The following table lists the benefits of Server Core for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012.
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
Reduced servicing |
Because Server Core for Windows Server 2012 installs only what is required for a manageable server, less servicing is required. |
Reduced management |
Because less is installed on a Server Core-based server, less management is required. |
Reduced attack surface |
Because there is less running on the server, there is less attack surface. |
Less disk space required |
Server Core requires about 4GB to install. |
Less memory (RAM) required |
Because fewer services are running on a Server Core-based server, memory that would otherwise be needed by Windows is available to Server applications. |