What is the minimum required RAM to install Windows Server 2016?
A) 256 MB
B) 512 MB
C) 1 GB
D) 2 GB
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B) 512 MB.
Windows Server 2016 has specific hardware requirements to run efficiently, and RAM is one of the most crucial components. The minimum RAM required for a standard installation of Windows Server 2016 is 512 MB. However, this amount is intended for basic installations or setups with minimal workloads. In practice, 512 MB of RAM would not be sufficient for environments that require moderate or heavy usage, such as running multiple applications, services, or virtual machines.
For more demanding setups or production environments, Microsoft recommends a minimum of 2 GB of RAM. This allows for better performance, especially when running additional services like Active Directory, DNS, or file and print services. Moreover, the amount of RAM will need to be increased depending on the number of users, the complexity of workloads, or if additional features like Hyper-V for virtualization are being utilized.
When it comes to virtual machines running on Windows Server 2016, the requirements for RAM may vary depending on the guest operating systems and the number of virtualized environments. For Hyper-V, the host server needs to have adequate RAM to handle both the system’s needs and the demands of the virtual machines.
It’s important to note that while 512 MB is the minimum, this setup will not provide a satisfactory experience for general server use. Higher amounts of RAM will improve system responsiveness and support a larger range of applications and services, ultimately leading to better overall performance and stability for business environments.