Windows Server 2019 to Windows

Here are some of the key features of Server 2019:

Security. Windows Server 2019 has put much more effort than ever before to prevent attacks. Windows Defender is enabled by default and has new features designed to fix security holes and simplify administration. While Defender won't prevent a trigger email recipient from opening an attachment containing a zero-day threat, Advanced Windows Threat Protection adds another layer of security designed to protect against several types of malware, including a method to "block" access to folders to prevent mass encryption of files like ransomware.

Management. The management plane for system administration offers a clearer and more accessible user interface and administrator interface. These and other management components make it somewhat easier to manage large Windows systems as well as heterogeneous Windows/Linux environments. Microsoft now provides a Windows Administration Center (WAC) application that can be used in networks that use Microsoft Active Directory. This single pane of glass console manages a wide range of Microsoft operating system instances.

The small detail that pleased us was a simple change. Windows Server 2019 offers a quick reboot option. For those who sit in front of HPE or Lenovo servers for hours, this can save maybe a few days compared to a full reboot.

Resilient file system (links). Links can correct files by a stored checksum and include redundancy removal, a new feature in Windows Server 2019. We found links trivial to configure if Microsoft Hyper-V is also installed. Our testing has shown that this can save space in situations where there are subdirectories filled with the same files.

Clustering. Windows Server 2019 clustering capabilities have been enhanced. A failover cluster of pairs (think transaction processors, key servers, certificate storage, database servers) can now be connected via a USB drive connected to a network switch. In the past, a failover cluster required three machines.

ActiveDirectory. The Windows AD model hasn't changed significantly in the Windows 2019 Server releases, but administration of remote sites has become easier. Interesting new features, such as AlwaysOnVPN, require a working advertisement. Connecting Windows Server 2019 to your existing network for those with experience with AD is easy. We've built both internal and remote servers from a single window with the Windows Administration Center.

Typically, Windows Server 2019 is a polished interface with a very powerful feature set for both familiar and new workloads, especially hybrid cloud and cloud-connected workloads. There are some bumps in the configuration, and the desktop GUI shares some of the bugs of Windows 10 1809.

For both core Windows Server infrastructure workloads and those just starting to transition to new development models such as containers, Windows Server 2019 is a solid program that will address some immediate pain points and provide a solid foundation for future data center developments, including peripheral locations with little or no connectivity.