Sign up for the Windows Server beta program now

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If you’re in to on-premises Windows Server you can now sign on to beta test the twice-a-year product updates. Server’s going to a twice-a-year update
[See the full post at: Sign up for the Windows Server beta program now]

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ch100

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I can’t think of any better way to kill on-prem Server, than to force it into a twice-a-year upgrade cadence.

Heh, yeah, I sometimes go 6 months without rebooting my small business server, let alone change out the operating system that often.

It makes money for hardware sellers if things are obsoleted in very short order, but it doesn’t make that much sense for actual users who need computers to accomplish things other than incessantly installing Microsoft updates.

-Noel

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DAVe3283, ch100, lurks about, BobbyB, HiFlyer, Elly, woody

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@Noel
Your environment is not typical for a small business environment.
Most small businesses would restart their SBS/Essentials of full server version once a month due to automatic updates, while the larger businesses will have to option to stay with LTSB.
Interesting times ahead nevertheless…

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BrianL

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Maybe so, but WHY don’t I follow the rest of the sheep and do what they do?

I’ll tell you – it’s because I have better things to do than to screw around with a perfectly working server, like actually USE it and make products to sell.

And to be fair, it most often gets rebooted every month or two or three for updates I deem worthy.

But a security update isn’t the same as installing a whole new operating system! One takes a few minutes, the other takes a few hours (days?).

-Noel

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Noel Carboni wrote:

Maybe so, but WHY don’t I follow the rest of the sheep and do what they do?

I’ll tell you – it’s because I have better things to do than to screw around with a perfectly working server, like actually USE it and make products to sell.

I know it and my post was not meant to criticise your setup.
I was only pointing that most people reading here do not have the skills or even the interest to spend the time to harden their systems in a similar manner with yours.

The whole thing happening in the industry is a signal to the larger part of the computer users that they are not meant to use individual computers any longer. Microsoft put up a show for something like 30 years, did something that should have never happened and made trillions of dollars in the process and now they start moving their toys back to where they belong, i.e. in the datacentre.
Those who insist in using individual computers will still have this option, but they will have to manage them like datacentres, or “private clouds”.
A good start is to use this device https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/nuc/kits/nuc6i5syh.html and install free ESXi or XenCenter It accepts 32 GB RAM and/or SATA or M2 SSD on top.

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ch100 wrote:

A good start is to use this device https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/nuc/kits/nuc6i5syh.html and install free ESXi or XenCenter
It accepts 32 GB RAM and/or SATA or M2 SSD on top.

Cool! That could be a platform for a nice little firewall / DNS proxy box… (oiled clockwork gears meshing nicely in my head)

-Noel

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ch100

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I use it as a full home lab host.
As a bonus, although it was not critical for my purpose, it runs Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2 without blocks on Windows Update. The CPU is i5 Skylake Gen 6. It is true that I didn’t try it in a physical configuration, as this machine is currently running XenServer as host. I also tested ESXi 6.0 free, however the free version was not good enough to run a specific Citrix function (PVS), so I switched to Citrix XenServer. Both virtualization platforms run very well on that hardware, topped up with 1TB SATA SSD.
Not advertising brands here, but I can do it in a PM if interested

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Is there no end to the depth of stupidity at Microsoft?

 

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Some depths are best left not measured.

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dononline

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It’s a bottomless well.

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dononline

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The stupidity isn’t on the Microsoft end. They have obviously come to the conclusion that their users, for the most part, will take any sort of abuse willingly. It appears they are correct in their conclusions, as there is no sign of a user revolt.

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From NETMARKETSHARE:

Desktops (and I assume Laptops) and non-mobile Windows Versions Market Share (non-Windows OS’s not listed):

Windows 7 – 49.46%
Windows 10 – 26.78%
Windows 8.1 – 6.74%
Windows XP – 5.66%
Windows 8 – 1.59%
Windows NT – 0.82%
Windows Vista – 0.58%
Windows 2000 – 0.01%

Windows 10 release date: Jul 29, 2015

After two years, Windows 7 still owns half the desktops and laptops in the world, even after Microsoft’s attempts to trick, coerce, and otherwise force users onto their precious WaaS monstrosity, which now stands at a paltry 27 percent? I call that an AMAZING revolt! However, since we realistically have no choice in the long run …

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The statistics reflect the inertia of big business which traditionally delay upgrades as much as possible for their specific reasons. In one or two years, the Windows 7 vs Windows 10 ratio will be reversed. And in 2020, Windows 7 market share will be as large as as XP’s market share is today, but there is still a long way until then.
However this has nothing to do with the subject of this thread.

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dononline

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OooooKaaay … You think, though, that it could ALSO be because “we realistically have no choice in the long run …”, as I said? I do. Just sayin’.

BTW, how do you “unthank” somebody you accidentally “thanked” in the Lounge?

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RTEsysadmin

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Individual Windows Server Retail licenses for on-premises use, cost about US$500 to US$1,200 each, ie depending on the Edition, eg bought and used by a website owner to serve visitors.
… Such Volume licenses bought by corporations to run their business, cost even more in total, eg online retailers.

Like the twice-a-year release of new Versions of Win 10, Windows Server 2016 (WS 2016) has an EOL of about 18 months for each new Version. So, a person who has bought and used Windows Server 2016 will have to buy a new Retail license after about 18 months.
… Only those who have also bought additional Software Assurance/Insurance or have subscribed/leased WS 2016 would be exempted.

Come EOL in 2020/2023, those who have bought and used WS 2008 and WS 2012 will have little choice but to move to WS 2016 = enter into the dragon’s dungeon of M$.

Previously, those who bought WS 2008/2012 Retail licenses could expect to use WS for about 10 years, ie until EOL IN 2020/2023.
… With WS 2016, this is no longer true.

Seems M$ are prepping their cows to be milked in 2020/2023.

On a brighter note, M$ Windows Server “only” has a world market share of about 50%, as compared to the about 90% market share for darkening Windows.

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BobbyB, HiFlyer, DeWayne12, dononline

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WS 2016 is on LTSB channel, it will not reach EOL or need any mandatory licensing upgrade before 2026

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ch100

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@ abbodi86

Windows 10 was launched on 29 July 2015 and it was only recently revealed to the masses that each new Version of Win 10 will only be supported by M$ for about 18 months, ie Win 10 Version RTM/1507 reached its EOL in May 2017.

Windows Server 2016 was launched on 26 Oct 2016. M$ will reveal soon enough whether WS 2016 will follow the EOL pattern of Win 10, ie whether each new Version of WS 2016 will only be supported by M$ for about 18 months, which seems quite likely.

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https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/windowsserver/2016/07/12/windows-server-2016-new-current-branch-for-business-servicing-option/
.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/cloud-platform/windows-server-pricing
.
@ abbodi86

Not all Windows Server 2016 can be on LTSB, eg the cheapest WS 2016 Essential Edition for SMB is restricted to CBB only.

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A lot of noise for no good reason
This table from https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/hybridcloud/2017/06/15/delivering-continuous-innovation-with-windows-server/
makes it clear for all those who know how to read it.

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NetDef

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We’re a small shop, but recently finished our migration from Server 2003/2008 to cloud-based providers (SaaS). We’ve also made the switch from Windows to macOS for our endpoint devices, and we’re about 98% done that transition as well.

Our productivity has increased and our trouble tickets have dramatically decreased.

All I can say is, “good riddance” to Microsoft. I am SO glad we won’t have to deal with the poison pill that is Windows 10. And after this bit of news regarding Windows Server, I am SO glad we’re ditching Microsoft on the server side. Their decision to implement a semi-annual upgrade cycle for Windows Server smacks of a cash grab. It makes NO sense otherwise. The server environment is supposed to be STABLE and PREDICTABLE (minus the monthly WU patches that sometimes muck things up)!

Microsoft is making less and less sense, but more and more cents. The sad part is that the customers will once again get the raw end of the deal.

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Noel Carboni

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I can’t think of any better way to kill on-prem Server, than to force it into a twice-a-year upgrade cadence.

I can… no updates at all

I’ll leave now…

Fortran, C++, R, Python, Java, Matlab, HTML, CSS, etc.... coding is fun!
A weatherman that can code

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“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning” – Bill Gates

While Microsoft embarks on this mission of enlightenment, my business will be in the process of moving our servers as far away from Microsoft as we can get.

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Am I to understand that this doesn’t effect the individual home desk type ‘old world’ computer /owner,?

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That would depend on if you use Windows Server at home or work where somebody decides it is wonderful as unicorn f**ts to follow this reckless path of server management.

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@BrianL
You have understood it well.
A lot of people posting here in this thread have no understanding what so ever of the issues involved, but they like to complain nevertheless.

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Bill C.

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The last time I checked (using a Server ’16 Eval iso), Server ’16 has the exact same dysfunctional update policies that every other version of 10 has, down to the lack of control over updates and reboots.

Meanwhile Ubuntu has implemented a Livepatch functionality in which you can do kernel updates without having to reboot the system. https://www.ubuntu.com/server/livepatch

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Are you flamin’ serious?! Lack of control over updates and reboots FOR A SERVER OS?!

That is one of the most ridiculous decisions that Nadella’s empire has come up with. Every month I would think, “can it get any worse?” Apparently it can get worse. Much worse.

I guess Microsoft would rather have customers pay $$$$$ for hosting in Azure datacenters, where they can freely snoop on your data and turn over the juicy bits to the NSA, all without you ever knowing about it.

If this is indeed true, I’d like to think that Microsoft has just poked a lion. Surely enterprises won’t stand for this. Or will they?

Sigh.

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Yep – it is (out of the box) identical to Win10…or rather, 10 LTSB.
Same lame Settings > Windows Update section, basically no choices.
Yes, there are ways to tweak this, just like there are in vanilla Win10 – for now. (‘For now’ being the key here.)
I just can’t believe how apathetic MS has become. They clearly do not give a c**p about their users anymore.

We don’t use WSUS in our domain. We should, but it’s not implemented, and while I’d like to implement it, I’m not in charge. WSUS should not be required to control Windows Update; it hasn’t been before now, and it shouldn’t be, going forward.

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James Bond 007

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zero2dash wrote:

Yep – it is (out of the box) identical to Win10, or rather, 10 LTSB. Same lame Settings in Windows Update section, basically no choices.

Yes, there are ways to tweak this, just like there are in vanilla Win10 – for now. (‘For now’ being the key here.)

I just can’t believe how pathetic MS has become. They clearly do not give a c**p about their users anymore.

So Windows Server 2016 is the same as Windows 10 1607 LTSB when it comes to Windows Updates control, i.e. basically no control out of the box? Why am I not surprised?

Thank you for this information. This is entirely within my expectations, not that I am happy with it. As a user myself, it seems to me that I will have to eventually figure out a way to escape from Windows altogether before Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 leaves support.

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

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I got into this discussion and shouldn’t have.

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The Windows Insider testing isn’t for average computer users.

Microsoft is quoted as saying it is “more than a beta testing program”, which saw Windows 10 released for “people to try out the extremely unfinished operating system, a full year and a half before it would hit store shelves”.

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ch100

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I wonder what ‘features’ on any OS require an 18 month life let alone a server. Ubuntu, which has a new release every 6 months, has an LTS version that is supported for 5 years. Their LTS version is released every 2 years in April and the next one is due next year. Give users several years between needing to update. They and their informal IT department will appreciate it.

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dononline wrote:

OooooKaaay … You think, though, that it could ALSO be because “we realistically have no choice in the long run …”, as I said? I do. Just sayin’.

BTW, how do you “unthank” somebody you accidentally “thanked” in the Lounge?

1. Yes, this is probably the main reason.
2. I am not aware of any way to “unthank” in the current implementation of the forum.

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RTEsysadmin, dononline

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This “thanks” is for real.

Sorry, ch100, I’m having a bad day again today. Terrible sinus headaches for several days now. Please excuse me. Have a great evening.

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Thanks. Morning here. ?

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We’ve participated in past years with Microsoft Server pre-release testing, reported bugs back to Microsoft, tried out changed and new features.  We’ll be doing it again this time around.

But . . .  we don’t ever do this on our clients live production servers.  Test machines only — or as the builds get closer to RTM — we might dog-food the builds on our own small office network. The primary reason we participate is so we get hands on experience/training with upcoming server releases and sniff out issues that might impact our clients when they want to upgrade.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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If you notice in the table which I posted, there is nothing new other than what was already known.
The Core version will get optional half-yearly updates, while the Nano version was always supposed to be CB/CBB as it is not stable
The most stable and time-tested version is the traditional one which is now categorised as “with Desktop Experience” and that one is LTSB and remains LTSB.
What is all the fuss about?

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