Head of Technical Support at a real estate/law firm with 51-200 employees
Real User
Reliable with good online documentation and a pretty easy setup
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup is not overly difficult."
  • "The security needs to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

Mostly we use the product for file sharing, and then for database applications. That's about it. We're not running cloud services and other things. 

What is most valuable?

We're required to support it, however, for the most part, it works well and is reliable. 

Technical support is helpful. There's a lot of documentation and helpful information online as well.

The initial setup is not overly difficult.

What needs improvement?

The security needs to be improved. That's its weakest area. It's my understanding that they cannot do anything about it at this stage. We have to wait when they are able to, more or less, integrate with Ubuntu, or with Canonical. Then, we will have a server that is quite stable in terms of security. Maybe in five years or six years, then you could see a Window Server which is going to be very impressive.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution likely for 20 years. It's been two decades. I've used it for a while at this point.

Buyer's Guide
Windows Server
March 2024
Learn what your peers think about Windows Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is reliable and the performance is good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have lots of users, especially those running Oracle. We have close to about 200 users for Oracle that are connected to Windows Server.

How are customer service and support?

We don't have any issues when it comes to Microsoft and technical support. Most of the time it is straightforward. Right now, you can go to the internet, and there are many people who post helpful information for Microsoft products. In the same way for a Linux operating system, we have a lot of users that are posting tutorials for you to be able to learn. It's not something which is very, very hard. It's quite easy already.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I also use Unbuntu and find them comparable. It's like to be able to integrate them together.

How was the initial setup?

The initial installation is pretty straightforward. I wouldn't describe it as complex.

We have about 30 staff members that are able to handle deployment and maintenance.

Per installation, the deployment time, including the updates, is maybe about three or four hours.

What about the implementation team?

We do have assistance when I'm using an HP serve. They have a way of making the installation much easier.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We do have to pay a licensing fee in order to use the servers.

We've got open licenses for the Windows Server OS, as well as the SQL Server database, and then we have to pay for the device CALs, client access license. 

What other advice do I have?

In terms of versions, right now, we're hooked on OS. We have 2012, and I have 2016. I'm interested in 2019 as well.

I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten.

I'd recommend the solution to others for business use cases. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
AhmedElbadry - PeerSpot reviewer
NMS Service Automation & RPA Technical Lead at Vodafone
Real User
Top 10
Overall good functionality, stable, and easy installation
Pros and Cons
  • "Overall the solution has been functioning very well for us."
  • "Security and vulnerabilities could improve."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution as an operating system to run applications, such as Microsoft SQL.

What is most valuable?

Overall the solution has been functioning very well for us.

What needs improvement?

Security and vulnerabilities could improve.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows Server for approximately three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is good in Windows Server.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have approximately 200 users using this solution in my organization.

How was the initial setup?

The installation is straightforward and took approximately 30 minutes.

What about the implementation team?

I did the implementation myself.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate Windows Server nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Windows Server
March 2024
Learn what your peers think about Windows Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
767,847 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Senior Architect at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Stable, easy to install, and scales well
Pros and Cons
  • "The installation was straightforward and easy."
  • "The performance is good but we have had some issues when we use virtual machines."

What is our primary use case?

We are using Windows Server as an operating platform. It's an Operating system.

We host our products on the Windows Server.

What is most valuable?

The performance is good.

What needs improvement?

While it is easy to use, it could be easier. 

The performance is good but we have had some issues when we use virtual machines. Loading and processing a lot of data leads to memory-related issues. As such, while the performance is good, it could still be improved.

We are using version 2012 and it could be that other versions have improved this feature.

For how long have I used the solution?

We are currently using Windows Server 2012. We have been using this solution for approximately 12 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have no issues with the stability of the Windows Server.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's scalable. I am satisfied with the scalability of this solution.

We don't have plans to increase our usage.

How are customer service and technical support?

We don't deal with Microsoft support directly. Our service team is in contact with them if there is an issue.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Previously, I did not use another solution.

How was the initial setup?

The installation was straightforward and easy.

We have a team of server maintenance and network engineers to maintain this solution.

What about the implementation team?

We had help from the Server team to implement this solution.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I  would rate Windows Server an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Owner and business consultant at networks srl
Real User
A stable solution for file sharing and centralized authentication
Pros and Cons
  • "Compared to other solutions, the ease of administration is great."
  • "If the service could be better integrated with the Azure Cloud, I think it would be a plus for Windows."

What is our primary use case?

We used Windows Server for file sharing and centralized authentication.

We stopped using Microsoft Server in 2012 due to hardware failure and licensing costs. For these reasons, we decided to move to open-source solutions.

What is most valuable?

Compared to other solutions, the ease of administration is great. 

What needs improvement?

In regard to the next release, I would like to see a more scalable solution. I would also like to see any future developments on the market because there was a time when most companies would run away from centralized authentication systems, like Active Directory — they moved to cloud solutions. If the service could be better integrated with the Azure Cloud, I think it would be a plus for Windows.

For how long have I used the solution?

I used Windows Server from 2003 until 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Windows Server is absolutely stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I can't comment on the scalability as we were only using two to three servers and we never attempted to scale out any further.

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support is okay. As I have a special relationship with them, It's quite easy for me to get a hold of them. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I started with FreeBSD, then moved to Solaris. Right now I am only using and recommending Linux.

How was the initial setup?

The installation was easy compared to other operating systems, but the documentation part took longer than usual because I typically specialize in Linux-based operations.

What about the implementation team?

I usually handle the implementation myself. If I encounter a specific issue then I may have to apply for a consultant.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, on a scale from one to ten, I would give this solution a rating of eight. If your environment requires it, I would absolutely recommend Windows Server.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Senior IT Manager at Excelra
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Flexible and user-friendly with a straightforward setup
Pros and Cons
  • "We've found the solution to be very flexible."
  • "The solution could have better security features."

What is our primary use case?

We typically use the solution for hosting applications, which is more related to Visual Studio and other similar items.

What is most valuable?

The solution's usability is very good. It's very user friendly.

We've found the solution to be very flexible.

It's very useful for domain authentication and other tasks. 

It's great for hosting all kinds of applications.

The initial setup is straightforward.

What needs improvement?

The solution could have better security features.

The pricing is a bit high. Linux has better pricing. They should try to make their product more competitively priced.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been using this solution for about a decade. It's been ten years, so it has been a while.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is very stable and reliable. It doesn't crash or freeze. It doesn't have bugs or glitches. The performance is good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution can scale well. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so. There wouldn't be anything stopping them.

We have 20 or so people on the servers right now.

We do plan to continue using the product.

How are customer service and technical support?

I've found the technical support from Microsoft to be quite good. We've been satisfied with the level of service provided to us so far. I'd rate it at a nine out of ten overall.

How was the initial setup?

We found the initial setup to be pretty straightforward and simple. It's not complex. A company shouldn't have any issues with the process.

The deployment is very quick and takes about five minutes in total.

In terms of the size of the team you need, it depends on the application. The bare-bones operating system only two to five minutes, or maybe two to 10 minutes. The deployment, with respect to software and other things, such as security checks, et cetera, it can take a while to get everything on there. It can take up to four hours.

What about the implementation team?

We handle the implementation ourselves. We didn't need an implementor or a consultant to help us. It was all handled in-house.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We pay the license on a yearly basis.

It's a bit expensive if you were to compare it to Linux. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We're not currently evaluating other options at this time.

What other advice do I have?

We are not using the latest version of the solution. We're using N-1, one solution behind the most recent release.

We use multiple deployment models - both on-premises and cloud.

I'd rate the product eight out of ten at this point. Overall, we've been pretty happy with it.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Operations Director / Business Critical Solutions Architect at a outsourcing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
A stable solution with useful mutual authentication and environment
Pros and Cons
  • "I find mutual authentication and the environment useful."
  • "I find ethernet configuration and implementation difficult."

What is our primary use case?

I've used it with government applications to integrate and install with Shine server and Fire servers, enabling remote access. For some clients, we have developed and installed an integrated solution for about 500 users and are usually 'anywhere applications.' One client is a government permit office, and they use it for GIS applications and keep track of services.

What is most valuable?

I'm quite satisfied with Windows Server. I find mutual authentication and the environment useful. Over the years, I've seen some very good improvements in the Windows Server's quality and functionality.

What needs improvement?

I find ethernet configuration and implementation difficult. I would also like to see more reliable updates.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Windows Server for more than 15 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

When compared to the legacy Windows Server, stability has improved. 

How are customer service and technical support?

Windows Server technical support is good. Over the last 15 years, I've used Microsoft technical support maybe 300 times or less, and those experiences were good.

How was the initial setup?

For the most part, the initial setup is straightforward. In my experience, about 80% of the implementations were straightforward, and about 20% were a little more difficult.

It took us about six to eight months to deploy the Windows Server for my client at the government permit office.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

In our case, we primarily use Microsoft, so the cost is a lot less. But some of our customers have spent approximately $12,000 a year on the operating system license.

What other advice do I have?

Windows Server is a nice product, but it does have some small problems. I would recommend potential customers to do some research first. 

It's a little more difficult to implement this operating system with functionality in the cloud. Everything, including the files and interface, keeps us in a Microsoft environment, and when moving applications to the cloud, some people might find it challenging.

They have training for all the features that Microsoft offers. Technology is evolving quickly. Although I've been in this market for 25 years, I can see that I'm getting a little bit left behind because of a lack of formal training in the new functions that Microsoft and many other companies are implementing. 

On a scale from one to ten, I would give Windows Server an eight.


Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Deputy IT Manager at ICAPP (Americana Group)
Real User
Top 20
Good stability and feature-rich, but the integration with other operating systems should be improved
Pros and Cons
  • "We have had no problems with Windows Server and we plan to continue using it in the future."
  • "I would like to see better integration with other operating systems."

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is its stability. We have had no problems with Windows Server and we plan to continue using it in the future.

This product has very good features.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see better integration with other operating systems. For example, when I migrate from services from Linux or Unix to Windows Server, it's hard to do. I expect it to be easier.

For how long have I used the solution?

We began using Windows Server between 10 and 12 years ago.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This is a scalable product. We have more than 150 people in 20 different groups who use it. In my personal group, we have four people.

How are customer service and technical support?

We have not faced any problems that we couldn't solve, so we have not needed to contact technical support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have worked with other operating systems such as Linux and Unix, and I find that they are more complicated.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. It takes between two and four hours to deploy, depending on the type of service.

What about the implementation team?

We installed it ourselves and we have an IT staff of about six people that use it regularly.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We have a corporate deal with Microsoft and pay licensing fees annually. It is an expensive product.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, this is a good product that is easy to use, it has very good features, and I can recommend it.

I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Senior IT Specialist at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Easy to use and is constantly improving its functionality, including upgrades to security
Pros and Cons
  • "Every time they perform a new release, the solution gets better and better."
  • "Right now what is needed on the server-side is an easier release process. Every year or every third year they are releasing a newer version and it could go smoother."

What is our primary use case?

We're primarily using the solution mostly for the file server and communication and so on.

What is most valuable?

Every time they perform a new release, the solution gets better and better.

In the past year, Microsoft has done a lot of work around security. There have been a lot of improvements made in that respect.

Overall, the solution works well.

What needs improvement?

Right now what is needed on the server-side is an easier release process. Every year or every third year they are releasing a newer version and it could go smoother.

The solution lacks a few features here and there.

Although they've done a good job updating security, there's more to be done, and they should continue improving this aspect of the product.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been using the solution for what feels like forever. I can't recall a time we didn't actually use it.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is reliable. I believe it to be stable. There aren't bugs or glitches that affect it. It doesn't seem to crash or freeze. It's good for the most part. I can't complain.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. You can expand it if you need to, for the most part.

How are customer service and technical support?

I don't have any experience with Microsoft's technical support. I wouldn't be able to speak to how effective they are at troubleshooting or solving issues. The solution works well, and we haven't had any issues, so there's been no reason to reach out. That probably speaks to how well the solution runs in general.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is pretty straightforward. You just click through, and it's pretty easy.

That said, some setups seem to have some more complex configurations. Most of the time, things are pretty straightforward.

What other advice do I have?

We're just a customer. We don't have a business relationship with Microsoft.

We're using a standard out of the box deployment.

We always update the solution to the newest possible version. We update regularly.

I'd advise that new users learn about the solution before jumping in. It's always good to take a class or study up on it a bit so that you know what you can do with the server and how to navigate around in it. It's a good idea to take a certification course.

That said, users can always Google answers or use the Microsoft Flow tool.

I'd absolutely recommend the solution. I'd rate the solution nine out of ten overall. There's always room for improvement, of course. However, generally speaking, it hasn't given us any issues and does what we need it to do. There are always ways to improve security, stability, and scalability.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: March 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Windows Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.