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Deleted's avatar
Deleted
Mar 16, 2019
Solved

Server-insider Build LTSC When next available to download

When or is Microsoft going to make available another Server 2019 LTSC Desktop Experience build for me to download and test? I cannot stand Server Core.  And I question why a Business should be inter...
Desktop
General
management
  • NZ_BenThomas's avatar
    NZ_BenThomas
    Mar 17, 2019

    Deleted It's simple. Windows (Server/client) now has 2 servicing streams. Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) and Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC). SAC builds are released every 6 months, and for server, these are targeted at workloads like containers, where rapid feature release is needed, and workloads are more disposable. And funnily enough, containers need to be lightweight and are gui-less. 

    Then there is the LTSC builds, and they represent the traditional 3 year release cycle. These are great for traditional workloads, RDS and infrastructure workloads like HCI. These come with a GUI option.

     

    Seeing as 2019 just dropped, and its an LTSC build, the current insider builds are focused on the next release, which will be a SAC build, hence no GUI. If you're wanting to work on the new, go and use WS2019, and start providing feedback on that so that when the time comes, MS will know what you want in the next LTSC.

    Or, start focusing on modern workloads so that you can take advantage of SAC builds.

     

    Also, with SAC and Server Core, there is now 2 new things to make administration easier, Windows Admin Center and Features On Demand! Windows Admin Center is the way forward for Windows Server Management, however a lot of the features are still missing, so in the meantime there is Features On Demand, which allows you to install the good old MMC tools on Server Core and get some of that old classic management experience back.

     

    More info here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/semi-annual-channel-overview 

NZ_BenThomas's avatar
NZ_BenThomas
MVP
Mar 17, 2019

Deleted It's simple. Windows (Server/client) now has 2 servicing streams. Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) and Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC). SAC builds are released every 6 months, and for server, these are targeted at workloads like containers, where rapid feature release is needed, and workloads are more disposable. And funnily enough, containers need to be lightweight and are gui-less. 

Then there is the LTSC builds, and they represent the traditional 3 year release cycle. These are great for traditional workloads, RDS and infrastructure workloads like HCI. These come with a GUI option.

 

Seeing as 2019 just dropped, and its an LTSC build, the current insider builds are focused on the next release, which will be a SAC build, hence no GUI. If you're wanting to work on the new, go and use WS2019, and start providing feedback on that so that when the time comes, MS will know what you want in the next LTSC.

Or, start focusing on modern workloads so that you can take advantage of SAC builds.

 

Also, with SAC and Server Core, there is now 2 new things to make administration easier, Windows Admin Center and Features On Demand! Windows Admin Center is the way forward for Windows Server Management, however a lot of the features are still missing, so in the meantime there is Features On Demand, which allows you to install the good old MMC tools on Server Core and get some of that old classic management experience back.

 

More info here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/semi-annual-channel-overview 

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