Windows Server 2016, Microsoft'due south newest server operating system, has the potential to be a big hit with businesses, It professionals, and users. Adult aslope Windows 10, the Windows Server team worked closely with the System Center and Azure teams to establish a tightly-knit ecosystem. The end result delivers a seamless Microsoft experience from beginning to finish; it bridges familiar technologies such as Active Directory and virtualization with modernistic infrastructure concepts, like containerization, federated services, and cloud-based services.

For the latest information on Windows Server 2016, cheque this article periodically, every bit this "living" guide volition be updated when Microsoft releases new information almost the Bone.

SEE: All of TechRepublic'south smart person's guides and crook sheets

Executive summary

  • What is Windows Server 2016? Windows Server 2016 is Microsoft'south latest iteration of its server line of operating systems and the successor to Windows Server 2012 R2.
  • Why does Windows Server 2016 matter? Windows Server 2016 includes a number of new features to its core foundation, including identity management and enhanced security capabilities to ensure data and admission to data maintains its integrity from terminate to end, regardless of whether it's stored locally or in the cloud.
  • Who does Windows Server 2016 touch on? Businesses relying on Microsoft services to empower their business concern functions, and the Information technology pros that are responsible for managing this infrastructure.
  • When was Windows Server 2016 released? Microsoft released Windows Server 2016 on Oct 12, 2016, ending development of its software bicycle and making the final code or "gold master" generally available for download.
  • How can I become Windows Server 2016? Windows Server 2016 is available for buy and download directly from Microsoft's website and authorized resellers worldwide.

SEE: Server deployment/migration checklist (Tech Pro Research)

Additional resources:

  • Microsoft'south Windows Server 2016 hits full general availability (ZDNet)
  • What'due south new in Agile Directory Federation Services for Windows Server 2016 (Microsoft)
  • Shielded Virtual Machines in Windows Server 2016 video series (Microsoft)

What is Windows Server 2016?

Released initially as a Technical Preview on October ane, 2014, Windows Server 2016 was available for download direct from Microsoft for free equally function of a public beta test. Upon reaching its gilded master status, Microsoft made its Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version available on September 26, 2016. The latest release of Microsoft's Windows Server operating arrangement was delivered for general availability on October 12, 2016 (Figure A).

Effigy A

Microsoft's goal with Windows Server 2016 is to further assimilate local resource with public and private cloud infrastructures to provide a greater degree of manageability over diverse computing environments (virtualized and physical), while keeping information technology seamless for businesses and users to be productive. The Windows Server 2016 team worked alongside the System Center squad to integrate services and to extend coherence.

Windows Server 2016 includes several important changes to the core operating arrangement and many new features in an try to double down on the security of Microsoft's products, besides as the data being used past endpoints. New and upgraded features include the following.

  • Nano Server: Similar to Windows Server Cadre way, a Nano Server must exist remotely administered, every bit it provides no local logon adequacy and only supports 64-bit applications. Nano Server is optimized for use in private clouds and data centers, every bit well as running web services, such as DNS or IIS.
  • Windows containers: Unlike virtual machines, containers allow for operating system-level virtualization past providing simply enough access to the OS, libraries, and underlying resources to host applications in an isolated user-space.
  • Active Directory Domain Services: Privileged Access Management (PAM) helps to address the theft of credentials by working with Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) to protect the Active Directory (AD) forest from accounts with privileged admission. Additionally, new processes are in place for requesting authoritative access and monitoring of such accounts, including the expiring links characteristic, which limits the administrative window period based on a specified time frame.
  • Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) continues to provide uncomplicated, secure identity federation and Single Sign-On (SSO) between ADFS-secured enterprises and partner organizations. New in 2016 is the power to cosign users stored in LDAP or cloud-based providers.
  • Hyper-Five introduces hot direction of virtual networking adapters and memory for virtual machines. For security-minded administrators, Windows Server 2016 includes shielded virtual machines that minimize tampering with or the theft of data and virtual machine states past encrypting both and preventing the inspection of video signals and disks.
  • Windows Defender: Microsoft'south Windows Server Antimalware application is installed past default in Windows Server 2016 in an endeavour to detect and neutralize malware threats in real-time with automatic updating.
  • Storage Spaces Directly enables the building of loftier-availability storage from local storage systems, including JBODs stored locally or networked as part of a storage pool.
  • PowerShell 5.0: Standing the trend towards being Microsoft's de facto direction last, PowerShell retains its backwards compatibility while introducing new cmdlets and modules for remote direction and scripting of clients, servers, and applications.

In addition to the new features, the installation method has been modified so that, by default, the Server Core versions of the OS are installed. Introduced in Windows Server 2008, Core refers to a hardening of the OS by which the attack surface of the server is minimized by removing the GUI and any unnecessary optional installations.

This has been an optional install method in previous iterations of Windows Server, and now in Windows Server 2016, it is the default pick. The total install, or "Desktop Feel" version, is withal available as an choice during the initial installation process for users that require the additional resources (Effigy B).

Figure B

Windows Server, version 1709

On October 17, 2017, Microsoft released Windows Server, version 1709 as part of its announced Semi-Annual Aqueduct releases. This version includes new features and advancements for Nano Server, virtualization, and containerization, and information technology adds support for managing Linux subsystems.

  • Nano Container: Nano Server, introduced in previous versions of Windows Server, has been deprecated and replaced past Nano Container. Substantially, a Nano running within a container image, bringing with it an well-nigh fourscore% reduction in image size.
  • Server Core as a container: The Server Core container epitome is almost threescore% smaller, while existence farther optimized for life-and-shift scenarios, also as migrating applications into containers.
  • Linux support: By installing the optional Windows Subsystem for Linux feature, users can download, install, and run Linux distributions on Windows Server.
  • Software-defined networking: 1 of the newest features is the encryption of traffic between virtual machines on a virtual switch, utilizing Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) to encrypt packets between VMs on encryption-enabled subnets to prevent eavesdropping, tampering, and forgery of data in transit.
  • Docker support: Docker's container-every bit-a-service was already allowed in Windows Server 2016; in version 1709, you can install Docker natively, and support Windows-based and Linux-based Docker containers from within Windows.
  • Storage Replica: The Storage Replica protections added in Windows Server 2016 take been expanded to include Test Failover, which mounts snapshots of replicated storage for temporary testing or fill-in purposes. Too included is Projection Honolulu support, a graphical management panel for server-to-server replication, which previously required PowerShell to manage.

Windows Server 2016 Editions

Windows Server 2016 is available in Standard and Datacenter Editions. Additionally, Microsoft has released Hyper-V Server 2016, which is a hypervisor that installs on blank-metal servers to run multiple virtualized OSes. Windows Server Essentials 2016 brings the Windows Server infrastructure to small businesses; this edition allows these organizations not to worry well-nigh complex CAL licensing requirements.

Organisation requirements:

  • Processor: ane.4Ghz 64-bit processor
  • RAM: 512 MB
  • Disk Space: 32 GB
  • Network: Gigabit (10/100/1000baseT) Ethernet adapter
  • Optical Storage: DVD drive (if installing the Os from DVD media)
  • Video: Super VGA (1024 x 768) or college-resolution (optional)
  • Input Devices: Keyboard and mouse (optional)
  • Cyberspace: Broadband access (optional)

Additional resources:

  • Getting started with Nano Server (Microsoft)
  • Windows Server Installation Guide (Microsoft MSDN)
    Exciting new things for Docker withWindows Server 1709 (Docker blog)
  • Privileged Access Management for Active Directory Domain Services (Microsoft)
  • Windows Defender: Past, nowadays, and future (TechRepublic)

Why does Windows Server 2016 affair?

Simply like with Windows 10 where Microsoft recreated much of the underlying operating arrangement, taking into account the alter in landscape brought on by smartphones and tablets, Windows Server 2016 represents the culmination of several principles: Compute, Identity, Management and Automation, Networking, Storage and Security and Assurance.

These are further cleaved downwards into the core elements of the Bone, infusing Virtualization, Agile Directory, Systems Administration, Network Management and Software Defined Network (SDN) Technologies, Deejay Management and Availability, and Deject Integration and Management together to bring enterprises to the future of technology–without abandoning the equipment they are currently using today.

Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition is a total-featured server OS that fuses the stone-solid functioning of the Windows Server line with mod infrastructure advancements. It shares much in common with the Datacenter Edition, as all of the core features are bachelor to both. The Datacenter Edition includes support for a greater number of Hyper-V containers, also as new storage features and enhanced security aimed squarely at protecting virtual machines and network communications with its "zip trust" implementation.

Hyper-V Server 2016 is like to the Windows Server Core Mode in previous versions of Windows Server with i major notable exception: It does not include any of the roles and services available to the Standard and Datacenter Editions. The reason for this omission is due to Hyper-Five Server 2016 beingness a hypervisor that is installed onto bare-metal (physical) servers; it but does not require any roles and services, as it serves to host virtual machines only.

Windows Server Essentials 2016 (formerly known as Small Business organization Server or SBS) is a full server operating system with certain limitations. Designed with SMBs in listen, Server Essentials 2016 aims to provide Active Directory Domain Services forth with user/estimator management for workspaces of up to 25 users and 50 devices. It offers a wide range of the new and updated features of the larger Standard Edition, while scaling others down to offering an affordable, easy-to-use solution perfect for a commencement server. Unlike Standard and Datacenter Editions, Server Essentials does not require the use of Client Access Licenses (CALs) for each user or device accessing the server, which is a huge cost saver.

Windows Server, version 1709

The focus of Windows Server, version 1709 lies squarely on Server Core, containers, and microservices in an effort to reduce image sizes when hosting services or migrating existing code bases. The shift from previous versions of Windows Server allows systems administrators and developers to deploy containerized images that have been reduced dramatically and farther optimized, while providing modernized security to protect virtual machines (VMs), encrypt network transmissions using software-defined networking, and provide enhanced storage and disaster recovery protection through failover and replication features.

Additional resources:

  • What'due south new in Windows Server version 1709 (Microsoft)
  • Windows Nano Server: Microsoft's innovative strategy for microservices (TechRepublic)
  • Containers are high on Microsoft's agenda for Windows Server 2016 (TechRepublic)
  • Where's the love for Windows Server 2016? Survey tells all (ZDNet)

Who does Windows Server 2016 affect?

While upgrading to Windows Server 2016 is not a requirement per se, businesses and various Information technology fields using recent versions of Windows Server will meet several instant benefits to upgrading, including enhanced security, virtualization/containerization, and management of identity and storage. And yet, ZDNet contributing writer Ken Hess noted that, co-ordinate to a Nov 2015 Spiceworks survey, "…almost half of Information technology pros state that they have no plans to adopt it or that they don't know if they will adopt it or not."

Come across: Virtualization Policy (Tech Pro Inquiry)

Consolidation of servers through virtualization will increase ROI on newly purchased hardware, while lowering the overall resources used by decommissioning previous physical servers. Windows Containers will allow for multiple applications to be hosted from the server with finite resources, substantially allowing corporations to exercise more than with less. If your enterprise is hosting its own private cloud, or transitioning to a public or a hybrid cloud setup, the additional security included with Active Directory Federated Services along with Nano Server technologies will keep unauthorized access to a minimum while permitting authorized users to access necessary applications, data, and intranet sites.

Windows Server, version 1709

Windows Server, version 1709 primarily affects systems and server administrators, peculiarly those tasked with managing virtualized infrastructures. The move to add Linux support and management of Linux servers, including container support volition likewise impact Linux admins that run mixed networks in a hybrid format for both Linux and Windows.

To a lesser degree, users will exist afflicted given the motion to virtualization and containerization of web-based software applications, legacy applications, and how the engineering allows for faster deployment and meliorate performance–even on existing hardware.

Additional resource:

  • Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview – Hyper-V (Microsoft)
  • Windows Containers Documentation (Microsoft)
  • What's new in Active Directory Domain Services (Microsoft)

When was Windows Server 2016 released?

Public beta testing via Technical Preview i (TP1) began on October 1, 2014. As subsequent improvements were made, boosted TPs were released for public download; TP4 was made available on Nov 19, 2015.

RTM was released on September 26, 2016, ending development of its software cycle and making the final code or "aureate principal" available for download. General availability to all Microsoft software partners rolled out on October 12, 2016 with build number 10.0.14393; and included with the finished code, Microsoft added the following features to the 1607 build:

  • UI: Improvements were made to enhance the user experience (GUI). OS performance changes were made too.
  • Windows How-do-you-do: The popular Windows 10 security feature that manages access to Windows systems through the use of multi-factor authentication, including biometrics, to further secure devices and data.
  • Evaluation to Licensing Path: Microsoft included a 180-solar day evaluation for enterprises to exam Windows Server 2016 prior to upgrading production networks to the latest Os. The conversion process is built right in and is as simple as inbound a new production key to register the correct license.

Additional fixes were made available to correct minor issues reported during the Technical Preview period, including Start Menu and Login screen adjustments to correct corruptions. Also, Windows Store apps have been removed, by default, resulting in a cleaner installation.

Volume licensing information is available through Microsoft's Volume Licensing Service Center. General pricing information (PDF) is detailed in the Windows Server 2016 Licensing Datasheet, except Hyper-5 Server 2016, which is offered as a gratis download that does not require a product key–only activation with Microsoft.

Windows Server, version 1709

Microsoft released Windows Server, version 1709 on October 17, 2017, and has since fabricated it available as downloadable images for Software Assurance customers from the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) portal, too every bit from the Azure Market for Azure customers.

Note: Version 1709 is an update to the Windows Server family–non an update installable over an existing Windows Server 2016 installation; it is a full-version installation that will require a make clean install in order to reap the benefits of the new server OS.

Additional resources:

  • Microsoft'south Windows Server 1709:What'due south missing (ZDNet)
  • FAQ on Windows Server, version 1709and Semi-Annual Aqueduct (Windows Server Blog)
  • Upgrade and conversion options for Windows Server 2016 (Microsoft)
  • Windows Server 2016 Evaluation (TechNet Evaluation Centre)
  • Microsoft delivers final public test builds of Windows Server 2016, System Eye 2016 (ZDNet)
  • Windows Server 2016 TP5: Feature-consummate and on track for RTM (Tech Pro Inquiry)
  • Windows Server 2016 TP4: Hyper-V Containers, nested virtualisation and more (Tech Pro Enquiry)
  • Windows Server 2016 Licensing (Microsoft)

How tin can I become Windows Server 2016?

Users can obtain Windows Server 2016 straight from Microsoft, authorized resellers, and Microsoft partners. According to ZDNet contributing writer Mary Jo Foley, the shift to per-core pricing from per-processor in an effort to "align the licensing of its public and private cloud offerings" is noticeable (Figure C).

Effigy C

Additional resources:

  • Windows Server, version 1709 available for download (Windows Server Blog)
  • Installation Options for Windows Server 2016 (Microsoft)
  • System Requirements and Installation (Microsoft)
  • Window Server 2016 Evaluations (Microsoft)
  • Client Feel Guides (Microsoft)