Windows Server 2012 Editions Editions

| Specifications | Foundation | Essentials | Standard | Datacenter_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |