The Future of Windows Server

Enhancements to Windows Server 2016 focus on the software-defined data center, although the OS continues to serve traditional workloads. Future distinct versions of Windows Server are expected for the traditional installation modes of the OS, in contrast to the plan for the Windows 10 Home and Pro edition OSs. Future versions will likely continue to emphasize virtualization and are also likely to require integration with Azure services. Customers should carefully evaluate the technologies in Windows Server 2016, as some new or improved technologies emphasized by Microsoft have not matured.

Cloud First

Windows Server 2016 is expected to be the underlying platform for the Azure Stack software as well as software-defined data centers built by customers. Azure Stack, currently in preview, offers a selection of functionality from the Microsoft-hosted Azure service (called “public Azure” in this chapter) for customers and partners to deploy in their own data centers. Azure Stack is expected in the first half of 2017, and at least initially will only be available through server hardware partners. Customers should expect Azure Stack to receive regular updates to stay current with Azure services hosted by Microsoft.