Can Windows Server 2008 R2 / 2012 join a homegroup?

Question

A simple question that I couldn't find an answer to through Google search - can Windows Server (some recent version) join a homegroup?

Solution

From what I’ve been able to find online it looks like the ability to join Homegroups is limited to Windows 7 (and newer) and Windows Home Server (2011).

This site states that “Homegroups aren’t available on Windows Server 2008 R2.”

Unfortunately I can’t seem to find any Microsoft sites that state if homegroups are available in Windows Server 2012.

Comments

[Ramhound]

Wasn't the concept of a Homegroup was introduced in Windows 7/Windows 2008 R2 anyways? Considering Windows 2012 has not been released its a little early for this question.

[Borek Bernard]

It was introduced with Windows 7. I don't know if it's also supported in 2008 R2. WS2012 has reached the RTM state and there has been a RC which usually means the software is feature complete (or very near to that). So if anyone tried that, they could possibly answer this question.

[Ramhound]

If you have access to the software I would just test it. Based on N_Lindz answer and supported article, it sounds like Homegroup is likely a Windows 7/Windows 8 only feature, and not supported by the Windows Server versions. Windows Home Server ( 2011 ) is more a home user Windows version then business class which is the reason its supported.