Windows Server Catalog

Windows Server Essentials Roles and Application Compatibility

Applications not compatible with the Essentials edition due to certain server roles installed by default.

The following information applies to Windows Server 2019 Essentials, Windows Server 2016 Essentials, Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials, and Windows Server 2012 Essentials.

The Essentials edition of these versions of Windows Server automatically install certain server roles that are not installed by default in Windows Server Standard and Datacenter editions for those same versions. Applications with known compatibility issues with any of the server roles that are automatically installed may not be compatible with the Essentials edition. The Essentials edition of Windows Server for all OS versions installs the following server roles listed below by default.

Active Directory Certificate Services²
Active Directory Domain Services
DNS Server
File and Storage Services
Network Policy and Access Services³
Remote Desktop Services
Web Server (IIS)

Applications not compatible with the Essentials edition due to unavailable roles/features.

Additionally, applications that rely on server roles and features that do not exist on the Essentials edition are not compatible with that product and are listed below.

Hyper-V
Data Deduplication
Failover Clustering
Windows Server Update Services

²Limited to creating Certificate Authorities―there are no other Active Directory Certificate Services features (Network Device Enrollment Services, Online Responder Service). See ADCS role documentation on TechNet for more information.
³Limited to 50 RRAS connections, 10 IAS connections.