Windows Server could be installed many different ways,
but if we have many operating systems to deploy, using an
automated one might be the most efficient.
Prior to installation,
we should take a look at what the minimum requirements
are to install Windows Server 2022, and the first would
be a 1.4 GHz 64‑bit processor.
Now this shouldn't be too difficult to find, as all new
processors are much faster than this.
We also need to have at least 512 MB of RAM, but it has to be ECC RAM,
or error‑correcting, and that's a newer requirement.
It used to be the only requirement was that you had a network
interface card that had drivers for Windows Server 2022, but they
added this additional error‑correcting type of RAM, and
error‑correcting RAM basically fixes any mathematical errors that
might happen to keep the server from crashing.
It also keeps us from installing Windows Server 2022 onto a PC
because typical PCs don't have error‑correcting RAM.
We used to be able to install Windows Server as long as we could
get the network interface card driver onto a PC, but no more.
Then we need to have at least 2 GB of RAM if we're going to be
doing the desktop experience.
So the difference would be the 512 MB RAM version would be the version that
shows up with the command prompt, whereas the Desktop Experience is the one
that we're typically experienced using such as when we launch Windows 10 or
Windows 11 or previous versions of Windows Server. We also need to look at
having at least 32 GB of storage, and that's a really small amount of
storage as well.
Of course, if you're going to be installing Windows updates or any applications,
you're going to need a lot more than that.
And finally, at least 1 Gb Ethernet card, and that's going to also
support the pre‑execution environment, or PXE, and that's going to be
needed for Windows deployment services.
Now you can use faster, of course,
but you have to have at least 1 Gb. Now let's take a look at
the Windows Server 2022 recommendations.
This is going to make it so the server runs much better, more
predictably, and you're just going to enjoy the experience
overall. You'll need to have at least a 2 GHz or better 64‑bit
processor with 8 or more cores.
Now all processors nowadays that are being sold have
multiple cores on them. You can get 4, 6, 8,
16, things like that.
Now eight is the one that you want to have as your minimum amount of
cores, and, of course, you can certainly add to that.
You'll want to have at least 16 GB of the ECC RAM, and that's going to
be for the basic version of Windows Server 2022.
If you want to install any applications or roles, then you're going to
probably want to increase that to 32, 48 or even 64 GB. And the minimum
amount of storage that's recommended would be at least 100 GB. That would
allow you to do all the Windows updates and to install some of the server
roles and role services and, of course, your 1 Gb Ethernet card or better.
Now most servers nowadays come with a 10 Gb Ethernet card, so you can take
advantage of that extra speed as long as you have at least a 10 Gb switch,
and you're using the proper Ethernet cores that go along with it.
If you're going to use Windows deployment server to automate your installations,
then there are some requirements there as well such as the 64‑bit processor
once again. You need at least 4 GB minimum of RAM, and 32 GB is going to be
recommended. And you'll need to have enough storage for your host operating
system and any of your ISO deployment files.
Those are going to be your custom deployment files that you're going to be
using for automated Windows Server installation, and they typically run
between 5 and 10 GB in size and, once again, your 1 Gb Ethernet card or
better. Windows Server 2022 requirements should not be a problem to meet, as
the operating systems have become more efficient and have not increased
requirements from previous versions with the exception of the speed of the Ethernet card and the ECC RAM.