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Windows Server comes in two main editions: Standard and Datacenter. This guide explains the difference in plain terms, so you can choose with confidence.

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The short answer

For a single Windows VPS running your website, business software or Remote Desktop users, both editions work the same way. The everyday features are identical. The differences matter mainly if you plan to run virtual machines inside your server, or use advanced storage and networking features.

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How they compare

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Which should I choose?

  • Choose Standard if you’re running websites, an accounting or business application, a database, or a few Remote Desktop users. That covers most customers.
  • Choose Datacenter only if you need to run several virtual machines inside your VPS, or your software vendor specifically requires it.

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Choose your edition

[[TODO: which Windows Server versions and editions HostCloud offers, and where customers choose them (order form, ticket or reinstall)]]
Remote Desktop allows 2 administrators to connect at the same time. To let more people use the server through Remote Desktop, each needs a Remote Desktop Services licence, which is separate from the Windows Server edition. Open a Sales ticket if you need this.
Still stuck? Open a Sales ticket and tell us what you plan to run on the server.