Essential Guide
The essential guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2016
Microsoft's next major server operating system release has many new features and numerous enhancements in virtualization, cloud, storage and security.
Introduction
Now that mainstream support for Windows Server 2008 has ended and Windows Server 2012 is getting up in years, more enterprises may want to consider jumping to Windows Server 2016, which is scheduled to be released in the third quarter of 2016.
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 includes several new features, including Nano Server -- a lightweight installation option that is 93% smaller than traditional Windows Server deployments -- and native container support. Windows Server 2016 also includes new software-defined storage options and improvements to Hyper-V.
Whether you're on the fence about upgrading or have already decided to deploy the new server operating system when it is officially released, this guide will highlight the most anticipated Windows Server 2016 features.
1What to know before you start-
How to prepare for a Windows Server 2016 upgrade
While everything may run fine on the existing server platform, there may be benefits in Windows Server 2016 that make an upgrade more appealing. Migrating server operating systems isn't a light undertaking. Does your IT staff have the expertise -- or the time -- to handle this type of upgrade or should it be outsourced to consultants?
Microsoft seeks secure cloud workloads in Windows Server 2016
One of Microsoft's key Windows Server 2016 features is Nano Server, aimed at making containers and Hyper-V workloads faster to deploy and less vulnerable to intruders. Continue Reading
How well do you know Windows Server 2016 licensing?
Find out just how much you know about the impending changes to Microsoft's Windows Server 2016 licensing model with this short quiz. Continue Reading
Time sync improvements coming to Windows Server
Organizations with a steady flow of term-limited employees may find one of the new Active Directory features on group membership expirations helpful. Continue Reading
A Windows Server 2016 upgrade requires careful consideration
An upgrade to Windows Server 2016 will generate interest as the release date draws near, but there are many decisions to weigh before making the leap. Continue Reading
Why enterprises should consider Windows Server 2016
One important factor to consider before upgrading to Windows Server 2016 is how it will benefit not only the enterprise, but the end users. You'll also want to look at the technical requirements and determine whether your existing servers will support the new features. Continue Reading
How to ensure a pain-free Windows Server 2016 upgrade
To mitigate problems during the upgrade process, ferret out any incompatibilities and errors in a test environment before switching the server platform to production. Continue Reading
Decide who should perform a Windows Server 2016 upgrade
After testing the technical preview, the next step is to decide who will execute the upgrade. Small to medium-sized businesses may be able to rely on in-house staff, but large businesses should consider using consultants for this task. Continue Reading
Windows Server 2016 backup challenges
Some of the new features in Windows Server 2016, such as Nano Server and containers, will pose backup challenges. Vendors may not offer support for these features when Windows Server 2016 is released, which leaves early adopters needing to find a workaround until support is added. Continue Reading
2Windows Server 2016 storage-
Storage Spaces Direct adds functionality
Storage Spaces Direct, a new storage feature in Windows Server 2016, uses software to let administrators build highly available storages systems with local storage.
Windows Server 2016 features include disaster recovery
The new Storage Replica is one of several key Windows Server disaster recovery elements. Storage Spaces Direct also supports DR. Continue Reading
How Windows containers work and apply to DR
Part of Windows Server 2016, the Windows container may be a good means for your organization's disaster recovery. But be cautious about moving data volumes. Continue Reading
Synchronous replication a reality with Windows Server 2016
With Storage Replica, administrators have a new tool in their arsenal to avoid disaster and to recover data quickly. Continue Reading
Get started with Storage Spaces Direct
Storage Spaces Direct allows failover clusters to be built around commodity storage without the need for a cluster shared volume. Administrators should be aware that within Storage Spaces Direct, virtual disks are not treated as virtual hard disk files, but as a series of extents. Continue Reading
Notable features in Storage Spaces Direct
One of the key features of Storage Spaces Direct is its use of high capacity devices, such as SATA disks and solid-state drives, allowing administrators to use high availability tiered storage and software-defined storage across the enterprise. Continue Reading
Windows Server 2016 features focus on cloud
Microsoft is increasingly trying to drive customers to the cloud and microservices, but one feature that continues to stick out to administrators is Storage Spaces Direct, which improves the Storage Spaces technology introduced in Windows Server 2012. Continue Reading
Download: Buyer's Guide to Windows Server 2016 in 2018
You may be due for an upgrade! Check out our full Windows Server 2016 Buyer's Guide to see if a switch to the new server would be the best move for your organization.
3Windows 2016 virtualization-
The debut of containers and Hyper-V updates
Containers are the next progression of virtualization -- isolated environments where applications and services can run without affecting the system and vice versa. Windows Server 2016 will also feature significant security developments to Hyper-V.
Container management tools continue to evolve
When Windows Server 2016 is released, admins will have to learn what options exist for managing Docker containers and what challenges the task will present. Continue Reading
How has Hyper-V security improved in Windows Server 2016?
Hyper-V Server 2016 is scheduled to be released in the third quarter of 2016. See how well you know its anticipated security features. Continue Reading
Secure Hyper-V VMs with Host Guardian
The Host Guardian server role combines three features to provide VM privacy at the hypervisor level, including virtual hard disk encryption with BitLocker. Continue Reading
Hyper-V 2016 at a glance
Hyper-V 2016 includes a few new and noteworthy features, such as shielded VMs and changes to production checkpoints. Storage resiliency also protects VMs in case of a loss of storage connectivity. Continue Reading
How to protect Hyper-V containers
Administrators who want to protect Hyper-V containers can restrict containers to trusted workloads and apply patches regularly to fix vulnerabilities. Continue Reading
Nested virtualization supports Windows containers
Nested virtualization allows a VM to host another VM, and a major benefit of Hyper-V nested virtualization is container support. Another perk? Organizations can build a test environment that more closely simulates the production deployment. Continue Reading
What's the difference between Hyper-V and Windows Server containers?
While Hyper-V and Windows Server containers are both forms of virtualization, there are some differences between the two that administrators should know. Continue Reading
What are Windows containers?
Windows Server 2016 will support containers by using the Docker engine for deployment and management. Continue Reading
How to deploy Windows containers using PowerShell or Docker commands
Administrators can deploy Windows containers in Azure using Docker commands or a PowerShell module. While admins who have worked with Docker commands may be tempted to start there, the PowerShell commands may be more trustworthy. Continue Reading
New Hyper-V features in Windows Server 2016
Hyper-V in Windows Server 2016 includes new features, such as nested virtualization and the ability to hot add and remove virtual network cards. Continue Reading
How are Hyper-V and Windows Server licensed?
Microsoft has shifted its licensing for Windows Server 2016 from a per-processor to per-core model for the Datacenter and Standard editions, while Hyper-V Server is available to download for free which, however, comes at the cost of limitations. Continue Reading
How containers affect application virtualization and management
Containers divide complex applications into constituent components and can then be linked together to form a complete application. This allows each component to be patched without affecting other components in other containers. Continue Reading
4Microsoft goes small-
Nano Server in Windows Server 2016
Nano Server is a lightweight installation that is 93% smaller than a traditional Windows Server deployment. Despite its small size, Nano Server offers big benefits to enterprises. This section will break down the benefits of Nano Server, how to deploy it and what it means for Windows Server.
Microsoft Nano Server: A lighter OS for heavy workloads
Microsoft offers a refactored Windows Server 2016 option called Nano Server that fills the need for speed in today's data centers. Here's how it works. Continue Reading
How does Windows Nano Server differ from Windows Server Core?
After Windows Server Core failed to catch on, Microsoft may convince administrators with its next attempt for a more VM- and cloud-friendly Windows Server deployment. Continue Reading
Microsoft's headless server readies for prime time
Windows Nano Server is a stripped-down version of Windows Server designed for hosting virtual workloads and cloud-native applications. Continue Reading
Why should enterprises consider a Nano Server deployment?
Microsoft Nano Server isn't intended to replace a traditional Windows Server deployment, but its small footprint can improve performance and security. Continue Reading
Why Nano Server matters for businesses
One of the benefits of Nano Server's small size is a reduced attack surface. Microsoft estimates that critical security bulletins for Nano Server will decrease by 92%. Continue Reading
How to deploy Nano Server
Nano Server debuted in the second Windows Server technical preview, but deployment wasn't easy. This tip breaks down how to deploy Nano Server from a WIM file. Continue Reading
What does Nano Server mean for Windows Server?
Microsoft expects Nano Server will help organizations cut down on reboots with the added benefit of being highly portable so it can be executed in multiple scenarios. Continue Reading
How Nano Server is changing containers
Nano Server is ideal for cloud-based environments because it can be run on bare metal as a container, something VMware cannot do with ESXi. Continue Reading
Changes to VM management with Nano Server
While Nano Server won't replace every VM in an organization, it can help conserve hardware resources. It also has the potential to reduce the cost of server virtualization by decreasing VM hardware use. Continue Reading
How Nano Server can improve security and cost savings
Nano Server's small attack surface means hackers have less code to try and exploit. Its reduced footprint also means it can improve performance because there are fewer running resources. Continue Reading
Admins anticipate containers, Nano Server in Windows Server 2016
Nano Server and containers are some of the most highly anticipated features of Windows Server 2016. Storage Replica is also a topic of interest, especially for organizations that want to roll their own hyper-converged clusters. Continue Reading
5Manage Windows Server 2016-
Keep the server OS running smoothly
This section of the guide will walk you through how to manage Windows Server 2016 using features such as rolling cluster upgrades and PowerShell Direct.
New PowerShell security features arriving in Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2016 will ship with new PowerShell security features, including cmdlets that allow the use of PKI encryption for public and private key certificates. Continue Reading
Improving Windows Server security requires other means
Newer Windows Server versions are inherently more secure but that's only part of what's needed to improve security in an organization. Continue Reading
PowerShell DSC fundamentals for Windows admins
PowerShell Desired State Configuration is a configuration management feature in Windows PowerShell. Learn the fundamentals and where it can help. Continue Reading
Rolling cluster upgrades reduce downtime
Rolling cluster upgrades let administrators upgrade Windows Server clusters without downtime by allowing them to upgrade cluster nodes individually until they are all running the new operating system. Continue Reading
Essential security improvements in Windows Server 2016
There are several security updates in Windows Server 2016, including the Just Enough Administration PowerShell toolkit and Windows Defender. Continue Reading
Changes to Group Policy in Windows Server 2016
The structure of Group Policy is largely unchanged in Windows Server 2016, but the configuration process is different from previous versions, as the preferred deployment method does not include a GUI. Continue Reading
Why Microsoft hasn't gotten rid of the GUI
While features such as a Nano Server don't include a GUI, Microsoft has yet to completely eliminate the interface. Some applications still require it, which is one reason it is still around. Continue Reading
How administrators can prepare for Docker containers
Windows administrators will have to adjust to using containers and will also have to learn how to manage them. Containers will also present challenges in terms of backups and troubleshooting. Continue Reading
How to use PowerShell Direct
PowerShell Direct is enabled by default in Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V hosts, but there are a few prerequisites administrators need to be aware of before they can use it. Continue Reading
6Stay up to date-
Windows Server 2016 news
This section will look at different Windows Server 2016 news stories.
Windows Server 2016 to arrive in mid-October
Microsoft added several cloud-friendly security enhancements to Hyper-V in Windows Server 2016, but for some the road to the cloud has too many obstacles. Continue Reading
Docker for Windows Server 2016 GA details revealed
Microsoft Docker container products got a boost from a deepened partnership between the two companies, which may pay enterprise dividends. Continue Reading
IT pros take the reins on Windows container management
While Windows shops are eager to containerize, they're foregoing Azure containers and waiting until Windows Server 2016 becomes generally available to jump on the Docker bandwagon. Continue Reading
How Azure Stack integrates the cloud and data center
At Ignite in 2015, Microsoft revealed Azure Stack, which is both an infrastructure as a service and platform as a service offering. Azure Stack allows administrators to deliver more consistent application deployments when they are provisioned to the Azure public cloud or data center based Azure Stack. Continue Reading
Second Windows Server 2016 technical preview excludes containers
Although there was much hullaballoo around containers leading up to Microsoft Ignite, the highly anticipated feature was noticeably absent from the second technical preview of Windows Server 2016. However, containers finally made an appearance in the third technical preview. Continue Reading
Docker containers may start hitting primary storage
Industry experts see Docker containers following a similar trajectory as VMware in its early days, but it might not be long before Docker containers move out of testing environments and start becoming deployed in primary storage. Continue Reading
Changes to Windows Server 2016 licensing
With Microsoft changing its Windows Server licensing from a per-processor to per-core model, users will have to make sure they know their hardware to avoid having to pay a large bill. Continue Reading
Docker and Azure CTO discuss containers
Docker co-founder and CTO Solomon Hykes and Azure CTO Mark Russinovich discussed the challenges of moving Docker to Windows, and how the partnership between Microsoft and Docker is developing. Continue Reading
Windows Containers, Docker hit Microsoft shops
Microsoft introduced containers in the third technical preview of Windows Server 2016. It was also the first time Windows users were able to use Docker containers, which were previously only available with Linux. Continue Reading
7Essential definitions-
Must know Windows Server 2016 terms
Use this glossary section to get familiar with the terms you may encounter during your Windows Server 2016 upgrade.
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