Microsoft has unveiled its latest server operating system, Windows Server 2025, a significant advancement following the previous version, Windows Server 2022. This release is accompanied by System Center 2025, enabling users to fully leverage the new features right from the start. According to a blog post from Azure Edge and Platform, this version allows for seamless application deployment across various environments, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based.
Key features in Windows Server 2025
On the security front, Microsoft has enhanced Active Directory with new cryptographic support and introduced advanced techniques to thwart a variety of attacks against server message block (SMB). This includes strengthened firewall defaults and defenses against brute force, spoofing, and man-in-the-middle attacks.
For those utilizing cloud services, Microsoft has spotlighted several noteworthy features, including hotpatching for hybrid and on-premises cloud environments, although this will necessitate an additional subscription fee. As noted by LeGrow, “Customers operating fully in the cloud have inherent modern security advantages like automatic software updates and backup and recovery.” The introduction of hotpatching aims to bring similar benefits to on-premises customers, minimizing operational disruptions through fewer required reboots.
Additionally, Microsoft has integrated Azure Arc, enhancing onboarding processes and operational flexibility, while also providing unified network policy management and software-defined network multisite capabilities for streamlined migration and management.
AI capabilities have also been a focal point in this release. LeGrow emphasized that Windows Server 2025 is tailored for demanding workloads, particularly in AI and machine learning. “Windows Server 2025 delivers up to 60% more storage IOPs performance compared to Windows Server 2022 on identical systems,” he stated, highlighting the substantial performance and scalability improvements derived from Azure.
However, with innovation comes the retirement of certain features. Notably, Microsoft has decided to discontinue WordPad, the Windows PowerShell 2.0 engine, and the SMTP service.
Watch out for the bugs
As with any new software release, Microsoft has acknowledged the presence of three specific bugs that may arise during installation. The company is actively addressing these issues, which vary in severity.
The first bug involves the display of English text during installation, regardless of the selected language. While this will not impact English-speaking users, it may be noticeable for those installing in other languages, particularly when using a CD or USB drive.
The second issue pertains to high-core-count devices, where Windows Server 2025 may not function correctly on servers exceeding 256 cores. This can lead to installation failures, prolonged restarts of three hours or more, and blue screen errors. While this problem does not affect all high-core systems, users are advised to limit core counts below 256 during installation if they encounter issues.
The third bug manifests as an error message stating “boot device inaccessible,” which may appear in iSCSI environments during startup following the installation of Windows Server 2025.
Key details
Windows Server 2025 is now available, alongside System Center 2025. As a long-term release, it will receive extended support until 2034, with mainstream support lasting until 2029. Users can upgrade directly from as far back as Windows Server 2012 R2, while Windows Server 2022 will continue to be supported until October 2026. The new operating system is compatible with most 64-bit processors, and Microsoft has provided a comprehensive list of certified processors for reference.
