Windows Server 2019 will launch later this year

Mar 21, 2018 06:11 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has recently announced Windows Server 2019, with the first preview build now available as part of the Insider program for servers.

The launch of the new Server edition will take place in the second half of the calendar year 2019, and Microsoft hopes to follow in the footsteps of Windows Server 2016, which according to the company is the fastest adopted version of Windows Server ever.

Microsoft explains that for this new release of Windows Server, it focused on four key points, namely hybrid, security, application platform, and hyper-converged infrastructure.

Windows Server 2019 will come with Project Honolulu, a management platform announced at Ignite in September 2018 and which allows customers to connect Windows Server and Azure, with integration like Azure Backup, Azure File Sync, and disaster recovery.

In terms of security, Windows Server 2019 will come with support of Linux VMs in Shielded VMs, a feature that debuted in Windows Server 2016 and which protects virtual machines from compromised or malicious administrators. Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection will also be offered as part of this new release.

Windows Subsystem on Linux improvements

When it comes to the Windows Subsystem on Linux (WSL), it’s already available in insider builds, but Microsoft is now expanding it to support OpenSSH, Curl & Tar.

The first preview of Windows Server 2019 is now available for insiders, and Microsoft says that it’ll mark the next release in the Long-Term Servicing Channel.

“As an LTSC release Windows Server 2019 provides the Server with Desktop Experience and Server Core installation options – in contrast to the Semi-Annual Channel that provides only the Server Core installation option and Nano Server as a container image. This will ensure application compatibility for existing workloads,” the company explains.

As far as the licensing model is concerned, Microsoft says the upcoming version will use the same approach as Windows Server 2016, and more information is available on the Windows Server pricing page.