Microsoft has just released a new technical preview for Windows Server 2016 that is “feature-complete,” which means it has all the features, look and feel of the final release, but the code might still change. According to Microsoft this technical preview delivers new capabilities to help create a more flexible and cost efficient data center by using software-defined compute, storage and network virtualization technologies.
There are some important new features coming with Server 2016 and System Center 2016 that will make a big impact on how you are able manage systems. For example, rolling cluster upgrades will make upgrading Windows much easier and will reduce downtime. You will be also be able to create and manage shielded Virtual Machines (VMs). Additionally, there will be capabilities incorporated in the software to allow you to simplify your network and reduce dependency on physical networking structure through software-defined networking.
Creation and control of hyper-converged clusters will allow you to take all of your forms of storage, from SSDs to hard drives and combine them into one storage pool. You can assign different clusters various levels of performance, availability and access. You will have the option to make them directly accessible to VMs or you can create a file directory.
In this newest technical preview, we see upgraded control and communication capabilities between the OS, Linux and the hypervisor. For those who are unfamiliar with hypervisor, it is defined as, “A hypervisor or virtual machine monitor (VMM) is a piece of computer software, firmware or hardware that creates and runs virtual machines. A computer on which a hypervisor is running one or more virtual machines is defined as a host machine. Each virtual machine is called a guest machine.” The advanced control in Server 2016 will allow for easy finite control of VMs. You can run multiple VMs that do not communicate, keeping them contained in their own areas or you can allow communication with specific regulations. The software will also be implementing additional safeguards between VMs and hosts, routing traffic only between what is allowed.
With Technical Preview 5 we also now have the option to install in Nano mode. Nano mode is a slimmed down version of Windows Server that is ready for containers. The footprint of Nano has been greatly reduced, it has been stripped down and with that we see huge efficiency gains. There is no user interface, 32-bit compatibility or MSI support. It will basically be command prompt only. With this, you will be able to isolate applications within their own containers, giving them explicit dedicated resources. Meaning that if a bug occurs in a software application on one container it will not take down the whole system. This adds extra security for the application, container and system as a whole.
In earlier previews of Server 2016, Microsoft added what they call a “Shielded mode” for VMs that enabled BitLocker disk encryption for its virtual disks. Now there is a new “Encryption Supported mode” that offers more protection than an ordinary VM, but less than Shielded mode. It acts as a middle option that still supports disk encryption, Live Migration traffic encryption and other features.
Lastly, it is worth noting that this newest preview adds data-driven alert management, which will expand monitoring abilities and reduce friction for IT operations. It has also expanded monitoring of Unix and Linux servers and have provided streamlined access to management packs.
With Server 2016, Microsoft is clearly making an effort to help IT departments implement new cloud-based storage techniques and utilize virtual machines to their fullest capabilities. It is great to see Microsoft embrace this new technology and integrate it into their software. A date for official release has not been set yet, but we expect it be sometime in the third quarter, likely in line with Microsoft’s Ignite conference.