Hello.
What is the maximum number of cores that Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition 32-bit support? I read that it will support four processors, but is that sockets or cores? I want to be able to take advantage of all 8 cores on a Dell 2900 with two quad-core processors.

Thanks

Hello Jerry,

windows 2008 standard edtion 32 bit only supports 4 sockets but up to 32 cores , but it depends on servers role in accordiance with http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/compare-specs.aspx , please also note the remarks at the end of table

regards

Neph

"windows 2008 standard edtion 32 bit only supports 4 sockets but up to 32 cores , but it depends on servers role in accordiance with http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/compare-specs.aspx , please also note the remarks at the end of table"

I'm not asking about 2008. I'm asking about Windows Server 2003.

Perhaps I also need to know what server roles may play in this as well.

Thanks

Hello Jerry,

sorry for mismatch, I had several questions regarding 2008 ... anyway, on windows 2003 its the same idea; if see something like "windows 2003 32 bit standard supports up to 4 processors" it means the used sockets ( single processors), detailed infos regarding technical comparison windows 2003 server editions can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc758523.aspx , windows 2003 32 bit standard support 4 way SMP , SMP is described at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symmetric_multiprocessing , 4 way smp is suitable for dual core cpus, so 4 cores can be used for applications, on your case with 4 quadcores with 32 bit standard the cores might be recognized , but you only can use 4 of them, if you want to use more than 4 cores , you have to switch to a windows edition (please refer comparision table) which can offer more than 4 way smp like enterprise or datacenter.

the server roles , better say the options for using the server is also described in the server comparison list (please also refer link)

I`ll hope that these infos will help you

sry for the mismatch

So, I'm feeling confused. You say that "Windows 2003 is the same idea"; but it appears from what I'm reading that only 4 cores are accessed in 2003 Standard Edition, whereas 32 cores (4 sockets) are supported in the 2008 version. Just so I understand; if I have a dual quad-core system with 2003 Standard, 4 cores would always stand idle? I suppose I could pull up Task Manager and look at the CPU usages.

... confused as myself when reading microsoft information sites .....
In fact the idea is the same, but if you read the links and compared the content, you`ll see that windows 2003 std 32 bit only supports 4 way SMP and that means , in accordiance with the links, that only 4 cores are used, the other cores are not recognized or not used, be also aware that the ms links might not consider servicepacks, updates, patches .....

Well, but I`m getting more confused that you are not already check your Task manager before about cpu usage .... anyway, if you have got other links with infos regarding you question , please share, additional infos might help to get a clear answer

thks alot

I presume this is a valid test, looking at CPU usage in Task Manager. I don't know why it wouldn't be.

I haven't checked yet because it's not installed yet.

Ok, I've installed Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition on a 2900 with two E5420 CPUs and downloaded a CPU stress test from http://weblogs.asp.net/kennykerr/archive/2005/10/21/428192.aspx. When I select all eight cores, Task Manager shows all eight cores at 100%. So, it sounds like we can interpret Microsoft's reference as sockets, not cores. Does everyone agree this validates my conclusion?

This article should help as well -- http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/highlights/multicore.mspx

Processor from a Microsoft perspective means physical socket - no matter how many cores are on the processor socket.

So Standard edition is up to 4 sockets ... Enterprise is up to 8 sockets, and Datacenter can go as high as 64 or 128 with a different SKU.

"Processor from a Microsoft perspective means physical socket - no matter how many cores are on the processor socket."

Scott,

Excellent! Thanks, that's the information I was looking for.

Jerry

"This article should help as well -- http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/highlights/multicore.mspx

Processor from a Microsoft perspective means physical socket - no matter how many cores are on the processor socket.

So Standard edition is up to 4 sockets ... Enterprise is up to 8 sockets, and Datacenter can go as high as 64 or 128 with a different SKU."

Sorry, for a dumb question, I am new to hardware/servers.
Is cores depends on Hardware or the OS?
How to find number of cores on a windows server. please help me.