Windows Server VS Windows Desktop

In this post, we will compare Windows Server and Desktop and comprehensively review the similarities and differences between these two Windows operating systems. In general, the Windows operating system has a large share of the operating system market share. Also, people consider as the most popular operating system among computer users. Of course, there are two main types of Windows operating systems: Windows Desktop and Windows Server. But since we believe that you are familiar enough with the Windows desktop operating system, we will provide more details about Windows Server. Windows Server includes several different versions including Windows Server 2003, 2003 R2, 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, and 2019. The Windows Server architecture is based on Windows NT.

For example, if you download a version of Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, it may seem difficult to separate them at first.

Both have the same desktop screen, the same start key and even the same taskbar, and so on. In fact, versions of Windows Server and Windows Desktop both use the same kernel and source code. The software can be run in both and is similar to each other, for example, you can download Google Chrome software in both and install it in the same way.

Differences between Windows Server and Windows Desktop

But the similarities stop here. Microsoft has designed Windows Desktop to be used as a desktop operating system and for the use of the average user. Moreover, experts design windows server as a server operating system capable of managing computers, services, and files. Although Windows Server has a graphical version, Microsoft recommends installing Windows Server without a graphical interface. In addition, it leaves only one command line for the user which reduces the overhead required to run the server. For this reason, it encourages users to use the Nano Server version, which uses much less space than the standard version. So, one of the important differences between Windows Server and Windows Desktop is having a non-graphical version of Nano Server.

Windows Server has server software.

If you have installed the graphical version of Windows Server, moments after the server loads, the Server Manager program will open automatically, which shows the first difference between the two operating systems.

In Windows Server, you can enable server-specific features such as DHCP Server, DNS Server, Active Directory Services, File Server, HTTP Print, IIS Web Services, etc., and add them to your Windows Server.

Windows Server also supports features such as SMB Direct, which are flexible for faster file sharing and more support for the system file.

The only way to get the same features in the non-server version is to use Windows 10 Pro. Servers are designed to work together so you may have a server on which to run multiple services. Moreover, the windows server supports more advanced hardware. Windows 10 Pro, on the other hand, can support up to 2 terabytes of RAM. But, In Windows Server, this value reaches 24 terabytes. Of course, it is unlikely that a Windows desktop user will need this much RAM. But servers can use a large amount of RAM they support to support large numbers of users, computers, and VM (virtual machines) via Hyper- Manage V or other virtualizers such as Vmware. Several features have also been removed from Windows Server. This is to increase server security so you do not see Microsoft Store, Edge, Cortana, or Timeline on Windows Server.

Windows User Friendly is more than Windows Server

Although Windows, for example, Windows 10, lacks the special features of Windows Server, it does make up for it in other ways:

• Windows updates get faster and faster
• It has features like Cortana that are not available on Windows Server
• Generally, installing new software, especially software that has been downloaded through the Internet, is easy to do and does not require special knowledge.
• You can log in to your Microsoft account and your previous account settings will be transferred from the previous device to the new device, which is not possible in Windows Server

Windows Server is also more expensive

Due to the specialized features that Windows Server offers, this operating system is made for businesses, and for this reason, its price is much higher than desktop versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

• The first question is: What are the similarities between Windows Server and Windows Desktop?
• Second question is: What is the difference between using Windows Server and Windows Desktop?
• The third Question is: What are the general differences between Windows Desktop and Windows Server?