Windows Server on Bare Metal
Windows Server Hosting on Dedicated Bare Metal
Dedicated bare metal with full RDP and administrative access, no shared resources, consistent performance, hardware that is entirely yours.
Available Windows Server Editions
All versions are Standard Edition, with SQL Server and Datacenter Edition available on request. Choose the version that matches your requirements.
Windows Server 2019
Proven platform for enterprise production workloads
Windows Server 2019 brought significant improvements to Windows Admin Center, storage migration services, and Hyper-Converged Infrastructure. It is a mature, widely deployed platform with broad enterprise software support and a long support lifecycle.
Deploy Windows Server 2019Key characteristics
- ✓Extended support until January 9, 2029
- ✓Windows Admin Center for modern server management without RSAT
- ✓Storage Migration Service for moving workloads from older Windows and Linux servers
- ✓Improved Hyper-V and container support including Linux containers on Windows
- ✓Broad ISV certification, with most enterprise software qualified for 2019
Best suited for
Production workloads requiring a stable, long-supported Windows Server version with broad enterprise software compatibility, including SQL Server, Exchange, SharePoint, and commercial ERP systems.
Windows Server 2022
Current standard for new Windows Server deployments
Windows Server 2022 is the current mainstream release for new deployments. It adds Secured-core server capabilities, TLS 1.3 by default, SMB over QUIC for secure file access, and improved Azure Arc integration for hybrid management.
Deploy Windows Server 2022Key characteristics
- ✓Mainstream support until October 2026, extended support until October 2031
- ✓Secured-core server, with hardware-backed security features including UEFI Secure Boot
- ✓TLS 1.3 enabled by default, improving security for all encrypted connections
- ✓SMB over QUIC for secure file access without VPN
- ✓Best choice for new Windows Server deployments with a long support horizon
Best suited for
New Windows Server deployments, SQL Server 2022 installations, organizations that want the latest security baseline with a long support lifecycle, and teams planning hybrid cloud integration via Azure Arc.
Windows Server 2025
Latest release, AI-ready with modern security defaults
Windows Server 2025 is Microsoft's latest release, introducing hotpatching (apply security updates without rebooting), Active Directory improvements, NVMe and RDMA performance enhancements, and built-in GPU partitioning for AI inference workloads.
Deploy Windows Server 2025Key characteristics
- ✓Hotpatching support, security updates without server reboots (reduces maintenance windows)
- ✓NVMe and RDMA performance improvements for storage-intensive workloads
- ✓Active Directory improvements including 256-bit Group Policy updates
- ✓Built-in GPU partitioning for AI inference and accelerated workloads
- ✓Extended support through 2034, the longest support horizon of all available versions
Best suited for
New deployments where maximum support longevity is required, organizations planning for AI inference workloads on Windows, and teams that want to minimize maintenance windows through hotpatching.
Why Run Windows Server on Dedicated Bare Metal?
Full hardware performance: no hypervisor tax
On dedicated bare metal, Windows Server has exclusive access to all CPU cores, RAM, and storage, whether NVMe, SSD, or HDD. No vCPU scheduling latency, no memory ballooning, no I/O overhead from a hypervisor, critical for SQL Server, ERP systems, and other performance-sensitive Windows workloads.
Predictable licensing costs
Windows Server Standard Edition licenses cover up to 2 VMs on the licensed physical server. On dedicated bare metal, you have a clear, predictable licensing scope: no cloud-style per-core per-hour pricing that scales unexpectedly under load.
Full RDP and administrative access
You receive full Remote Desktop and administrative access to the server from day one. Install any software, configure any Windows role or feature, and manage the server exactly as you would an on-premises system.
Compliance and data residency
Deploy Windows Server workloads in Frankfurt or Strasbourg for EU data residency. For US-regulated workloads, St. Louis, New York, and Miami are available. Your data stays on hardware only you have access to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Windows Server 2022 is the recommended choice for most new deployments. It is the current mainstream release with support until October 2031, has broad enterprise software compatibility, and includes modern security defaults like TLS 1.3 and Secured-core capabilities. If maximum support longevity is a priority, Windows Server 2025 extends support through 2034 and adds hotpatching.
In-place upgrades between Windows Server versions are supported by Microsoft. However, for production servers we recommend provisioning a new server with the target version and migrating workloads, rather than performing an in-place upgrade on a live production system.
Hotpatching allows security updates to be applied to a running Windows Server without requiring a reboot. This reduces planned maintenance windows significantly. Security patches can be applied during business hours without scheduling downtime. Windows Server 2025 Standard Edition on bare metal supports hotpatching for qualifying updates.
Yes. With full administrative access, you can install and configure any Windows Server role or feature, including IIS, Active Directory Domain Services, DNS, DHCP, Hyper-V, SQL Server, and any other Microsoft or third-party Windows software. We do not restrict which software you install.
Standard Edition is available by default. SQL Server and Windows Server Datacenter Edition licenses are available on request: contact our team and we will add them to your configuration.
There is no minimum commitment. velia.net bills monthly with no annual contracts and no cancellation penalties. You can provision a Windows Server for a specific project and remove it the following month.
Deploy Your Windows Server Today
Windows Server 2019, 2022, and 2025 Standard Edition. SQL Server and Datacenter Edition available on request. Dedicated bare metal, full administrative access, no setup fees, monthly billing.
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