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, Windows, Self-Hosted, Amazon Web Services and CentOS 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 are mainly Operating Systems but may also be Linux Distros or Firewalls. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Windows Server 2012.

Windows Server 2012

Operating System
Paid • Proprietary

Windows Server 2012, 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...

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Windows Server 2012 alternatives page was last updated Mar 31, 2021

Gentoo
Gentoo Linux is a versatile, fast, highly configurable and completely free Linux and FreeBSD distribution geared towards developers and network professionals.
190 Gentoo alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Operating System
- Linux Distro
Platforms
- Linux
- BSD
- FreeBSD
Gentoo Features
Rolling Release
Customizable
Linux-based
Show all NaN Gentoo features ▾
Gentoo VS Windows Server 2012
Is Gentoo a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?
- 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

CentOS
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.
157 CentOS alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Operating System
Platforms
- Linux
CentOS Features
Shell integration
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+2
CentOS VS Windows Server 2012
Is CentOS a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux
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.
200 Red Hat Enterprise Linux alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application types
- Operating System
- Linux Distro
Platforms
- Linux
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Features
Command line interface
Linux-based
Unix kernel
Show all NaN Red Hat Enterprise Linux features ▾
Red Hat Enterprise Linux VS Windows Server 2012
Is this a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?
- 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

Rocky Linux
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.
168 Rocky Linux alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Operating System
- Linux Distro
Platforms
- Linux
Rocky Linux Features
Lightweight
Linux-based
Customizable
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Rocky Linux VS Windows Server 2012
Is Rocky Linux a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?

Ubuntu Server
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.
201 Ubuntu Server alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Operating System
Platforms
- Linux
Ubuntu Server Features
ARM support
Distribution
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Ubuntu Server VS Windows Server 2012
Is Ubuntu Server a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?

ClearOS
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.
26 ClearOS alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Firewall
- Operating System
Platforms
- Linux
ClearOS Features
Spam Filter
Web-Based
Gateway
PhpMyAdmin
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ClearOS VS Windows Server 2012
Is ClearOS a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?

SUSE Linux Enterprise
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...
158 SUSE Linux Enterprise alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Operating System
- Linux Distro
Platforms
- Linux
+9
SUSE Linux Enterprise Features
1. Security focused
2. Well documented
3. Linux-based
4. No Tracking
5. Ad-free
6. Lightweight
7. Privacy focused
8. Dark Mode
9. Unix-like
Show all NaN SUSE Linux Enterprise features ▾
SUSE Linux Enterprise VS Windows Server 2012
Is this a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?

AlmaLinux
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...
139 AlmaLinux alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Operating System
- Linux Distro
Platforms
- Linux
AlmaLinux Features
Linux-based
Community-based
Customizable
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AlmaLinux VS Windows Server 2012
Is AlmaLinux a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?

NethServer
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
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Mail Server
- Firewall
Platforms
- Linux
- Self-Hosted
- CentOS
+2
NethServer Features
1. OpenVPN
2. Active Directory integration
3. Gateway
4. Web filter
5. Linux-based
Show all NaN NethServer features ▾
NethServer VS Windows Server 2012
Is NethServer a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?
- NethServer is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Windows Server 2012.
- NethServer is Free and Open SourceWindows Server 2012 is Paid and Proprietary

Univention Corporate Server (UCS)
UCS is an open platform for central Identity & Access Management, IT Management, and Active Directory, with a web portal for easy access to applications.
99 Univention Corporate Server (UCS) alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Linux Distro
- Operating System
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
+9
Univention Corporate Server (UCS) Features
1. DHCP Server
2. Single Sign-On
3. Based on Debian
4. ARM support
5. Active Directory Migration
6. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
7. Active Directory integration
8. SAML Single Sign-On
Show all NaN Univention Corporate Server (UCS) features ▾
Univention Corporate Server (UCS) VS Windows Server 2012
Is this a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?
- Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is the most popular Windows & Mac alternative to Windows Server 2012.
- Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is Free and Open SourceWindows Server 2012 is Paid and Proprietary

Zentyal
Zentyal is a native Microsoft Active Directory implementation on Linux incorporating all the network services required in a small and medium business environment: Directory & Domain Server, Mail Server, Gateway and Infrastructure Server.
26 Zentyal alternatives
License model
- Paid • Open Source
Application types
- Mail Server
- Linux Distro
Platforms
- Linux
Zentyal Features
Gateway
Member Directory
Web interface
Show all NaN Zentyal features ▾
+1
Zentyal VS Windows Server 2012
Is Zentyal a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?
Comments about Zentyal as an Alternative to Windows Server 2012

Guest
Zentyals original project was to build a Linux Windows AD server. That is not the case now, it is more an Exchange Mail clone.
Negative comment •May 31, 2016
-2
- Zentyal is Paid and Open SourceWindows Server 2012 is Paid and Proprietary

Endian Firewall Community
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
License model
- Free Personal • Open Source
Application types
- Firewall
- VPN Service
Platforms
- Linux
Endian Firewall Community Features
Security focused
Email security
Network activity
Gateway
Show all NaN Endian Firewall Community features ▾
Endian Firewall Community VS Windows Server 2012
Is this a good alternative to Windows Server 2012?