Windows Server 2012 AlternativesOperating Systems and other similar apps like Windows Server 2012

Windows Server 2012 is described as 'Codenamed "Windows Server 8", is the sixth release of Windows Server. It is the server version of Windows 8 and succeeds Windows Server 2008 R2. Two pre-release versions, a developer preview and a beta version, were released during development' and is a operating system in the network & admin category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Windows Server 2012 for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, Windows, SaaS and Web-based apps. The best Windows Server 2012 alternative is Gentoo, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Windows Server 2012 are CentOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Rocky Linux and Ubuntu Server.

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Windows Server 2012 alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Gentoo icon
     163 likes
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    Gentoo Linux is a versatile, fast, highly configurable and completely free Linux and FreeBSD distribution geared towards developers and network professionals.

    189 Gentoo alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
     
    • Gentoo is the most popular Linux alternative to Windows Server 2012.

    • Gentoo is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Windows Server 2012.

    • Gentoo is Free and Open SourceWindows Server 2012 is Paid and Proprietary
    • Gentoo is Customizable and Privacy focusedWindows Server 2012 is not according to our users
  2. CentOS icon
     150 likes
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    CentOS is a community-supported, free and open source operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It exists to provide a free enterprise class computing platform and strives to maintain 100% binary compatibility with its upstream distribution.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  3. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Red Hat is the leader in development, deployment, and management of Linux and open source solutions for Internet infrastructure - ranging from embedded devices to secure Web servers. Red Hat was founded in 1994 by visionary entrepreneurs Bob Young and Marc Ewing.

    183 Red Hat Enterprise Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the most popular commercial alternative to Windows Server 2012.

    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux is Paid and ProprietaryWindows Server 2012 is also Paid and Proprietary
  4. Rocky Linux icon
     16 likes
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    Rocky Linux is a community enterprise operating system designed to be 100% bug-for-bug compatible with America's top enterprise Linux distribution now that its downstream partner has shifted direction. It is under intensive development by the community.

    173 Rocky Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  5. Ubuntu Server icon
     41 likes
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    The leading platform for scale-out computing, Ubuntu Server helps you make the most of your infrastructure. Whether you want to deploy an OpenStack cloud, a Hadoop cluster or a 50,000-node render farm, Ubuntu Server delivers the best value scale-out performance available.

    184 Ubuntu Server alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  6. AlmaLinux icon
     11 likes
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    Launched with the code-name Project Lenix, AlmaLinux OS is an open-source, community-driven project that intends to fill the gap left by the demise of the CentOS stable release. AlmaLinux OS is a 1:1 binary compatible fork of RHEL® 8 and it is built by the creators of the...

    123 AlmaLinux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  7. ClearOS icon
     71 likes
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    ClearOS is a family of operating systems for the enterprise, small business, and home. There are three editions to choose from depending on your needs and suitable to your abilities. They are: ClearOS Enterprise, ClearOS Home, and ClearOS Core.

    27 ClearOS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  8. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    UCS is an open platform for central identity & access management, IT management, and active directory, with a web portal for easy access to applications.

    94 Univention Corporate Server (UCS) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted
    • Kubernetes
     
    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is the most popular Web-based, SaaS & Self-Hosted alternative to Windows Server 2012.

    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is Freemium and Open SourceWindows Server 2012 is Paid and Proprietary
  9. Zentyal icon
     55 likes
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    Integrates native Active Directory and all essential network services, including domain, mail, gateway, infrastructure, and security roles, for SMBs, offering web-based management, centralized authentication, file server, VPN, and firewall in a single Linux platform.

    26 Zentyal alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    1
    Comments about Zentyal as an Alternative to Windows Server 2012
    Guest
    Negative
    -2

    Zentyals original project was to build a Linux Windows AD server. That is not the case now, it is more an Exchange Mail clone.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Windows Server 2012 Icon
    Zentyal icon
    • Zentyal is Paid and Open SourceWindows Server 2012 is Paid and Proprietary
  10. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    SUSE is the original provider of the enterprise Linux distribution and the most interoperable platform for mission-critical computing. It's the only Linux recommended by VMware, Microsoft and SAP. And it's supported on more hardware and software than any other enterprise...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  11. NethServer icon
     34 likes
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    NethServer is a CentOS-based Linux distribution for servers. The product's main feature is a modular design which makes it simple to turn the distribution into a mail server and filter, web server, groupware, firewall, web filter, IPS/IDS or VPN server.

    11 NethServer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • CentOS
     
  12. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Endian Firewall Community (EFW) is a "turn-key" linux security distribution that turns every system into a full featured security appliance with Unified Threat Management (UTM) functionality. The software has been designed with "usability in mind" and is very...

    18 Endian Firewall Community alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
12 of 18 Windows Server 2012 alternatives