Can I install SQL Server 2016 on Windows Server 2012?

Question

Can I install SQL Server 2016 on Windows Server 2012?

Yes, I read the microsoft 'hardware and software requirements' (see url) but it didn't answer my question (as far as I could understand): https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506.aspx

Solution 1

Depends on the version of SQL Server and the version of Windows Server 2012.
From further down the link you yourself posted.

But as far as I can tell, all versions of Windows Server 2012 support all versions of SQL Server 2016.

The full list as in the link above:

SQL Server Enterprise

Windows Server 2016 Datacenter

Windows Server 2016 Standard

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter

Windows Server 2012 Standard

Windows Server 2012 Essentials

Windows Server 2012 Foundation

SQL Server Standard

Windows Server 2016 Datacenter

Windows Server 2016 Standard

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter

Windows Server 2012 Standard

Windows Server 2012 Essentials

Windows Server 2012 Foundation

Windows 10 Home

Windows 10 Professional

Windows 10 Enterprise

Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 Pro

Windows 8.1 Enterprise

Windows 8

Windows 8 Pro

Windows 8 Enterprise

SQL Server Web

Windows Server 2016 Datacenter

Windows Server 2016 Standard

Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter

Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials

Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter

Windows Server 2012 Standard

Windows Server 2012 Essentials

Windows Server 2012 Foundation

Solution 2

The page you linked to lays it out pretty clearly which editions of SQL Server 2016 are supported on which versions and editions of Windows. Find your Windows version/edition and see if the edition of SQL Server 2016 that you want to install is supported.