It’s been a while since Microsoft released Windows Server 2019, and development on the next major release is continuing. It’s still some way away, but if you’re opted into the six-monthly release schedule as part of a Software Assurance subscription it gets new features much more quickly. At Ignite 2019 Microsoft started to reveal what would come in the next Windows Server release, across several different conference sessions. The result is a picture of an OS that’s evolving to work with newer technologies, taking advantage of the cloud and focusing on Microsoft’s hybrid cloud vision, bridging the data center and Azure.
New features in Windows Admin Center
One of the key elements of the modern Windows Server environment is Windows Admin Center (WAC). Designed to support administrators working from desktop PCs, it’s a browser-based management environment that’s intended to replace Windows’ existing Remote Server Administration Tools and the built-in Server Manager, bringing Microsoft and third-party admin tools into one pane of glass that can target servers and desktops, both physical and virtual, on-premises and in the cloud.
One key development demonstrated at the Ignite event is a new performance monitoring tool that builds on the familiar Windows Server monitoring experience. You can now filter the counter list, to quickly build custom performance views, with access to real-time information from your servers. You can quickly put together groups of counters with contextual searching to help find relevant counters for the problem you’re trying to solve, along with analysis tools to help you explore your data and find the information you need. Once you’ve built an analysis workspace you can save it for future use and share it with colleagues and across servers, building a library of performance monitoring views.
Closely related is support for Azure’s Arc server management layer, which is intended to manage and deploy policies across your servers using Azure Resource Manager templates rather than Group Policies, securely running PowerShell on your servers to ensure policies are correctly applied.
Improving Hyper-V
Hyper-V is key to much of what Microsoft is doing today, on the desktop, on your servers, and in the cloud. Using Hyper-V on Azure helps prove on-premises scenarios, like live migration, using it to support hot-patching of servers. Moving running workloads between servers is now supported in Windows Admin Center, with the aim of WAC becoming a complete replacement of the existing Hyper-V Manager. It already has features that aren’t in Hyper-V Manager, for example the ability to group VMs and manage them together.
Microsoft is continuing to bring Azure features to on-premises Hyper-V. In a presentation at Ignite, Microsoft teased significant increases in the size of supported VMs, matching Azure’s 12TB of memory. That’s not surprising, as Microsoft has already announced support for 16PB of physical memory in the next major release of Windows Server.
SEE: Windows 10: A cheat sheet (TechRepublic)
Security remains important, and with CPU hyperthreading bugs affecting most of the modern generation of server CPUs, it’s important to be able to manage secure workloads so that they can be kept apart from untrusted workloads. Hyper-V is adding CPU groups to fix specific workloads to specific CPUs, allowing you to corral trusted workloads away from the rest of the applications and VMs you’re running. There are going to be improvements to how Microsoft is delivering its secure shielded VMs, although no details on implementation are available yet.
Using GPU-P in Hyper-V
GPU-based compute is increasingly important, and Microsoft has been adding support for it in Azure. The partitioning tools give multiple VMs access to a physical GPU, sharing it between the VMs. Each VM has full access to its GPU partition, giving it a significant performance boost without affecting the other VMs. If a VM doesn’t need GPU access, the partitions can be adjusted, ensuring that the GPU gets the best possible utilisation.
Moving applications to Windows Containers
Windows Containers are an important part of the future of Windows Server, acting as a new deployment target for your applications. Microsoft has spent the last couple of years rethinking the role of what was Windows Server Nano, using it as the basis for a stripped-down application host that provides the basis for Windows Container applications. It boots quickly, and provides the minimum services needed for an application. More complicated applications can take advantage of Windows Server Core, which has been substantially slimmed down, making it easier to customise for specific tasks.
Running Windows Server applications in containers makes them easier to operate in a hybrid mode, on Azure Stack hardware and in the cloud. With Windows Server a key element in Microsoft’s edge compute strategy, it’s an important role for Windows Server as both host and container OS. Hyper-V is a key part of the Windows container strategy, offering a thin, secure hypervisor to add further isolation between host OS and containerised applications.
SEE: 10 tricks and tweaks for customizing Windows 10 (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
Containerising workloads makes a lot of sense, especially where you have significant seasonal variability. The ability to burst compute capability across your data center and into the cloud is important, and it needs Windows Server Containers to support common applications without significant reworking.
Building out networking with SDNs
Building out virtual infrastructure on Windows Server has often required a significant number of VMs dedicated to virtual network appliances. Plans for future Windows Server releases aim to reduce the overhead needed to build and run a software-defined network (SDN), including making BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) optional. There’s a plan to make it easier to integrate Windows SDN tooling with Kubernetes, making it easier to build and run your own distributed systems, using Kubernetes tooling to manage the networking. Other networking features improve diagnostics, with the ability to model packets in a network. Microsoft plans to use WAC to bring SDNs and traditional networking closer together.
Using Azure Stack HCI Stretch for disaster recovery
With Azure Stack HCI (Hyper-Converged Infrastructure), Microsoft is aiming to address modern data center and edge compute scenarios, mixing familiar Windows Server 2019 features with elements of the Azure control plane. Azure Stack HCI can quickly build clustered servers, using off-the-shelf hardware from familiar vendors.
In the next long-term support release of Windows Server, Azure Stack HCI can be run in a ‘stretched’ mode across multiple sites for disaster recovery. Unlike the older failover cluster technologies, this approach is intended to be easy to setup and hard to misconfigure, using Windows Server’s Storage Replica features to link the sites. Nodes are automatically detected using Active Directory and IP addressing features in the OS, creating fault domains for the main site. The sites are configured with separate storage pools, using Storage Spaces Direct, with virtual disks at each site.
Microsoft is upgrading the Windows Server Health Service so it’s now able to work across distributed systems. If a server cluster fails, work will automatically transfer across to the second site. It’s a similar approach to that used when using Azure as a disaster recovery service, but keeps servers and data in your own data centers. The same underlying Storage Spaces technologies will be able to help on-premises data centers make better use of the available storage, as well as integrating with Azure storage services.
Getting ready for future hardware with PCIe 4.0
Hardware evolves and server operating systems need to evolve with it. PCIe 4.0 is the latest release of the PCIe standard, and it adds support for much faster data transfers, more than doubling speeds. It’s a technology that should have a significant effect on data center performance, providing driver support for faster networking and higher speed storage.
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FAQs
What is Windows Server answer? ›
What is Windows Server? A series of enterprise-class server operating systems built for end-users to share resources or services with numerous users are referred to as Windows servers. This gives you a lot of control over your data, applications, and business networks.
How much RAM is needed for Windows Server? ›Windows Server 2022 hardware requirements and limitations
Windows Server 2022 Standard and Datacenter editions share the same hardware requirements. Both require a 1.4 GHz, 64-bit CPU and 512 MB of RAM; for the Desktop Experience GUI-based version, the system needs 2 GB of RAM.
- On the Windows desktop, click the Start button and type Windows PowerShell.
- Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator.
- Get the name of the virtual switch that you want the virtual machine to use by using the Get-VMSwitch cmdlet:
Windows Server is the platform for building an infrastructure of connected applications, networks, and web services, from the workgroup to the data center. It bridges on-premises environments with Azure, adding additional layers of security while helping you modernize your applications and infrastructure.
What is Windows short answers? ›Windows is an operating system designed by Microsoft. The operating system is what allows you to use a computer. Windows comes preloaded on most new personal computers (PCs), which helps to make it the most popular operating system in the world.
What is the latest Windows Server version? ›Windows Server 2022 or Windows Server 2022 Edition is the tenth and latest major long term servicing channel (LTSC) release of the Windows Server operating system by Microsoft, as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was announced at Microsoft's Ignite event from March 2, 2021 to March 4, 2021.
Is 64GB RAM enough for server? ›64GB of RAM will allow better and faster access for users by ensuring that the operating system and applications run smoothly even under heavy loads. Memory is essential for applications such as databases, webservers and business intelligence.
How much memory is good for a server? ›In terms of size, for high-end workstations 16GB minimum is probably best, whereas for more budget friendly home set ups, 8GB should about do. Looking at servers, 16GB and 32GB are common capacities of server memory, although they can support up to 6TB for 2933 MT/s DDR4.
Is 4GB RAM enough for Windows Server? ›Is 4GB of RAM enough? 4GB of RAM is the bare minimum memory needed to run a base computer model. That said, the bare minimum may not provide a productive use of your time as your system will likely slow down every time you run two or more programs like internet browsing, email and some word processing simultaneously.
Can you use a VM as a server? ›You can have many virtual servers running from one physical machine. They're completely separated from each other and from the physical machine. There are many benefits of using virtual servers instead of physical hardware, and setting up a virtual server should be something every enterprise considers as it grows.
How is a virtual server set up? ›
- Start the Network Control Panel Applet (Start - Settings - Control Panel - Network)
- Select the Protocols tab.
- Select TCP/IP and click Properties.
- On the "IP Address" tab click the Advanced button.
- In the IP Address section click Add.
How do virtual servers work? A virtual server functions just like a physical server, but the virtualization software allows its resources to be abstracted from the physical system. Each virtual server is able to run its own operating system, applications, and workloads without impacting other host system resources.
What is the main difference between Windows and Windows Server? ›With a desktop version of Windows, network connections are limited to 10-20. A Windows server is not locked down to just 20 network connections; therefore, a Windows server can support well beyond 20 network connections based on your hardware's capability.
Who needs Windows Server? ›Every user or device that accesses or uses the server software requires the purchase of a Windows Server CAL. Ideal for companies with employees who need to have roaming access to the corporate network using multiple devices, as well as from unknown devices.
What is the difference between server and Windows? ›As the operating system is designed for servers, Windows Server features server-specific tools and software that you cannot find on Windows 10. Software such as the aforementioned Windows PowerShell and Windows Command Prompt are pre-installed into the operating system to enable you to manage your operations remotely.
What are the two types of Windows? ›- Picture Windows.
- Casement Windows.
- Bay Windows.
- Single-Hung Windows.
- Double-Hung Windows.
- Awning Windows.
- Horizontal Sliding Windows.
Major features include- start menu, task manager, taskbar, Cortana, file explorer, MS Paint, Browser, control panel etc. The advantages of the windows Operating system are- the majority of the users use windows, it has programming and gaming support, clean and lucid GUI and Microsoft office support.
What is the most popular Windows Server version? ›The Standard edition of Windows Server 2016 is for mid to large size companies that need advanced features and virtualize to a lesser extent. This is really one of the most popular editions for a range of businesses. Standard allows for two virtual machines and requires CALs.
How many Windows Server are there? ›Windows Server 2008 R2 (October 2009) Windows Server 2012 (September 2012) Windows Server 2012 R2 (October 2013) Windows Server 2016 (October 2016)
Is Windows Server still a thing? ›Your trusted operating system for 30 years
Windows Server is the platform for building an infrastructure of connected applications, networks, and web services. As a Windows Server administrator, you've helped achieve your business' goals keeping the infrastructure secure, available, and flexible.
How much RAM is too much for a server? ›
If someone has a database in the 100 GB range, it's recommended to have anywhere from 16-64 RAM. Of course, there is no such thing as “too much RAM”, but for companies working on a budget, shelling out for maximum RAM may not be an option.
Is 16 GB RAM overkill? ›16GB of RAM is considered the 'sweet spot. ' It allows for solid game playing, high-intensity work with computer programs, and gives you a fair amount of memory.
Can a server have too much RAM? ›The more memory your server has, the more load it can handle, which usually translates to better overall speed and website performance. However, adding too much RAM is not advisable as the system will not have the capacity to use its full potential.
How do I know if my server needs more memory? ›Sometimes, you gotta look at what queries that are currently running are waiting on. For that, go grab sp_WhoIsActive. If you see queries constantly waiting on stuff like this, it might be a sign you need more memory, because you have to keep going out to disk to get what queries need to use.
Does RAM make server faster? ›The more RAM a server has, the less the CPU must read data from the hard disk drive. This means your server may run more quickly since server RAM generally works much faster than a hard disk drive.
Does RAM speed matter for server? ›RAM that's slower than the CPU will slow the server down. But once you get to the CPU speed, using even faster RAM gets you nothing.
Is 128GB RAM enough for server? ›Being realistic the OS will need about 4-8GB then you need RAM for those customers that need several GB's just for page rendering. 64GB - 128GB RAM is now considered the norm for shared services.
Is 32GB RAM good for server? ›Speed up Server Applications
The more room of 32GB memory space enables the server to run heavy and multiple applications without any setbacks and frustrating delays.
What are good accurate server specs? A good starting point when choosing reliable server specifications is a quad-core (8 threads) Intel Xeon processor, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, 8TB storage space, and a 1Gbps internet connection.
Can Windows Server run on VM? ›You can run multiple VMs at the same time, provided you have enough resources like disk space, RAM, and CPU capacity. Hyper-V supports Windows, Windows Server, and Linux guest operating systems.
Why VM is better than physical server? ›
As mentioned above, multiple virtual servers can run on one single physical server, and they also share all physical hardware. This means virtual servers are more space-efficient. By contrast, physical servers require much more space since they have to house physical hardware such as CPU, memory, and storage.
Is A VM a host or server? ›A virtual machine (VM), typically has two components : the host and the guest. The host is the virtual machine host server; the underlying hardware that provides computing resources, such as processing power, memory, disk and network I/O, and so on.
What are the three types of virtual servers? ›There are three main types of server virtualization: full-virtualization, para-virtualization, and OS-level virtualization.
How much does it cost to run a virtual server? ›A storage server can cost between $5,000 to $10,000. However, in certain cases, such as when you need to store 3D files and video files, the cost can go as high as $20,000. That's because these files consume a lot of storage space.
What is an example of a virtual server? ›VPS Server Hosting is one example of server virtualization. Server virtualization mitigates server inefficiencies by using software to divide a single physical server into multiple fully isolated virtual servers.
Does a virtual server have an IP address? ›A virtual server is a server that uses a unique combination of IP address, port number and host name to identify it. You might have several virtual servers, all of which use the same IP address and port number but are distinguished by their unique host names.
What is the difference between a server and a virtual server? ›A virtual server is an abstraction of a physical server and emulates those server functions. Multiple virtual servers can be deployed on a single physical server, and that's one of the key advantages of the technology, as we'll soon see. If a physical server can only run one type and one instance of the O/S.
Are virtual servers difficult to manage? ›Easy management: Since virtual servers abstract resources from the parent host, they can be easily deployed and run immediately. Even hardware upgrades and repairs are much easier since workloads from VMs can be easily migrated to a backup site. This also minimizes downtime.
What is Windows Server in simple words? ›Windows Server is a group of operating systems designed by Microsoft that supports enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications. Previous versions of Windows Server have focused on stability, security, networking, and various improvements to the file system.
Why do people use Windows Server? ›Windows Server is the core of most of our small business clients networks, it holds programs and data, allows secure sharing of data, and provides core network services like User Authentication, DNS, DHCP, and File shares.
Why would I need Windows Server? ›
Windows Server is a powerful and flexible operating system widely used by businesses to host applications, provide secure access to data, and manage network infrastructure.
Can you run Windows Server on any computer? ›Windows Server is just an Operating System. It can run on a normal desktop PC. In fact, it can run in a Hyper-V simulated environment that runs on your pc too.
Who manages Windows Server? ›Server Manager is a management console in Windows Server that helps IT professionals provision and manage both local and remote Windows-based servers from their desktops, without requiring either physical access to servers, or the need to enable Remote Desktop protocol (rdP) connections to each server.
Who is connected to Windows Server? ›Click Remote Client Status to navigate to the remote client activity and status user interface in the Remote Access Management Console. You will see the list of users who are connected to the Remote Access server and detailed statistics about them.
What is the basics of Windows Server? ›Windows Server is the platform for building an infrastructure of connected applications, networks, and web services, from the workgroup to the data center. It bridges on-premises environments with Azure, adding additional layers of security while helping you modernize your applications and infrastructure.
What is better than Windows Server? ›If you are searching for a more cost-efficient solution, Linux is undoubtedly the better option as there is no additional fee for running the operating system.
What is Windows Server also known as? ›Microsoft Servers (previously called Windows Server System) is a discontinued brand that encompasses Microsoft software products for server computers. This includes the Windows Server editions of the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as products targeted at the wider business market.
What is Windows Server and how is it different from Windows? ›As the operating system is designed for servers, Windows Server features server-specific tools and software that you cannot find on Windows 10. Software such as the aforementioned Windows PowerShell and Windows Command Prompt are pre-installed into the operating system to enable you to manage your operations remotely.
What is Windows Server and benefits? ›Windows Server is one of the premier solutions for computing and networking, mainly due to its robust security features. It includes a powerful Windows Defender antivirus and firewall that offers layers of defense against malicious activity and cyber-attacks.
What is Windows client or Windows Server? ›Client and server OS are two different types of operating systems. The client OS runs on end-user devices like PCs and other portable devices. In contrast, server OS runs on a specific device known as a server. Therefore, the client and server both operating systems differ.
Is Windows Server a computer? ›
Essentially, Windows Server is a line of operating systems that Microsoft specifically creates for use on a server. Servers are extremely powerful machines that are designed to run constantly and provide resources for other computers. This means in almost all cases, Windows Server is only used in business settings.
How do I run a Windows Server? ›From the Windows Start menu, click Run, type services. msc , and click OK. In the Services window, select the server instance that you want to start, and click Start.
What are the main services of Windows Server? ›| Role | Name | Installed by default? |
|---|---|---|
| DHCP Server | DHCP | N |
| DNS Server | DNS | N |
| File and Storage Services | FileAndStorage-Services | Y |
| Host Guardian Service | HostGuardianServiceRole | N |
Windows Server Services include File Services (accessing or managing files or disk storage), Printing Services (printing to a printer managed by the Software Product), Remote Access Service (accessing the Server from a remote location through a communications link, including a virtual private network), and Terminal ...
Which Windows Server is better? ›Windows Server 2019 is the latest and greatest version of Windows Server.
Why have Windows Server at home? ›Instead of keeping your entire household's files scattered across different devices, setting up a home server lets you save that data in one centralized location. Since the server is connected to your home network, anyone in your family can access and play the media in real time from their own devices.
Can I install Windows Server on my PC? ›You can either install Windows Server 2022 on a physical host or virtual machine using an ISO image. Follow one of the relevant guides by Microsoft to create your bootable media: Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive. Create Windows Server bootable USB (Rufus)
Does a server need an operating system? ›Non-dedicated server and dedicated server
Both will need a Server operating system, but we can even use the non-dedicated one ourselves for our daily work and to offer services to our co-workers.
All physical cores of the server must be licensed. Additional licenses are required if you install the OS on systems with more than 16 cores. Additional core licenses can be purchased in packs of 2, 4, and 16 cores.