Microsoft Makes HCI Play With Windows Server Software-Defined Program

#Microsoft is the 800-pound-gorilla of software. So perhaps it was just a matter of time before the company rolled out a #hyperconverged infrastructure ( #HCI ) play, combing #softwaredefined compute, storage, and networking. Microsoft quietly entered the HCI space last October when it made its data center OS, #WindowsServer2016, generally available. In an email to SDxCentral, Siddhartha Roy, principal group program manager for high availability and storage in Windows Server, said, “Hyperconverged infrastructure is a key part of our Windows Server 2016 software-defined strategy spanning software-defined compute, storage, network and assurance. Windows Server 2016 Datacenter edition has all the software components to enable hyperconverged infrastructure.”
https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/microsoft-makes-hci-play-windows-server-software-defined/2017/08/

Microsoft's second Windows Server 2016 test build runs Linux distributions

On Aug. 8, #Microsoft began rolling out its second Insider test build for #WindowsServer 2016.  Windows Server Insider Build #16257 for #WindowsServer2016 makes Windows Subsystem for #Linux (WSL), plus several Linux distributions -- #Ubuntu, #OpenSUSE, and #SLES -- available on Windows Server. (According to Microsoft's documentation, WSL was available on Windows Server 2016 as of Insider build 16215 and higher, but today's post is the first time Microsoft highlighted its availability on Server.) Testers can run node.js, #Ruby, #Python, #Perl, #Bash, and other related scripts and tools. Currently, however, WSL doesn't support persistent Linux services like daemons and jobs.

Today's Windows Server Insider build also includes the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) , which enable Windows 10 client users to remotely manage and administer Windows Server Insider builds. (Testers need Windows 10 Fall Creators Update build 16250 or higher to use RSAT.)

According to today's blog post about the new test build, Delivery Optimization is now the downloader used by Windows Update for Windows Server, the way that it is on Windows 10 client since the Anniversary Update. This optimization can provide peer-to-peer bandwidth optimization between Windows Server machines if users so desire.

A list of known issues for Build 16257 is included in Microsoft's blog post.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-second-windows-server-2016-test-build-runs-linux-distributions/

Windows Server 2016 Network Controller brings enticing SDN features

The #WindowsServer2016 #NetworkController is a central point of automation within the software-defined network. It consists of a few parts. A management plane enables the admin to define policies. The Network Controller sends those policies to a control plane, which distributes them to the necessary endpoints. Finally, a data plane, which is the operating system on the endpoints, transfers the policies from the management plane to the control plane. Think of the Windows Server 2016 Network Controller as the brain of the software-defined network. It pushes the desired network state to the network for enforcement. With this architecture, the Network Controller does not sit in the middle of the data path, which means VMs can communicate with one another unassisted. Policies also enforce on the end nodes without the need for a third party to ensure compliance. Admins use the System Center Manager from the command line with PowerShell or RESTful API calls to control the Windows Server 2016 Network Controller

http://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com/tip/Windows-Server-2016-Network-Controller-brings-enticing-SDN-features

10 Reasons you’ll love Veeam Availability Suite 9.5 for Windows Server 2016 and Hyper-V!

#Microsoft has a new #WindowsServer2016 and #Veeam has a new Veeam Availability Suite 9.5. The release dates of these two great products are too close to be a coincidence. In fact, I know that many of the features of Veeam Availability Suite 9.5 were built specifically for #Windows Server 2016. Many of our competitors in the Availability marketplace will claim that they have “support” for Windows Server 2016, which in most cases just means that they can back up an instance of Windows Server 2016 if the conditions are right. At Veeam, we don’t just support Windows Server 2016. Instead, we actually built in a deep integration with the innovative features and functions that make the latest Windows Server platform great! The following are my top 10 reasons why I think you will love Veeam Availability Suite 9.5 for Windows Server 2016 and #HyperV !

#10: Support for 2016 data center applications!
Veeam fully supports Windows Server 2016! Backup, replication, monitoring and recovery are ALL best-of-breed! Instant VM Recovery, Instant File-Level Recovery and the ability to reach into the most current database workloads — like new Microsoft Active Directory, SQL, Exchange, SharePoint and Oracle — and do granular recovery are ALL fully supported on Windows Server 2016. Veeam even supports new features like Nano Server, Storage Spaces Direct, Advanced Resilient File System (ReFs) and Resilient Change Tracking.
#9: Storage Spaces Direct
Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) is a state-of-the-art, software-defined storage system. It can be configured in Windows Server 2016 in either a converged or hyper-converged scenario on hardware of the customers’ choice — even something as inexpensive as JBOD. S2D can be used as the storage platform for Hyper-V and, you guessed it, it is fully supported by Veeam!
#8: Windows Server 2016, anywhere you want!
Veeam customers can deploy Windows Server 2016 in all kinds of environments, including Hyper-V, VMware, single site, multi-site, the private cloud, the hybrid cloud and the public cloud. Veeam Availability Suite 9.5 has the flexibility to protect Windows Server 2016 deployments wherever and however you choose to deploy.
#7: ReFS full allocation
I used to build VMs using an approach called thin provisioning because it was really fast. The problem with thin provisioning is that all the thin provisioned VMs on a single host were sharing the disk subsystem without any insight into who they were sharing it with, or how much had been used. Problems arose when disk space ran out and all the VMs on that host that had been thin provisioned crashed together. Ouch! With ReFS full allocation, you can get the speed of thin provisioning. In fact, new VM provisioning is almost instantaneous, along with the benefits of an isolated disk subsystem. Veeam supports it!
#6: ReFS snapshot commit
ReFS uses something called a Block Cloning API to track file system contents. Then, when a block is duplicated, instead of writing the block over again, the file system simply writes a pointer to the original block. This Block Cloning API provides some pretty cool opportunities when it comes to committing snapshots, and even more so when it comes to saving disk space on things like synthetic, full backups. Again, Veeam supports it!
#5. Resilient Change Tracking
Remember that cool feature in previous Veeam editions called Changed Block Tracking? Veeam installed it as a filter driver to the OS and it then monitored block level changes and recorded them in change files that allowed for rapid incremental backups when the time came. Microsoft has now included a similar functionality called Resilient Change Tracking in Windows Server 2016. This means no more filter driver installation from Veeam and, if you can believe it, this direct integration of Resilient Change Tracking makes it possible to get even faster backup times from Veeam Availability Suite 9.5.
#4: Direct Restore to Microsoft Azure
As the line between private and public clouds continues to blur, Veeam customers will want to recover VMs not just on-premises, but to public cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure. Veeam Availability Suite 9.5 includes the built-in capability to restore directly to Microsoft Azure. It’s a simple as linking your Veeam instance to your Microsoft Azure account, and then recovering to Azure. Veeam also offers a specific Veeam Cloud Connect solution that can extend archive and recovery solutions to Azure through managed service providers or directly through the enterprise.
#3: Nano Server
Windows Server 2016 introduces a new installation method that lets an instance of Windows Server 2016 be completely headless. No overhead. All configuration is done with PowerShell commands and you literally start with next to nothing and build only what you want. This is a game changer when it comes to conserving resources on VMs running Window Server 2016. You guessed it, you can back it up and recover it with Veeam Availability Suite 9.5.
#2: PowerShell Direct
Kudos to Microsoft on this one! In the past, if you wanted to administrate a VM using PowerShell, you needed to configure remote administration tools and permissions, even if the VM you were trying to administer was on the same Hyper-V host. It was sort of silly. PowerShell Direct can now be used to issue commands directly (thus the name) from the host to its local VMs. Veeam Availability Suite 9.5 supports PowerShell Direct and can be used to issue commands from the Veeam console to the local VMs, without additional remote admin tool configuration.
#1: Advanced ReFS integration!
We all want to put more stuff on less disk. Now, advanced ReFS makes this concept a true reality. You can use this amazing technology to save 30% to 60% on synthetic full backups. This is one of the coolest joint benefits available when using Veeam and Windows Server 2016. The results are exceptional. For more details, check out the following Advanced ReFS integration blog post by Rick Vanover. This technology’s effectiveness is really quite remarkable. And, of course, Veeam supports it.

And these are the top 10 reasons why I think you will love Veeam Availability Suite 9.5 for Windows Server 2016 and Hyper-V. It is important to note, however, that I left several cool technologies that Veeam supports off this list. If I were to make this a top-12 list, I would add containers and support for physical installs of Window Server 2016. Windows Server 2016 is one cool operating system and the new features are nothing short of genius. Veeam Availability Suite 9.5 is built for Windows Server 2016. If you aren’t already using Veeam Availability Suite 9.5, visit our website and download your FREE trial today.

https://www.veeam.com/blog/10-reasons-love-veeam-for-windows-server-2016-and-hyper-v.html

Microsoft’s Storage Spaces Reaches Maximum Density: RAID Inc. Certified JBOD for Windows Server 2016 Qualifies HGST Ultrastar 10TB Drive

#RAIDInc. has achieved #Microsoft certification status of the Ability EBOD Series of Enterprise JBOD storage enclosures for #WindowsServer2016, #StorageSpaces. RAID Inc. has additionally tested and qualified the complete line of HGST Ultrastar® He10 12Gb/s helium drives—including the high density 10TB model based upon third-generation HelioSeal® technology. ANDOVER, MA, (PRWEB) October 31, 2016 RAID Inc., a high performance computing solutions company, today announces it has achieved Microsoft certification status of the Ability EBOD Series of Enterprise JBOD storage enclosures for Windows® Server 2016, Storage Spaces. RAID Inc. has taken this designation a step further and qualified the complete line of HGST Ultrastar® He10 12Gb/s helium drives—including the high density 10TB model based upon third-generation HelioSeal® technology. With its holistic approach and true technical expertise, RAID Inc. welcomes the industry’s largest drive with qualification for the industry leading ultra-dense Ability EBOD 4U 84-Bay 12Gb/s SAS Enterprise JBOD. The massive 840TB capacity Enterprise-Class JBOD is a vital cog in the RAID Inc. range of Microsoft certified server, storage and networking solutions optimized for enterprise, cloud, and data center, as strategically aligned with Microsoft’s software-defined data center (SDDC) strategy. “Working closely with Microsoft, the team at RAID has accomplished notable successes deploying petabytes of Scale-Out File Server architectures featuring Storage Spaces,” says Trenton R. Baker, vice president marketing, RAID Inc. “By earning this Windows Server 2016 certification RAID Inc becomes the leader in storage at scale deployments for Storage Spaces. The Ability 84-bay Enterprise JBOD can meet practical budgetary restrictions and achieve a massive capacity architecture when teamed with the HGST Ultrastar He10 hard drives.”

http://www.pressreleaserocket.net/microsofts-storage-spaces-reaches-maximum-density-raid-inc-certified-jbod-for-windows-server-2016-qualifies-hgst-ultrastar-10tb-drive/

Microsoft Hops On Software-Defined Bandwagon

If there was any doubt, here's proof the software-defined networking ( #SDN ) movement has gone mainstream: #Microsoft is fully on board. The company is pitching its new #WindowsServer2016 as the perfect platform for running a Software-Defined Data Center ( #SDDC ), with its new "Software Defined Network (SDN) Stack" playing a key role. A new Networking Blog post -- "Network Virtualization in the Windows Server 2016 Software Defined Networking (SDN) Stack" -- goes into the underlying technical details.

https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2016/10/27/microsoft-sdn.aspx?m=1

Microsoft’s Windows Server 2016 is now generally available

#Microsoft ’s #WindowsServer2016 is now generally available and rolling out to customers. Presales for Server 2016 started on October 1 and Microsoft always said that customers would get access to the actual bits in mid-October. Now that it’s mid-October and the leaves are falling, the company is living up to this promise. In addition, #SystemCenter 2016, Microsoft’s data center management solution for deploying and managing servers and desktops, has now also hit general availability. Microsoft is using today’s launch to put the focus on its hybrid cloud efforts and how Windows Server 2016 enables enterprises to run their applications both in their own data centers and in public clouds (including, of course, its own #Azure cloud computing platform).
https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/12/microsofts-windows-server-2016-is-now-generally-available/

Inspur Strengthens Partnership with Microsoft to Deliver Enterprise-class Software-Defined Datacenter Offerings Based on Windows Server 2016

ATLANTA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspur Group Co. Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "Inspur") announced plans to deliver enterprise-class #softwaredefineddatacenter offerings based on #WindowsServer2016 as part of the Windows Server Software-Defined (WSSD) Program. WSSD is a Microsoft program that enables solution vendors to design and validate hardware, and deploy Windows Server 2016 Software-Defined infrastructure in a way that follows Microsoft requirements and best practices. Microsoft Ignite is being held this week, Sept. 26-30, Atlanta, GA. The two Inspur offerings that are going to leverage Storage Spaces Direct technology are the model NF5280M4 (2U Form Factor) and the model NF5166M4 (1U Form Factor). Inspur 1U model offering: The Inspur NF5166M4 is a rackmount server specifically designed with an optimized hybrid storage hardware architecture enabling balanced performance. NF5166M4 adopts industry-leading digital power management technology to optimize power efficiency, closely monitoring the temperature of server's different components and adjusting the fans' speed in real-time based on actual energy consumption, etc. The 1U solution offers twice the density that is currently available in the market today.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inspur-strengthens-partnership-with-microsoft-to-deliver-enterprise-class-software-defined-datacenter-offerings-based-on-windows-server-2016-300334629.html

Cavium QLogic Accelerates Software Defined Datacenters with Windows Server 2016

ATLANTA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- #MicrosoftIgnite 2016 – Today, #Cavium,Inc. (NASDAQ: CAVM), a leading provider of semiconductor products that enable intelligent processing for enterprise and cloud data centers announced broad support for #Microsoft #WindowsServer2016. Cavium's #QLogic portfolio of Ethernet and Fibre Channel adapters are now fully qualified for Microsoft Windows Server 2016, enabling key public, private and hybrid cloud capabilities, that allow IT functions to adapt rapidly to changing business requirements.
http://news.sys-con.com/node/3921086

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.”

http://www.biztechmagazine.com/article/2016/09/microsoft-ignite-2016-microsoft-roll-out-server-2016-starting-october

Microsoft Video: Software Defined Storage with Storage Spaces Direct in Windows Server 2016

A look at the latest updates to software-defined storage ( #SDS ) with #StorageSpaces Direct, new with #WindowsServer2016. Watch as Elden Christensen (Principal Program Manager, Windows Server) explains the advantages in terms of cost, performance, and reliability. Also, find out what your deployment options are from hyper-converge or branch offices to converge for enterprise scale workloads. Finally, you’ll see how this applies to disaster recovery. From the fine folks at #Microsoft.

http://www.dabcc.com/microsoft-video-software-defined-storage-with-storage-spaces-direct-in-windows-server-2016/

Microsoft ups Windows Server 2016 resource limits

#Microsoft has published the scalability limits for its upcoming #WindowsServer2016, increasing the physical hardware capacity limits considerably. Windows Server principal program manager Jeff Woolsey pointed to the need to accommodate massive in-memory databases and demand for more virtual machines per physical server for analytics and machine learning usage as the reason for the raised limits. The amount of physical memory in Windows Server 2016 Standard and Datacentre Editions is up six-fold. Up to 24 terabytes can be fitted per machine. Up to 512 physical logical processors are supported in Windows Server 2016, an increase from 320 in Windows Server 2012 R2. For virtual machines, Windows Server 2016 can allocate up to 16 TB each, a 16-fold increase compared to the current operating system, and 240 virtual processors per VM, up from 64 now. In comparison, the Linux operating system kernel can directly map up to 64 TB of physical memory. Although #AMD and Intel 64-bit processors support up to 256 TB of physical memory, current electronics design and manufacturing limitations means system RAM capacities above 1 TB to 2 TB are difficult to achieve. Woolsey also said the Hyper-V hypervisor (hardware abstraction layer for virtualisation) in Windows Server 2016 will come with the Guarded Fabric security feature. Guarded Fabric protects virtual machines from being stolen on compromised hosts; it uses Bitlocker-encrypted Shielded VMs with virtual trusted platform modules (TPM) that can only run on healthy and approved hosts in cloud infrastructure. Hyper-V will also provide lightweight Windows Containers for application virtualisation, Woolsey said. Windows Server 2016 will also provide software-defined storage ( #SDS ) through the Storage Spaces Direct feature for hyper-converged, networked storage clusters, with better support for new hardware such as #NVMe and SATA solid state drives. Windows Server is currently in technical preview and is expected to be released at the end of September this year.

http://www.itnews.com.au/news/microsoft-ups-windows-server-2016-resource-limits-435252