Windows Spheres of Support for Dedicated and Managed Operations

This article outlines Rackspace support for software and server configurations for virtual and physical machines that run a supported Microsoft Windows® operating system. The article presents a high-level overview of Rackspace offerings. Contact Rackspace Sales or your account representative for more information regarding the components of specific Windows roles and features that are supported in Rackspace offerings.

Operating system

The following operating systems are supported:

OS VersionRackspace ComputeVMware Server VirtualizationRackspace Public CloudRackspace SDDCMicrosoft Private CloudAzure Public CloudAWS Public CloudGoogle Public Cloud
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2008 R2Yes
Windows Server 2012YesYes
Windows Server 2012 R2YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Server 2016YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Server 2019YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Server 2022YesYesYesYesYes

Note: Rackspace makes every effort to align our support dates for operating systems with the manufacturer's support dates. If a manufacturer decides to shorten the support life of an operating system, Rackspace might be forced to end support sooner than originally anticipated. For full details on support life, see the Rackspace EOL Terms.

Web servers

The following types of web servers (IIS) are supported in the indicated areas:

InstallationConfigurationTroubleshooting
IIS 8YesYesYes
IIS 8.5YesYesYes
IIS 10YesYesYes
Web HTTP/HTTPSYesYesYes
FTPYesYesYes
FTPSYesYesYes
SMTP*YesYesYes
PHPYesYesYes
PHP ExtensionsYesYesYes

Note: Not all add-on modules are supported. Contact Rackspace Support for more information. SMTP is no longer supported by Microsoft on Windows Server 2022.

Active Directory

Feature/OperationInstallationConfigurationTroubleshooting
Domain ServicesYesYesYes
DNSYesYesYes

Remote Desktop Services

Feature/OperationInstallationConfigurationTroubleshooting
Remote Desktop Licensing ServerYesYesYes
Remote Desktop Session HostYesYesYes

Miscellaneous roles and features

Feature/OperationInstallationConfigurationTroubleshooting
ODBCYesYesYes
Failover ClusteringYesYesYes
File and Storage ServicesYesYesYes
Windows FirewallYes
Windows Server BackupYes
DFS-R (Distributed File System)YesYesYes

Additional products and services

Feature/OperationInstallationConfigurationTroubleshooting
Microsoft ExchangeYesYesYes
Microsoft SharepointYes
Microsoft OfficeYesYesYes
SSL CertificatesYes
Compliance AssistanceYes
Microsoft SQLYesYesYes
Rackspace Managed AntivirusYesYesYes
Rackspace Managed BackupYesYesYes
Rackspace Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)Yes

Note: Additional Rackspace licensing and service agreements are required.

Microsoft SQL

The following types of database servers are supported in the indicated areas:

Supported OS and MSSQL combinations

MSSQL versionWindows 2012 64 bitWindows 2012 R2 64 bitWindows 2016Windows 2019Windows 2022
MSSQL 2012YesYes
MSSQL 2014YesYesYes
MSSQL 2016YesYes
MSSQL 2017YesYes
MSSQL 2019YesYes
MSSQL 2022YesYes

Supported platforms for Microsoft SQL editions

MSSQL editionLicensingInstallationTroubleshootingManaged backup
WebYesYesYesYes
StandardYesYesYesYes
EnterpriseYesYesYesYes

Note: Customers who use MSDN licenses for Microsoft SQL are free to install and run this edition of SQL. However, Rackspace cannot provide an MSDN license, install MSDN software, monitor MSDN applications, or back up the MSDN applications by using the Rackspace Managed Backup for MSSQL offering. Also note that the use of production data in an instance that is licensed via MSDN is strictly prohibited.

Supported platforms for Microsoft SQL licenses

LicensingManaged ColoManagedIntensiveManaged Operations (Cloud)Navigator (AWS)Aviator (AWS)Navigator (Azure)Navigator (Azure)
Rackspace-owned licensesYes*YesYesYes
Customer-provided licensesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
AWS image library licensesYesYes
AWS RDSYesYes
Azure image library licensesYesYes
Azure SQL DatabaseYesYes

Note: Licensing is limited to bare metal servers and Enterprise edition on hypervisors only.

Supported platforms for Microsoft SQL installation

SupportManaged ColoManagedIntensiveManaged Operations (Cloud)Navigator (FAWS)Aviator (FAWS)Navigator (Azure)Navigator (Azure)
Rackspace-owned licenses*Yes**Yes**Yes
Customer-provided licenses*Yes**Yes**YesYes
AWS image library licensesYes*Yes
AWS RDSYes*Yes
Azure image library licensesYes*Yes
Azure SQL DatabaseYes*Yes

* Support is available with DBAssist Hourly Services only.
** Not supported on Unmanaged VMs except for DBAssist Hourly Services.

Other services and technologies

Although we don't support all technologies, we do offer reasonable endeavor support, which extends our support into offering alternative solutions. Reasonable endeavor support can include help from Rackspace partners and other third-party services.

  • API support: All of the support functions listed in the API guides are supported.
  • Cloud Files: Integration with Cloud Files is supported through the API. However, we do not offer development support for using the Cloud Files API.
  • DNS: Rackspace supports the use of the public Rackspace name servers for DNS. Named servers that use BIND are not supported at this time.
  • Load Balancing: Rackspace Cloud Load Balancers are supported.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this document is a general introduction to the Rackspace Services and does not include any legal commitment on the part of Rackspace.

You should not rely solely on this document to decide whether to purchase the service. Rackspace detailed services descriptions and legal commitments are stated in its services agreements. Rackspace services’ features and benefits depend on system configuration and may require enabled hardware, software, or additional services activation.

Except as set forth in Rackspace general terms and conditions, cloud terms of services, and/or other agreements you sign with Rackspace, Rackspace assumes no liability whatsoever, and disclaims any express or implied warranty, relating to its services including, but not limited to, the implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and no infringement.

Although part of the document explains how Rackspace services may work with third-party products, the information contained in the document is not designed to work with all scenarios. Any use or changes to third-party products and/or configurations should be made at the discretion of your administrators and are subject to the applicable terms and conditions of such third party. Rackspace does not provide technical support for third-party products, other than specified in your hosting services or other agreement you have with Rackspace, and Rackspace accepts no responsibility for third-party products.

Rackspace cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication. Rackspace® and other Rackspace marks are either registered service marks or service marks of Rackspace US, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks, service marks, images, products, and brands remain the sole property of their respective holders and do not imply endorsement or sponsorship.