Microsoft Ignite 2016: Microsoft to Roll Out Server 2016 Starting in October

#Microsoft will make its #WindowsServer2016 available for ordering this weekend and will start shipping it later this year, the company announced Monday during the opening keynote of its Ignite conference in Atlanta. The software giant also unveiled a host of new features and services aimed squarely at business users. Microsoft said that its System Center 2016 will also be generally available in October, providing new features for data center managers. Further, Microsoft announced that to date, its Windows 10 platform is now running on 400 million active devices, up from 300 million just five months ago. Windows Server Offers New Features Microsoft said in a statement that Windows Server 2016 will give IT professionals “new layers of security and Azure-inspired innovation for infrastructure and cloud applications.” As TechCrunch reports, there are several new features in Windows Server 2016, “including improved security and networking tools, as well as better support for clustering. There are two marquee features in this release though: the addition of the Nano Server option, a stripped-down version of the OS for use in the cloud, as well as built-in support for containers.” Further, MSPoweruser notes that Windows Server 2016 “introduces new layers of security to harden the platform to address emerging threats, control privileged access and protect virtual machines.” Windows Server 2016 also supports “simplified virtualization upgrades, new installment options, and increased resilience, helping you ensure the stability of the infrastructure without limiting agility.” MSPoweruser also notes that it offers “expanded capabilities in software-defined storage with an emphasis on resilience, reduced cost, and increased control.” And it also supports “a new networking stack that brings the core set of networking capabilities and software-defined networking architecture directly from Azure to your data center.” Microsoft and Docker Inc. had already worked together and said Docker would manage containers for Windows Server 2016. The two companies are extending their partnership to make the commercially supported Docker Engine available to Windows Server 2016 customers at no additional cost. As part of their deal, the two firms will jointly promote Docker Datacenter, “further enabling IT professionals to better secure the Windows software supply chain and manage containerized Windows workloads, whether on-premises, in the cloud or in hybrid environments.”

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