On March 20, Microsoft announced that the next official release of Windows Server will be released this year, featuring improved support for hybrid workloads, Linux and hyperconvergent infrastructures.
Windows Server 2019 will replace Windows Server 2016, which was officially released in October 2016. Considering that Microsoft last year switched to Windows Server updates twice a year, these updates are released on the long-term service channel every two to three years. This service model is intended for administrators who prefer not to update the system too often.

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Those companies that have not yet switched to the semi-annual channel will be able to experience the technologies that support Linux and Kubernetes in Windows Server, which are now in beta version.
Windows Server 2019 will simplify the interaction of local software with Microsoft cloud services, such as Azure Backup, Azure File Sync, and Emergency Repair Services. This approach is part of Microsoft’s broader view of local hardware, which plays the role of border nodes for companies ’cloud systems, allowing administrators to transfer workloads between private and public environments.
Developers and administrators interested in using containers for their applications will have something to expect from Windows Server 2019. In particular, Microsoft plans to reduce the size of the Server Core container image to about 1.7 GB, which is significantly less compared to the current size of this image, equal to 5 GB . Reducing the size of the image will simplify the optimization of the performance of workloads and will be a step towards those users who complained about the absence of more flexible images.
In addition, Microsoft says that the new release will improve the capabilities related to working with Kubernetes, a popular open source container orchestration software in the Windows Server environment. Now support for this technology in Windows Server is in beta, and Microsoft plans to significantly improve the capabilities of clusters based on this OS.
In addition, it is expected that this update will bring several improvements in the performance of tasks solved by means of Linux, including support for shielded virtual machines. These virtual machines offer clients an environment that is designed to protect against malicious administrators or administrators whose accounts have been hacked. In addition, Microsoft is making efforts to help users migrate their Linux scripts to Windows Server 2019, which translates into improved support for OpenSSH, Curl, and Tar.
In addition to updates related to Linux security, Microsoft also embeds Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection in Windows Server 2019. This is expected to help users identify and fix security holes before turning them into major problems.
If you can not wait to experience Windows Server 2019, you can do it now, using the program of preliminary assessment of Windows. The release of this OS on the long-term service channel is expected in the second half of this year, along with the release of the corresponding updates on the semi-annual release channel. Microsoft plans to disclose additional details about all of these updates in the coming months.
Dear readers! What innovations of Windows Server 2019 seem to you the most interesting and promising?
