The Windows Server Catalog contains products that have been tested to meet Microsoft-defined criteria for secure, reliable and compatible functionality on a Windows Server operating system. The Requirements are available for each version of Windows Server at this location, https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/compatibility/whcp-specifications-policies. The Test Kit and Tests for each version of Windows Server are available at this link, https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/test/hlk/windows-hardware-lab-kit. Customers and vendors may search the Windows Server Catalog to verify the certification or signature status of Windows Server-related products.

There are two primary methods for determining if a product is certified and being listed in the Windows Server Catalog:

1. Use the search tool.

   The Windows Server Catalog Search tool uses a free text search method, and by default returns results by descending rank, that is starting with most likely match to least likely match.

   Quoting a phrase in the search text simply elevates the rank of results that can exactly match that phrase. Individual words in the phrase are still evaluated. Typically, entering a common word such as "Microsoft" will return results too numerous to be practical. Instead, entering a more specific term such as "Microsoft Server Application Virtualization" would return a better tally of matched products, with the best one at the top of the list.
2. Use the product type context sensitive navigation filters.

   An example of the navigation filters for certified Storage Arrays is shown on the right. These are displayed at the top-level home page and on the left-hand-side pane as you traverse the links. You may filter by vendor names, product types, certified product characteristics, certified releases of Windows Server OS, and so on. These filters vary according to the type of products being displayed and the Windows Server OS releases they have been certified for.

The Windows Server certification policies allow the vendors to certify a server configuration of highest capabilities as the representative of other configuration variations of that design. This certified model is then listed in the Windows Server Catalog. A server of the same model but varied configuration details is a certified product if it meets the following guidelines:

1. It may have different components, devices and drivers such as network or storage adapters in its configuration so long as the components or devices are certified for the same version of the Windows Server operating systems. Additional or replacement add-on I/O options (e.g. PCIe adapters), devices (e.g. Displays or HDDs) and drivers can be present in a system configuration as long as all are certified products.
2. It may have processors of lesser capabilities such as fewer cores, or lower speeds.
3. It may have memory of lower speeds or smaller maximum memory than the certified configuration. But, the configured memory must not exceed the certified maximum supported memory capacity or speed.
4. Its system firmware must be of the same type and version as the certified system listed in the Windows Server Catalog for the designated system model over time.

Compatibility and Certification testing for Windows Server systems is designed to ensure that a customer can run any and all Roles or Features that the version of Windows Server operating system supports, as defined by the Roles and Features listed by Server Manager or other administrative and management tools for any specific Windows Server operating system version. The exceptions are those Roles or Features that have dependencies on hardware that is not required for certification but have no Additional Qualification or Additional Feature associated with them - examples include; Enhanced Storage, Failover Clustering, Multipath IO, Biometric Framework, Wireless LAN Service, and any other Feature that requires specific hardware. The second case are those capabilities, Roles or Features that have dependencies on hardware not required for certification but DO have an Additional Qualification or Additional Feature associated with them - examples include; Enhanced Power Manageability, Fault Tolerance, Assurance or others. For more information on the hardware required for each Additional Qualification, see this page, https://windowsservercatalog.com/content.aspx?ctf=aqinfo.htm.

The policies regarding what changes to a product Microsoft requires that the vendor retest and resubmit the product for certification can be found at this link, Windows Hardware Compatibility Requirements, as a download at this location on the page, "Windows Hardware Compatibility Program Specification and Policies" as detailed in the download link, https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=874290

You can visit the Additional Features web page for descriptions of these product characteristics.

The minimum hardware that is required for certification can be found at this link,
https://windowsservercatalog.com/content.aspx?ctf=minhwcert.htm

The Windows Certified Products List lets you find products that have passed Microsoft's compatibility tests for Windows Client versions of the operating system. The Windows Compatibility Center features the compatibility status for thousands of top devices and applications, as well as direct links to drivers and updates.

The Windows Server Catalog either lists applications that have been tested on the current and previous versions of Windows Server, or redirects the query to a site where that information is available. No testing of filters drivers or applications for any upgrade scenarios is conducted. In addition to checking the Windows Server Catalog or other resources to determine if a product has been certified for the relevant Windows Server operating system version, Microsoft recommends that you check with the software vendor of the filter driver or application for prescriptive guidance and technical support details prior to upgrading the Windows Server operating system when their product is involved.

The Windows Server Catalog lists applications that have been tested on the current and previous versions of Windows Server. No testing of devices and associated drivers, systems, storage, etc., for any upgrade scenarios is conducted. In addition to checking the Windows Server Catalog to determine if a product has been certified for the relevant Windows Server operating system version, Microsoft recommends that you check with the hardware product vendor for prescriptive guidance and technical support details prior to upgrading the Windows Server operating system when their product is involved.

Please send e-mail to the Windows Server Catalog Support alias wscatsup@microsoft.com if you are having trouble locating a certified product. You may also use the Windows Server Catalog Feedback form.

You can contact sysdev@microsoft.com for questions regarding the submission site, submission accounts and hardware submissions.

Questions regarding the software submission process and getting listed in the Windows Server Catalog can be sent to wslogofb@microsoft.com.

Please send e-mail to the Windows Server Catalog Support alias wscatsup@microsoft.com , or use the Windows Server Catalog Feedback form for additional questions about the Windows Server Catalog.

All products in the Windows Server Catalog have been tested for compatibility with one or more Windows Server operating system version(s). In order to include a product in the Windows Server Catalog, the hardware manufacturers must test the product using the relevant Windows test and certification Kit and submit the certification test results for the desired Windows Server operating system version or versions. Submitted systems, devices and drivers that pass the certification tests are automatically listed in the Windows Server Catalog.

For more information go to the Windows Dev Center Hardware Dashboard Services website.

The process for applications seeking Windows Server Certification has changed significantly starting with the release of Windows Server 2012. The testing and certification process is now fully automated via a self-test process. Consult the Windows Logo Program for Server Applications web page for up-to-date information on the program.

Please send e-mail to the Windows Server Catalog Support alias wscatsup@microsoft.com if you are having trouble locating a certified product. You may also use the Windows Server Catalog Feedback form.

You can contact sysdev@microsoft.com for questions regarding the submission site, submission accounts and hardware submissions.

Questions regarding the software submission process and getting listed in the Windows Server Catalog can be sent to wslogofb@microsoft.com.

Please send e-mail to the Windows Server Catalog Support alias wscatsup@microsoft.com , or use the Windows Server Catalog Feedback form for additional questions about the Windows Server Catalog.

The policies regarding what changes to a product Microsoft requires that the vendor retest and resubmit the product for certification can be found at this link,Windows Hardware Compatibility Requirements, as a download at this location on the page, "Windows Hardware Compatibility Program Specification and Policies" as detailed in the download link, https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=874290