rlevchenko

Launch dates for Windows Server and System Center 2016

Update: Windows Server 2016 is available for download @EvalCenter and will be available at October price list. Fully licensed software will be available @VLSC at the mid-October (System Center 2016 Evaluation is here)

As I predicted in the previous posts, TP5 is the latest preview release before Windows Server 2016 RTM/GA. Today Microsoft has finally revealed the official launch dates for Windows Server and System Center 2016.

GA will be announced at Ignite conference that takes place at the end of September and global price lists will be updated in October, 2016 . So, we have enough time to get ready for it. RTM release dates are not available at the moment. But I expect it in August.

Until then let’s review some important facts about upcoming WS and SC new generations.

Windows Server 2016:

Datacenter Edition includes new advanced software-defined datacenter capabilities designed for highly virtualized private and hybrid cloud environments. Some new features unique to Datacenter Edition include an Azure-inspired networking stack and Azure-inspired storage enhancements including Storage Spaces Direct
Standard Edition provides the core functionality of Windows Server for lightly virtualized environments
Essentials. This edition is designed for smaller organizations with less than 50 users.
Standard and Datacenter editions don’t have the same list of features as we have in Windows Server 2012/2012R2 (except AVMA ). Storage Replica , Storage Spaces Direct , Shielded VMs and New Networking stack are available only in Datacenter

System Center 2016 editions:

Datacenter is the optimal choice for a large deployments or CSP. 1 license allows you to manage unlimited quantity of OSE (Operational System Environments)
Standard is built for small infrastructures and provides management rights for only 2 OSEs

Installation Options in Windows Server

Server with Desktop Experience: The Server with Desktop Experience installation option provides an full user experience for those who need to run an app that requires local UI or for Remote Desktop Services Host. This option has the Windows client shell and experience, consistent with Windows 10 Anniversary edition Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB), with the server Microsoft Management Console (MMC) and Server Manager tools available locally on the server.
Server Core: The Server Core installation option removes the client UI from the server, providing an installation that runs the majority of the roles and features on a lighter install. Server Core does not include MMC or Server Manager, which can be used remotely, but does include limited local graphical tools such as Task Manager as well as PowerShell for local or remote management.
Nano Server: The Nano Server installation option provides an ideal lightweight operating system to run “cloud-native” applications based on containers and micro-services

Licensing

Licensing model for both Windows Server and System Center has been moved from processors to physical cores which aligns licensing of private and public cloud to a consistent currency of cores and simplifies licensing across multi-cloud environments

To license a physical server, all physical cores must be licensed in the server. A minimum of 8 core licenses is required for each physical processor in the server and a minimum of 16 cores is required to be licensed for servers with one processor.

The most surprised is that if you are going to deploy and use Nano Server in production it is required to have active Software Assurance. Nano Server is awesome but do you agree to pay extra money for that? let’s pray for changes.. (hope dies last)

System Center: Core + Client Management Licenses (CML)

system center 2016 editions and prices

Windows Server: Core + Client Access Licenses (CAL) + additional CALs (RDS and etc) + Software Assurance (required for deploy and operate Nano Server)

windows server 2016 prices and editions

The price of 16-core licenses of Windows Server 2016 Datacenter and Standard Edition will be same price as the 2 proc license of the corresponding editions of the Windows Server 2012 R2 version ’cause core licenses will be sold in packs of two 8 core packs and the two-core pack for each edition is 1/8th the price of a two proc license for corresponding 2012 R2 editions

Servicing models

Now Windows Server has “5+5” servicing model meaning that there is 5 years of mainstream support and 5 years of extended support and this will continue with Windows Server 2016. Customers who choose to install full Windows Server 2016 with a desktop experience or Server Core will maintain this servicing experience, which will be known as the Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB).

Nano Server will be covered by active Current Branch Servicing (CSB) model as Windows 10 has. This type of servicing provides new functionality and features.

New features

Azure presentation and technical materials

azure iaas

I’ve received a plenty useful links to my mail today. By using these links you can download Azure related materials to improve your understanding the process of planning and selling Azure services. There are multiple presentations with different levels (from 50 to 200/300) and technical documentation kits.

Azure and CSPs

How partners can make money with Azure IaaS

This presentation provides an overview of how partners can make money with Azure IaaS.

N + DV2 VMs are also described (but a very shortly)

Getting started on CSP for Azure

This FAQ style document is a “Getting Started guide” for Microsoft Azure services in the CSP program.

Overview of CSP in Azure

This presentation provides an overview of the Azure in CSP program

Case Studies

Azure CSP partner case study – Dell and Takeform

Azure CSP partner case study – Datapipe

Azure CSP partner case study – Lumen21

Azure CSP partner case study – ProserveIT and BC Milk

Azure CSP partner case study – SaaSplaza

Miscelanneous

Active Directory from on-premises to the cloud – Azure AD whitepapers (it’s clear)

Hybrid IaaS technical guides (hope it’s clear too | tech.guides level 300 are perfect)

Hybrid IaaS GTM materials

IoT business documentation

This zipped folder includes an overview of Analytics on Azure, including the IoT vision and data platform scenarios

Internet Of Things (IoT) technical documentation

This document provides technical guidance on deploying cloud services for IoT

Application dev/test technical guides

These documents provide a technical overview of application development and testing.

Application dev/test business documentation

This zipped folder contains documents that provide an overview of application dev/test offerings for partners.

Analytics technical guides

This zipped folder provides technical guidance for analytics on Azure

Analytics business documentation

This zipped folder includes an overview of Analytics on Azure, including the Analytics vision and data platform scenarios.

Contoso in the Microsoft Cloud

[PDF, VSD] See how a representative global organization has adopted all of Microsoft’s cloud offerings, including Office 365, Azure, Dynamics 365, and Intune.

SQL Services

Azure SQL DB technical documentation

This zipped folder contains best practices and deployment documentation for Azure SQL database.

Azure SQL DB business documentation

This zipped folder contains presentations that provide guidance on Azure SQL database – business discussions.

SQL in Azure VMs GTM materials

Videos/solution templates

SQL in Azure VMs technical documentation

Best practices and deployment documentation

SQL in Azure VMs business documentation

This zipped folder contains presentations that provide guidance on SQL in Azure VMs – business discussions.

Power BI technical guides

This zipped folder provides technical guidance for deploying Power BI, creating dashboards, and other technical details of managed services.

Power BI business documentation

This presentation provides guidance on incorporating Power BI into your managed services practice through CSP.

RDS 2016 in Azure

RDS 2016 on Azure laaS Technical Guidance Deck

[PPTX] RDS 2016 on Azure IaaS Scenario, Offer and Deployment Approach

RDS 2016 on Azure laaS Technical Guidance Document

[DOC] Great Technical guidance for CSP partners

RDS 2016 on Azure laaS Landing Page Framework

This is the Remote Desktop Services (RDS) 2016 on Azure IaaS Landing Page Framework for HMSPs. Please use the content and modify the format to fit your website template

RDS 2016 on Azure laaS Hoster Partners Messaging Framework

Use this document as a guide as you develop relevant communications. This is a reference document, intended to inform the work of marketing and sales professionals.

RDS 2016 on Azure laaS Sales Datasheet