Comparing Windows Server 2019 vs Windows Server 2022: Key Differences

Windows Server 2022 Performance Tips and Best PracticesWindows Server 2022 builds on the stability and features of previous Windows Server releases while adding improvements in security, networking, and hybrid-cloud integration. To get the most from your deployment — whether on physical hardware, virtual machines, or in the cloud — apply a combination of OS-level tuning, hardware-aware configuration, application-level optimization, and monitoring discipline. This article covers practical performance tips and best practices across planning, configuration, storage, networking, virtualization, security, and ongoing operations.

1. Plan for workloads and sizing

Assess workload characteristics (CPU-bound, memory-bound, I/O-bound, or network-bound). Match server types and SKUs to workload needs.
Right-size virtual machines and containers. Avoid over-provisioning CPU or memory “just in case,” and avoid extreme under-provisioning.
For virtualization, consider using Generation 2 VMs (where supported) and the latest hypervisor features to reduce overhead.
Capacity planning: use baseline metrics from representative test workloads to estimate CPU, memory, storage IOPS/throughput, and network throughput requirements.

2. Choose appropriate edition and licensing

Select the correct Windows Server 2022 edition (Standard, Datacenter) based on virtualization density, storage features (Storage Spaces Direct), and required features like Shielded VMs.
Review licensing implications before scaling out; licensing affects cost and sometimes practical architecture choices (e.g., host counts for Datacenter licensing benefits).

3. Keep the OS and drivers up to date

Install the latest cumulative updates (monthly quality updates) and servicing stack updates to benefit from performance fixes and stability improvements.
Use vendor-supplied drivers and firmware for NICs, storage controllers, RAID/HBA, and motherboard components — generic drivers can reduce performance and cause instability.
For critical production systems, test updates in a staging environment before broad deployment.

4. Storage performance: architecture and tuning

Use storage that matches workload I/O profile: NVMe or SSD for low-latency/high-IOPS workloads, and HDD or tiered storage for bulk/cold data.
For high-performance workloads, prefer local NVMe drives or fast SAN/NVMe-oF with low-latency networks.
Configure RAID or software-defined storage (Storage Spaces / Storage Spaces Direct) with appropriate resiliency vs performance trade-offs (e.g., mirror for speed, parity for capacity).
Align partition/cluster sizes where relevant to match underlying storage sector size (4K) and array stripe size to reduce read-modify-write penalties.
Disable unnecessary Windows features that might add overhead to storage operations (e.g., indexing on high-I/O databases).
If using Storage Spaces Direct (S2D), follow Microsoft’s validated hardware catalog and recommended cache tiering configurations.

5. Filesystem and NTFS/ReFS recommendations

Use NTFS for most general workloads; consider ReFS for resilience with large volumes, virtualization with Hyper-V, or where data integrity features are valuable.
ReFS has advantages for large-scale VM storage and large SMB file shares; however, some features (like deduplication) have been limited historically — verify current compatibility.
Keep volume fragmentation low for HDD-based systems; for SSDs, fragmentation impact is less but TRIM support and proper firmware are essential.

6. Memory management and NUMA awareness

Size physical memory to keep working sets resident and avoid paging. Monitor page faults and standby list utilization.
For multi-socket servers, be NUMA-aware: place resource allocations (VMs, processes) to align with NUMA nodes to minimize cross-node memory latency.
In Hyper-V, enable NUMA spanning carefully; disable it if workloads are NUMA-sensitive and you can configure VM memory/CPU appropriately.
Use dynamic memory for workloads that benefit from elasticity (typically non-latency-critical services), but avoid it for latency-sensitive VMs like databases.

7. CPU optimization and scheduler tuning

Use modern CPU features (Hyper-Threading, virtualization extensions) but validate workload behavior — some high-frequency trading or low-latency workloads may prefer disabling SMT for predictable latency.
Pin vCPUs to logical processors only for very specific scenarios; overuse can reduce scheduler flexibility and hurt overall consolidation efficiency.
Monitor CPU ready time in Hyper-V/host scheduler metrics; high CPU ready indicates overcommitment or scheduler contention.

8. Networking: stack, offloads, and tuning

Use the latest NIC drivers and firmware. Prefer 10GbE/25GbE+ for east-west traffic and high-throughput workloads.
Enable hardware offloads where supported (TCP Chimney Offload, RSS, RSC, LRO) — these reduce CPU usage. Microsoft’s default settings generally balance performance and stability; tune only when needed.
Configure Receive Side Scaling (RSS) and Receive Segment Coalescing (RSC) for multi-core processing of network traffic.
For SMB or storage over network, enable SMB Direct (RDMA) where available for low CPU, high-throughput, and low-latency storage/SMB communication.
Optimize MTU for network paths that support jumbo frames (e.g., 9000 bytes) to reduce packet processing overhead — ensure end-to-end jumbo frame support before enabling.
Use QoS/traffic shaping for predictable network behavior in multi-tenant environments.

9. Hyper-V and virtualization best practices

Use Generation 2 VMs when possible for faster boot, UEFI, and secure boot support.
Install the latest Hyper-V integration services (most are delivered through Windows Update).
Use fixed-size VHDX for performance-sensitive workloads (dynamic disks can cause fragmentation and overhead).
Use VHDX format for larger disks and better resilience; it supports larger block sizes and faster operations than VHD.
Avoid excessive overcommit of CPU and memory unless workload characteristics allow it. Monitor host metrics to find safe consolidation ratios.
Enable guest OS features like Integration Services, time synchronization, and backup integration to reduce host load during maintenance tasks.

10. Defender and security features tuning (without weakening security)

Windows Server 2022 includes enhanced security features (e.g., Secured-core, hardware root-of-trust). These can add overhead but provide strong protection.
Configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus with exclusions for known high-I/O database files, backup directories, and virtualization storage paths — exclude only after risk assessment.
Use Controlled Folder Access and other protections thoughtfully; they can block legitimate I/O if not configured correctly.
Balance audit logging level: verbose auditing helps security investigations but can increase I/O and storage needs.

11. Application and database tuning

For databases (SQL Server, etc.), follow vendor best practices: place database files, logs, and tempdb on separate spindles/volumes with appropriate caching settings.
Tune database memory and I/O settings rather than relying on OS defaults. For SQL Server, set max server memory to avoid starving the OS.
Use connection pooling, caching layers, and optimized queries to reduce unnecessary CPU and disk load.
Scale-out stateless application tiers horizontally and keep stateful services optimized for locality and storage performance.

12. Monitoring, logging, and diagnostics

Establish baseline metrics (CPU, memory, disk IOPS/latency, network throughput, queue lengths) for normal operation to detect deviations quickly.
Use Performance Monitor (PerfMon), Windows Admin Center, or third-party monitoring solutions to collect and visualize metrics.
Create alerts on critical thresholds: high disk latency, sustained high CPU ready times, low available memory, or network saturation.
Capture performance traces (ETW, xPerf) for deep diagnostics when needed. Keep trace collection time-limited to avoid performance impact.

13. Backup, maintenance windows, and patching strategy

Schedule backups, defragmentation, and antivirus scans during maintenance windows or off-peak hours.
Use application-aware backups where possible to ensure consistent snapshots without heavy I/O during business hours.
Test restore procedures — a fast backup is useless without a reliable, timely restore.

14. Power, BIOS/firmware, and hardware settings

Set server power profiles to Balanced for most cases; for performance-sensitive workloads, Test “High performance” but be mindful of power/thermal costs.
Keep BIOS/firmware settings aligned with vendor recommendations for virtualization and NUMA. Enable virtualization extensions (VT-x/AMD-V) and IOMMU if required.
Ensure thermal management and proper cooling — thermal throttling can silently reduce performance.

15. Cloud-specific considerations (Azure/other clouds)

Use VM sizes that match workload characteristics (CPU, memory, disk IOPS). In Azure, use Premium SSD or Ultra Disk for low-latency storage needs.
Use Accelerated Networking (SR-IOV) in Azure to reduce CPU overhead and increase network throughput.
For hybrid setups, consider Azure Arc and Windows Admin Center for centralized management and insights.
In cloud environments, factor in throttling, egress charges, and instance family capabilities (dedicated vs burstable).

16. Practical checklist — quick wins

Update OS, drivers, and firmware.
Right-size VMs and disable unneeded services/roles.
Use NVMe/SSD for high-IOPS workloads.
Configure SMB Direct/RDMA where possible.
Add Defender exclusions for heavy I/O directories after risk review.
Monitor with PerfMon and alert on latency/ready time thresholds.
Use fixed VHDX and Generation 2 VMs for performance-sensitive guests.

Closing notes

Performance tuning is an iterative process: measure, change one variable at a time, then measure again. Prioritize changes that offer the highest impact for the least risk (drivers/firmware, storage choices, and right-sizing). Maintain good monitoring and change-control practices so improvements are repeatable and reversible when needed.