Operating System images

STACKIT provides Microsoft Windows Server images on a monthly basis. The images are customized by STACKIT and the latest updates and security patches are included. STACKIT supports and provides only supported versions from Microsoft.

There are preinstalled applications and requirements/specifications that are required by STACKIT to be able to provide a Windows Server.
The customer is not allowed to change these requirements, otherwise there is no support provided by STACKIT. More details: Customer responsibility/additional terms

• Windows Server 2025 Standard
• Windows Server 2022 Standard
• Windows Server 2019 Standard
• Windows Server 2016 Standard

The following overview shows the features which are included and which feature can be ordered additionally:

Feature	Included
Creation of VM-based servers with pre-installed and licensed Windows Server standard operating system	Included
Access to Windows Server with individual credentials	Included
Standard security rules and settings	Included
STACKIT Windows update approval process	Is part of the Server Update Management Service
Automatic installation of Windows updates within defined maintenance windows	Can be ordered as a separate service (Server Update Management Service)
Monitoring and alerting	Can be ordered as a separate service (Coming Soon)
Activated Server Backup Management Service	Can be ordered as a separate service (Server Backup Management Service)

Rotation concept of the images and naming convention

The operating system (OS) images are created monthly, incorporating the latest updates and security patches. The image name corresponds to the OS version. When a new image of a specific OS version is released, a suffix (date) is added to the old image name, while the new image retains the name based solely on the OS version. This means there is always only one image without a suffix (date), representing the latest version.

For more information on how to obtain the latest or older images, please refer to the relevant documentation: How to find the latest or older Windows Server images - STACKIT DRAFT - STACKIT Docs

It is recommended to always use the latest image available because the latest updates and security patches are included. It is also possible that there are changes made in the OS or new features are implemented, which are not included in some older images.

If you spawn a virtual machine (VM) via the portal, always the latest image will be used. You can use old image versions and create servers from them until the end of the extended support of this OS version, if such support is available for them via IaaS-API.

Please keep in mind that older images have a retention period of one year and will be permanently deleted after that time.

The offical end of life for the different Windows Server versions are listed below:

OS Version	Microsoft support end date
Windows Server 2016	01/12/2027
Windows Server 2019	01/09/2029
Windows Server 2022	10/14/2031
Windows Server 2025	10/10/2034

Login (authentication) to the Windows Server operating system

Authentication on the Windows operating system is initially possible via username and password which the customer defines during the order process.

Licenses for the Windows Server operating system

All Windows Server VMs which are provided by STACKIT are licensed (only operating system).

More details: Licensing Guide Windows Server

Custom images

Windows licenses can not be migrated. Because of this, you have to contact STACKIT to ensure that the licensing agent will be properly installed on the custom image, if you need to use your custom windows image.