| | | Specifications | Foundation | Essentials | Standard | Datacenter | |
| | | Distribution | OEM only | Retail, volume licensing, OEM | Retail, volume licensing, OEM | Volume licensing and OEM | |
| | | Licensing model | Per server | Per server | Per CPU pair + CAL | Per CPU pair + CAL | |
| | | Processor chip limit | 1 | 2 | 64 | 64 | |
| | | Memory limit | 32 GB | 64 GB | 4 TB | 4 TB | |
| | | User limit | 15 | 25 | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| | | File Services limits | 1 standalone DFS root | 1 standalone DFS root | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| | | Network Policy and Access Services limits | 50 RRAS connections and 10 IAS connections | 250 RRAS connections, 50 IAS connections, and 2 IAS Server Groups | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| | | Remote Desktop Services limits | 50 Remote Desktop Services connections | Gateway only | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| | | Virtualization rights | N/A | Either in 1 VM or 1 physical server, but not both at once | 2 VMs | Unlimited | |
| | | DHCP role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | DNS server role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Fax server role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | UDDI Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Print and Document Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Web Services (Internet Information Services) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Windows Deployment Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Windows Server Update Services | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Active Directory Rights Management Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Application server role | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Server Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Windows Powershell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Active Directory Domain Services | Must be root of forest and domain | Must be root of forest and domain | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Active Directory Certificate Services | Certificate Authorities only | Certificate Authorities only | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Active Directory Federation Services | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Server Core mode | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| | | Hyper-V | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
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