
  VSS integration	Available
  Storage Spaces	Available
  Data Deduplication	Not available
  Failover Clustering	Not available
  Dynamic Memory (in Hyper-V)	Not available
  SMB Direct and SMB over RDMA	Available
  IP Address Management	Available
  BranchCache	Available
  Distributed File System Replication (DFS-R)	Available
  DirectAccess	Available
  Server Manager	Available
  Storage Management Service	Available