Windows Server 2012 includes several improvements over previous versions such as support for more virtual processors and memory per virtual machine, unlimited live migration and storage migration, and larger virtual disk sizes up to 64TB. It also includes new features like storage pools, SMB 3.0 file share virtual disks, guest clustering over Fibre Channel, and secure offloaded data transfer.

7. Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012
HW Logical Processor 16 LPs 64 LPs 320 LPs
Support
Physical Memory Support 1 TB 1 TB 4 TB
Cluster Scale 16 Nodes up to 1000 VMs 16 Nodes up to 1000 VMs 64 Nodes up to 4000 VMs
Virtual Machine Processor Up to 4 VPs Up to 4 VPs Up to 64 VPs
Support
VM Memory Up to 64 GB Up to 64 GB Up to 1 TB
Live Migration Yes, one at a time Yes, one at a time Yes, with no limits. As many
as hardware will allow.
Live Storage Migration No. Quick Storage No. Quick Storage Yes, with no limits. As many
Migration via SCVMM Migration via SCVMM as hardware will allow.
Servers in a Cluster 16 16 64
VP:LP Ratio 8:1 8:1 for Server No limits. As many as
12:1 for Client (VDI) hardware will allow.

11. • Hyper-V Replica for Asynchronous Replication
Disaster Recovery
• CSV 2.0 Integration with Storage Arrays for Synchronous Replication
• Non-Cluster Aware Apps: Hyper-V App Monitoring
Application/Service
• VM Guest Cluster: iSCSI, Fiber Channel
Failover
• VM Guest Teaming of SR-IOV NICs
• Network Load Balancing & Failover via Windows NIC Teaming
I/O Redundancy • Storage Multi-Path IO (MPIO)
• Multi-Channel SMB
Physical Node • Live Migration for Planned Downtime
Redundancy • Failover Cluster for Unplanned Downtime
Hardware Fault • Windows Hardware Error Architecture (WHEA)/RAS

15. Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012
Live Storage Migration No. Quick Storage No. Quick Storage Yes, with no limits. As
Migration via SCVMM Migration via SCVMM many as HW will allow.
Storage Pools as low-cost No No Yes
alternative to SAN
VMs on File Storage No No Yes, SMB 3.0
Guest Fiber Channel No No Yes
Virtual Disk Format VHD up to 2 TB VHD up to 2 TB VHD up to 2 TB
VHDX up to 64 TB
VM Guest Clustering Yes, via iSCSI Yes, via iSCSI Yes, via iSCSI or FC
Native 4k Disk Support No No Yes
Live VHD Merge No, offline. No, offline. Yes
Live New Parent No No Yes
Secure Offloaded Data No No Yes
Transfer (ODX)

16. Creation of a 10 GB Fixed Disk
200
150
~3 Minutes
100
Time (seconds)
50
0 <1 Second!
Average ODX
System

19. Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012
NIC Teaming Yes, via partners Yes, via partners Windows NIC Teaming in box.
VLAN Tagging Yes Yes Yes
MAC Spoofing Protection No Yes, with R2 SP1 Yes
ARP Spoofing Protection No Yes, with R2 SP1 Yes
SR-IOV Networking No No Yes
Network QoS No No Yes
Network Metering No No Yes
Network Monitor Modes No No Yes
IPsec Task Offload No No Yes
VM Trunk Mode No No Yes

22. Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2012
R2
Hyper-V PowerShell No No Yes
Network PowerShell No No Yes
Storage PowerShell No No Yes
SCONFIG No Yes Yes
Multi-server management No No Yes
with Server Manager
Offline Virtual Disk No No Yes
servicing in Server
Manager
Enable/Disable GUI Shell No No Yes, MinShell
(Server Core @ OS Setup) (Server Core @ OS Setup)