Comparing Windows Server 2008 R2 and Server Core Roles and Features

There are many links out there that that will tell you what features or what roles you can get on either the full edition of Windows Server 2008 R2, OR on Windows Server 2008 R2 core only.  But what I, and my customer wanted, was a nice list to compare the two side by side!  So I made one.  Later, I will update this for WIndows Server 8, if there are any notable differences.  The future will tell!

Here are the sources I used ..

1. Installing Windows Features on a server running a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 R2: Overiew and
2. Installing a server role on a server running a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 R2: Overview

Then I looked at the installed help files for WIndows Server 2008 R2 and compared the two.  Here is your side-by-side conmparison now!

WINDOWS SERVER 2008 R2 ROLES AND FEATURES

 

Role Name	Exist on Core?	Description
Active Directory Certificate Services	YES	Active Directory Certificate Services Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) provides customizable services for issuing and managing certificates in software security systems that use public key technologies. You can use AD CS to create one or more certification authorities (CA) to receive certificate requests, verify the information in the requests and the identity of the requester, issue certificates, revoke certificates, and publish certificate revocation data. Applications supported by Active Directory Certificate Services include Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME), secure wireless networks, virtual private networks (VPN), IP security (IPSec), Encrypting File System (EFS), smart card logon, Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS), and digital signatures.
Active Directory Domain Services	YES	Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) stores information about users, computers, and other devices on the network. AD DS helps administrators securely manage this information and facilitates resource sharing and collaboration between users. AD DS is also required to be installed on the network in order to install directory-enabled applications such as Microsoft Exchange Server and for applying other Windows Server technologies such as Group Policy.
Active Directory Federation Services	NO	Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) provides Web single-sign-on (SSO) technologies to authenticate a user to multiple Web applications that use a single user account. AD FS accomplishes this by securely federating, or sharing, user identities and permissions, in the form of digital claims, between partner organizations.
Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services	YES	Organizations that have applications which require a directory for storing application data can use Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) as the data store. AD LDS runs as a non-operating-system service. Therefore, AD LDS does not require deployment on a domain controller. Running as a non-operating-system service allows multiple instances of AD LDS to run at the same time on a single server, and each instance can be configured independently for servicing multiple applications.
Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS)	NO	Active Directory Rights Management Services is information protection technology that works with AD RMS -enabled applications to help safeguard digital information from unauthorized use. Content owners can define exactly how a recipient can use the information, such as who can open, change, print, forward, or take other actions with the information. Organizations can create custom usage rights templates such as "Confidential – Read-Only" that can be applied directly to information such as financial reports, product specifications, customer data, and e-mail messages.
Application Server	NO	Application Server provides a complete solution for hosting and managing high-performance distributed business applications. Integrated services, such as the .NET Framework, Web Server Support, Message Queuing, COM+, Windows Communication Foundation, and Failover Clustering support improve productivity throughout the application life cycle, from design and development through deployment and operations.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Server	YES	The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) allows servers to assign, or lease, IP addresses to computers and other devices that are enabled as DHCP clients. Deploying DHCP servers on the network automatically provides computers and other TCP/IP based network devices with valid IP addresses and the additional configuration parameters these devices need./these are known as DHCP options, which allow them to connect to other network resources, such as DNS servers, WINS servers, and routers.
DNS Server	YES	Domain Name System (DNS) provides a standard method for associating names with numeric Internet addresses. This lets users refer to network computers by using easy-to-remember names instead of a long series of numbers. Windows DNS services can be integrated with DHCP services, eliminating the need to add DNS records as computers are added to the network.
Fax Server	NO	Fax Server sends and receives faxes, and lets you manage fax resources such as jobs, settings, reports, and fax devices on this computer or on the network.
File Services	YES	File Services provides technologies for storage management, file replication, distributed namespace management, fast file searching, and streamlined client access to files, such as UNIX-based client computers.
Hyper-V™	YES	Hyper-V provides the services that you can use to create and manage virtual computing environments and their resources. Virtual computers operate in an isolated operating environment. This lets you to run multiple operating systems at the same time. You can use a virtualized computing environment to improve the efficiency of your computing resources by using more of your hardware resources.
Network Policy and Access Services	NO	Network Policy and Access Services delivers many different methods to give users local and remote network connectivity, to connect network segments, and to allow network administrators to centrally manage network access and client health policies. With Network Access Services, you can deploy VPN servers, dial-up servers, routers, and 802.11-protected wireless access. You can also deploy RADIUS servers and proxies, and use Connection Manager Administration Kit to create remote access profiles to let client computers to connect to the network.
Print and Document Services	YES	Print and Document Services enables you to centralize print server and network printer management tasks. With this role, you can also receive scanned documents from network scanners, and route the documents to a shared network resource, a Windows SharePoint Services site, or to e-mail addresses.
Remote Desktop Services	NO	Remote Desktop Services provides technologies that enable users to access Windows-based programs that are installed on a remote desktop server, or to access the Windows desktop itself, from almost any computing device. Users can connect to a remote desktop server to run programs and to use network resources on that server.
Web Server (IIS)	YES	The Web Server (IIS) role in Windows Server 2008 R2 lets you share information with users on the Internet, an intranet, or an extranet. Windows Server 2008 R2 delivers IIS 7.5, a unified Web platform that integrates IIS, ASP.NET, and Windows Communication Foundation.
Windows Deployment Services	NO	You can use Windows Deployment Services to install and configure remotely Windows operating systems on computers that have Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) boot ROMs. Administration overhead is decreased through the implementation of the WdsMgmt Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that manages all aspects of Windows Deployment Services. Windows Deployment Services also provides end-users an experience consistent with Windows Setup.
Windows Server Update Services	NO	Windows Server Update Services allows network administrators to specify the Microsoft updates that should be installed, to create separate groups of computers for different sets of updates, and to obtain reports on the compliance levels of the computers and on the updates that must be installed.

 

WINDOWS SERVER 2008 R2 FEATURES

Feature	Exist on Core?	Description
.NET Framework 3.5.1	YES (subset)	The .NET Framework 3.5.1 builds incrementally on the features added in the .NET Framework 3.0, such as enhancements to Windows Workflow Foundation * (WF), Windows Communication Foundation* (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows CardSpace. LINQ* Window PowerShell*
Background Intelligent Transfer Service	NO	Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) asynchronously transfers files in the foreground or background, throttles the transfers to preserve the responsiveness of other network applications, and automatically resumes file transfers after network connection failures or computer restarts.
BitLocker Drive Encryption	YES	BitLocker Drive Encryption helps protect data on lost, stolen or inappropriately decommissioned computers by encrypting the volume and checking the integrity of early boot components. Data is only decrypted if those components are successfully verified and the encrypted drive is located in the original computer. Integrity checking requires a compatible trusted platform module (TPM).
BranchCache	NO	BranchCache, available on both Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7, enables client computers in a branch office to retrieve content securely and locally, instead of retrieving it from a central office server. Because branch offices are typically connected over slower WAN links, BranchCache reduces WAN traffic, and increases application responsiveness on the client computer.
Connection Manager Administration Kit	NO	Connection Manager Administration Kit (CMAK) generates Connection Manager profiles.
Desktop Experience	NO	Desktop Experience includes features of Windows® 7, such as Windows Media Player, desktop themes, and photo management. Desktop Experience does not enable any of the Windows 7 features by default. You must manually enable them.
Direct Access Management Console	NO	Direct Access Management Console provides direct access setup and monitoring.
Failover Clustering	YES	Failover Clustering allows multiple servers to work together to provide high availability of services and applications. Failover Clustering is frequently used for file and print services, database and mail applications.
Group Policy Management	NO	Group Policy Management makes it easier to deploy, manage, and troubleshoot Group Policy implementations. The standard tool is Group Policy Management Console (GPMC), a scriptable Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that provides a single administrative tool for managing Group Policy across the enterprise.
Ink and Handwriting Services	NO	Ink and Handwriting Services, new for Windows Server 2008 R2, provides support for handwriting recognition in multiple languages, together with support for using a pen or stylus with a pressure-sensitive computing interface, such as a tablet computer.
Internet Printing Client	NO	Internet Printing Client enables users to connect and print to printers on the local network or over the Internet by using Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). You can use the Internet Printing Client and IPP to connect to the shared printer by using a Web browser (if the print server has the Internet Printing role service installed), or by using the Network Printer Installation Wizard.
Internet Storage Name Server	NO	Internet Storage Name Server (iSNS) provides discovery services for iSCSI storage area networks. iSNS processes registration requests, deregistration requests, and queries from iSNS clients.
LPR Port Monitor	NO	Line Printer Remote (LPR) Port Monitor allows users who have access to UNIX-based computers to print on devices attached to them.
Message Queuing	NO	Message Queuing provides guaranteed message delivery, efficient routing, security, and priority-based messaging between applications. Message Queuing also accommodates message delivery between applications that run on different operating systems, use dissimilar network infrastructures, are temporarily offline, or that are running at different times.
Multipath I/O	NO	Multipath I/O (MPIO), together with the Microsoft Device Specific Module (DSM) or a third-party DSM, provides support for using multiple data paths to a storage device on Windows.
Network Load Balancing	YES	Network Load Balancing (NLB) distributes traffic across several servers, by using the TCP/IP networking protocol. NLB is especially useful for ensuring that stateless applications, such as a Web server that is running IIS, are scalable by adding additional servers as the load increases.
Peer Name Resolution Protocol	NO	Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP) allows applications to register on and resolve names from your computer, so that other computers can communicate with these applications.
Quality Windows Audio Video Experience (qWave)	YES	Quality Windows Audio Video Experience (qWave) is a networking platform for audio and video (AV) streaming applications on IP-based home networks. qWave improves AV streaming performance and reliability by ensuring network quality-of-service for AV applications. It provides admission control, run time monitoring and enforcement, application feedback, and traffic prioritization. On Windows Server platforms, qWave provides only rate-of-flow and prioritization services.
Remote Assistance	NO	Remote Assistance enables you (or a support person) to offer assistance to users who have computer issues or questions. Remote Assistance lets you view and share control of the user’s desktop in order to troubleshoot and fix the issues. Users can also ask for help from friends or co-workers.
Remote Differential Compression	NO	The Remote Differential Compression (RDC) feature is a set of APIs that applications can use to determine whether a set of files have changed, and if that is the case, to detect which sections of the files contain the changes.
Remote Server Administration Tools	NO	Remote Server Administration Tools enables remote management of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 from a computer running Windows Server 2008 R2 by allowing you to run some of the management tools and snap-ins for roles, role services, and features on a remote computer.
RPC Over HTTP Proxy	NO	RPC Over HTTP Proxy is a proxy that is used by objects that receive remote procedure calls (RPC) over HTTP. This proxy allows clients to discover these objects even if the objects are moved between servers or if they exist in discrete areas of the network, usually for security reasons.
Services for Network File System	NO	Services for Network File System (NFS) is a protocol that acts as a distributed file system, allowing a computer to access files over a network as easily as if they were on its local disks. This feature is available for installation in Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems only; in other versions of Windows Server 2008 R2, Services for NFS is available as a role service of the File Services role.
Simple TCP/IP Services	NO	Simple TCP/IP Services supports the following TCP/IP services: Character Generator, Daytime, Discard, Echo, and Quote of the Day. Simple TCP/IP Services is provided for backward compatibility and should not be installed unless it is required.
SMTP Server	NO	Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) Server supports the transfer of e-mail messages between e-mail systems.
SNMP Services	YES	Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is the Internet standard protocol for exchanging management information between management console applications—such as HP Openview, Novell NMS, IBM NetView, or Sun Net Manager—and managed entities. Managed entities can include hosts, routers, bridges, and hubs.
Storage Manager for SANs	NO	Storage Manager for Storage Area Networks (SANs) helps you create and manage logical unit numbers (LUNs) on Fibre Channel and iSCSI disk drive subsystems that support Virtual Disk Service (VDS) in your SAN.
Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications	YES	Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (SUA), together with a package of support utilities available for download from the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=139521), enables you to run UNIX-based programs, and compile and run custom UNIX-based applications in the Windows environment.
Telnet Client	YES	Telnet Client uses the Telnet protocol to connect to a remote telnet server and run applications on that server.
Telnet Server	NO	Telnet Server allows remote users, such as those running UNIX-based operating systems, to perform command-line administration tasks and run programs by using a telnet client.
Trivial File Transfer Protocol Client	NO	Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) Client is used to read files from, or write files to, a remote TFTP server. TFTP is primarily used by embedded devices or systems that retrieve firmware, configuration information, or a system image during the boot process from a TFTP server.
Windows Biometric Framework	NO	Windows Biometric Framework (WBF) allows fingerprint devices to be used to identify and verify identities, and to log on to Windows. WBF includes sub features that are required to let you use fingerprint devices.
Windows Internal Database	NO	Windows Internal Database is a relational data store that can be used only by Windows roles and features, such as AD RMS, ADFS, Windows Server Update Services, and Windows System Resource Manager.
Windows Process Activation Service	NO	Windows Process Activation Service (WAS) generalizes the IIS process model, removing the dependency on HTTP. All the features of IIS that were previously available only to HTTP applications are now available to applications hosting Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) services by using non-HTTP protocols. IIS 7.5 also uses WAS for message-based activation over HTTP.
Windows Server Backup Features	NO	Windows Server Backup Features allow you to back up and recover your operating system, applications, and data. You can schedule backups to run one time each day or more frequently, and can protect the complete server or specific volumes.
Windows Server Migration Tools	NO	Windows Server Migration Tools lets an administrator migrate some server roles, features, operating system settings, shares, and other data from computers that are running certain editions of Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2 to computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2. For more information about Windows Server Migration Tools and migrating roles, features, or other data to Windows Server 2008 R2, see the Windows Server Migration Portal (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=128554).
Windows System Resource Manager	NO	Windows System Resource Manager (WSRM) is a Windows Server operating system administrative tool that can control how CPU and memory resources are allocated. Managing resource allocation improves system performance and lowers the risk that applications, services, or processes will interfere with one another to reduce server efficiency and system response.
WinRM IIS Extension	NO	Windows Remote Management (WinRM) IIS Extension enables a server to receive a management request from a client computer by using the WS-Management protocol. WinRM is the Microsoft implementation of the WS-Management protocol. This helps secure communication between local and remote computers by using Web-based services.
Windows Internet Name Service Server	YES	Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) Server provides a distributed database for registering and querying dynamic mappings of NetBIOS names for computers and groups used on the network. WINS maps NetBIOS names to IP addresses and solves the problems arising from NetBIOS name resolution in routed environments.
Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE)	NO	Windows PowerShell ISE is a graphical host application for Windows PowerShell. Windows PowerShell ISE lets you run commands, and write, edit, run, test, and debug scripts in an environment that displays syntax in colors and that supports Unicode.
Windows TIFF iFilter	NO	Windows Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) iFilter uses optical character recognition (OCR) software to enable users to search for TIFF documents based on textual content in the images.
Wireless LAN Service	NO	Wireless LAN (WLAN) Service configures and starts the WLAN AutoConfig service, regardless of whether the computer has any wireless adapters. WLAN AutoConfig enumerates wireless adapters, and manages both wireless connections and the wireless profiles that contain the settings required to configure a wireless client to connect to a wireless network.
XPS Viewer	NO	An XML Paper Specification (XPS) document is a document format that you can use to view, save, share, digitally sign, and protect your document’s content. You can use XPS viewer to view, search, set permissions for, and digitally sign XPS documents.

Comments

• Anonymous
  March 18, 2013
  Thanks for the listing. It helped me to compare the features.

• Anonymous
  September 28, 2016
  You can run WBADMIN on a windows server 2008 R2 server core computer