Latest Windows Server Version 1709 Available in Azure Pack Infrastructure Cloud from InfoboxCloud

    We are pleased to announce that Windows Server, version 1709 is available in the Azure Pack Infrastructure cloud for all users.


    In honor of this joyful event, we give a 25% discount for new users of the Azure Pack Infrastructure cloud until the end of 2017.

    How to register and get a 25% discount


    To access, consult or request a quotation, fill out the form . To receive a discount in the comments field, indicate "I want a 25% discount for innovation."

    Description of the cloud can be downloaded here .

    The cost of cloud infrastructure can be calculated on the official calculator . You do not need to worry about licensing Windows Server, paying for the number of licensed cores, Software Assurance (without which you can not get Windows Server 1709) - the current licensed operating systems of Datacenter editions are already available for you at no additional cost.

    The servers you need will be pre-created, just use the data from the welcome letter to connect. Nevertheless, if you want to create servers yourself, you can use the manual or the article on creating a network and server .



    Suitable even for minimal cloud resources

    We expect that Windows Server version 1709 will be actively used to host modern applications and services in our cloud, including sites on ASP.NET Core 2 and SQL Server 2017, as reliable data warehouses and to launch containers.

    Even on the smallest possible cloud subscription with 1 vCore, 2 GB Ram, 25 GB Storage, 1 IPv4, 2 vLAN, 2 Site-To-Site VPN, you can use Windows Server version 1709.

    New Windows Server Release Cycle


    Windows Server, version 1709 is the first OS from Microsoft with a cycle of releasing new versions every 6 months (Semi-Annual Channel, SAC) for the most rapid implementation of new functionality required by modern software systems in an ever-changing world. The support period for each version of this OS is 18 months. Windows Server 1709 is available only in the clouds and with a Software Assurance subscription. The purchase of each new version of the OS is not required - in the clouds and in the software assurance, the customer pays for the subscription and uses the current OS.

    Windows Server 2016 lags behind the latest actual OS in the Long-Term Servicing Channel, LTSC with a cycle of releasing new versions every 2-3 years and a support period of 5 years of regular support and 5 years of extended.
    In this release cycle, the OS can optionally have a graphical interface installed.

    When a quick release cycle is used, the word "version" is used in the title. Therefore, it’s correct to say: Windows Server, version 1709, but Windows Server 2016.

    What's New in Windows Server


    A complete list of changes is available on Technet .

    Some improvements relevant to cloud users:

    • Server Core containers took up 60% less space.
    • Nano Server Containers - 80% less space (previously 390 MB, now 80 MB)
    • Added support for Linux containers with Hyper-V isolation.

    Nano Server can no longer be a host - now this OS is intended only for use in containers.

    To manage the server through the web interface, you can use Project Honolulu , which we reviewed in a previous article.
    There is no use case with a graphical interface for maximum performance and security.

    In Windows Server version 1709, the client and server SMB1 are no longer preinstalled; guest authentication in SMB2 and later is disabled by default.

    Essentials edition is no longer available, only Standard and Datacenter (we have all Datacenter Windows Server editions in the cloud).



    Now you can change the domain without rebuilding the cluster, which is extremely useful when you first build a sandbox, configure, and then switch it to production.

    Now it is possible to cluster clusters into groups (cluster set) to simplify administration and use. Cluster aggregation may include loosely coupled clusters with different compute nodes, storage nodes, or hyperconverged clusters. This will allow the cloud provider, for example, to migrate VM automatically between different clusters, for example, from HDD, SSD, NVME, Storage Class Memory (SCM), different types of CPU, GPU, will allow to remove restrictions on cluster size and scale the cloud to thousands of host servers, configure zones availability (as in global Azure).

    You no longer have to choose between a modern file system and data deduplication - it is also supported on ReFS, saving up to 95% of disk space.

    Remote Desktop Services can now be integrated with Azure AD: through integration, users can use single policies, multi-factor login, integrated authentication with other SaaS applications.

    Containerization Enhancements

    Docker routing mesh support - the ability to publish service ports outside of a swarm cluster.

    Ability to run Linux containers on Windows . To run Linux containers, use the LinuxKit project .

    Ability to connect SMB as a disk to containers . In Windows Server version 1709, you can designate an SMB ball as a drive with a drive letter in a container.

    Conclusion


    We hope that the rapid implementation of new technologies in the Azure Pack Infrastructure cloud will help your projects grow faster and stay ahead of the competition. The new OS is very fast and efficient, which allows you to use less resources in the cloud and pay less.

    Good luck!

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