Windows Server 2019 Standard is a server operating system developed by Microsoft, released as part of the Windows Server 2019 family. It is designed for a wide range of uses, from traditional on-premises setups to hybrid cloud environments. Here are the key features of Windows Server 2019 Standard:
1. Hybrid Cloud Integration
- Azure Integration: Windows Server 2019 enhances integration with Microsoft Azure. Features like Azure Site Recovery, Azure Backup, and Azure Automanage help in seamless hybrid cloud operations. You can also extend your on-premises infrastructure to the cloud.
- Windows Admin Center: A web-based management tool that simplifies managing both on-premises and cloud resources.
2. Security Enhancements
- Windows Defender ATP: Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection helps with detecting and responding to attacks. It’s integrated into the OS for real-time protection.
- Shielded Virtual Machines (VMs): Shielded VMs help protect data and workloads, especially in multi-tenant environments, by encrypting virtual machine disks.
- Improved Encryption: Supports features like TLS 1.2, SMB encryption, and SMB Direct for better data protection.
- Credential Guard and Device Guard: These technologies help mitigate attacks based on credential theft and malware by isolating secrets in hardware.
3. Storage Improvements
- Storage Spaces Direct (S2D): Enables highly available and scalable storage solutions using industry-standard servers and disks, eliminating the need for SAN or external storage arrays.
- Storage Replica: Enables block-level replication for disaster recovery purposes.
- Deduplication for ReFS: Improved support for deduplication and optimized file system performance, especially for large-scale storage.
4. Containers and Virtualization
- Windows Containers: Native container support allows applications to be packaged and deployed in isolated environments for improved portability and scalability.
- Docker Support: Supports Docker containers natively, enabling better integration with cloud-native applications.
- Hyper-V: Enhancements in Hyper-V include improved virtual machine performance and better scalability for virtual workloads.
- Kubernetes: Native support for Kubernetes in Windows Server 2019 allows for easier deployment and management of containerized applications in both Windows and Linux environments.
5. Networking Improvements
- Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Provides more flexible, software-based management of networking resources, and integrates with SDN solutions.
- HTTP/2: Improved performance for web traffic and greater scalability in high-traffic environments.
- Network Performance Tuning: Includes support for features like RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access), enabling better network performance for storage and virtualization workloads.
6. Active Directory Enhancements
- Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS): Improved features for AD management, including enhanced security and support for larger environments.
- Windows Admin Center: Provides a modern interface for managing Active Directory.
7. Improved Server Management
- Windows Admin Center: Provides an easy-to-use, centralized management console that enables IT admins to manage Windows Server instances, Hyper-V, storage, and networking components all in one place.
- PowerShell 5.1: Enhanced PowerShell commands and features for improved scripting and automation.
8. Application Compatibility
- App Compatibility: Windows Server 2019 improves application compatibility for older Windows applications, making it easier to run legacy apps on modern server hardware.
- Web Server Improvements: Supports newer versions of IIS (Internet Information Services), enabling faster and more secure web application hosting.
9. Licensing and Scalability
- Licensing: The Standard edition of Windows Server 2019 provides up to two physical CPUs with 16 physical cores, and 24GB of memory for use in virtualized environments.
- Scalability: It supports more scalable hardware configurations compared to earlier versions, with up to 64 processors and 24TB of RAM in some configurations.
10. Failover Clustering
- Improved Failover Clustering: Enhances high availability for applications and services with more granular control and better stability.
11. Remote Desktop Services (RDS)
- Remote Desktop Licensing: Enhanced with easier deployment and better security for remote desktop services, enabling users to access company resources securely from anywhere.
Summary
Windows Server 2019 Standard is an enterprise-grade OS that provides powerful hybrid cloud integration, enhanced security features, advanced storage and networking capabilities, and modern management tools. It’s designed to meet the needs of businesses requiring robust IT infrastructure, virtualization, and cloud support while ensuring security and ease of management.
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