Microsoft: Windows Server does not support ARM

Microsoft currently has no plans to develop a dedicated operating system version for the server running the ARM architecture processor.

While developing the Windows 8 operating system that supports both ARM architectures, Microsoft has not planned a Windows Server version for ARM CPU servers. It was confirmed by Bill Laing, vice president of the Windows Server division of the company, on Wednesday at BULD conference, when he demonstrated new features of Windows Server 8.

The next-generation server operating system is enhanced with many new features, such as command-line PowerShell that allows network administrators to monitor multiple machines, and a new management screen that keeps track of both. internal server and all cloud resources.

However, unlike Windows 8, Windows Server 8 will not have an ARM version, Laing said. " The short-term answer is no ," Laing asserted the question of whether Microsoft plans a version of Windows Server running with ARM.

ARM processors have been flooding in recent years, as many device manufacturers use this low-power processor for their mobile devices. Some industry observers predict that ARM chips also work well in data center environments, where it can save energy. ARM Holdings, which owns this architecture, is even studying the possibility of ARM-based server chips.

But until these chips are manufactured, they probably still need the support of the Windows Server server operating system.

One problem can be seen immediately for Windows Server running on ARM, which is Microsoft's server operating system written for 64-bit processors, while the current ARM architecture is limited to 32-bit and Laing processing. explain. Windows Server stopped 32-bit support with Release 2 update for Windows Server 2008.

Besides, there is another reason why Windows Server running with ARM is not practical, Laing added. ARM-based processors seem like a way for the server to reduce power consumption, but the power consumed by the processor is not much compared to the system.

Laing did not say that Microsoft was not interested in developing an ARM version of Windows Server, but he said the company currently had no plans to do so.

Microsoft has been developing Windows Server 8 for the past 3 years, Laing said. The company aims for many new versions of this OS, such as cloud capabilities and automating regular tasks through multiple machines. ' Time to run the server alone ,' he said

According to Laing, specialized technologies should not be developed, but common issues that may cover a wide range of technologies, such as transferring virtual machines from one server to another, should not be solved. discontinuity.

The new version also applies Microsoft's experience in building Azure cloud services, he explained. Many server development technologies have been tested on the cloud, and many of the technologies developed for Azure are re-applied to the server.

"Previously, there was a separation between application developers and data center operators," he said. " We have tried to maintain the feedback between the two sides closely, to share technology ."