Forum Discussion
Support for M365 Apps (O365) on Windows 2022
We have a large number of Windows Server 2016 with M365 Apps (O365) and need to upgrade these servers now (end of support for WS2016 is Jan 2022).
The next server product to install for us would be Windows Server 2022, unfortunately there is no support for M365 apps (O365).
In general, it looks like the support of M365 Apps for Server OS will be discontinued 2025.
We want to get a statement from Microsoft as to whether Microsoft intends to support M365 Apps (O365) on Windows Server 2022 at some point.
Now we have to make a strategic decision.
The time is not long until 2025!
The way is not to AVD or Microsoft Azure HCI, but the way is away from the concept of application (or desktop) "remoting" and thus we as customers are no longer available for AVD and Windows 365!
First off I would like to thank everyone for the feedback and apologize for the delay in responding to this thread. Your feedback has made a difference, and sparked many internal discussions... we have customers running M365 on WS2016 and WS2019 today, and we want to enable staying current and secure being able to upgrade to WS2022.
<UPDATED EDIT> In response to your feedback we have announced support for M365 on Windows Server 2022, please see this link for additional information:
Windows Server end of support and Microsoft 365 Apps - Deploy Office | Microsoft Learn
Again, thank you for your feedback and passion!!
Elden Christensen
Principal Group PM Manager
Windows Server Development Team
- Hi,
I see this thread moving away from the original question. The key questions we all ask ourselves are:
- Will there be a multi-session Windows as a replacement for terminal services in the future?
- Will there be the same M365 Apps (Office) support for this multi-session OS as for the standard Windows client?
- Will this multi-session OS also be available on all currently dominant hypervisors?
- Will there be a LTSC variant of this multi-session Windows OS?
Honestly, I think it doesn't matter whether this OS is called Windows Server or Windows Enterprise.
best regards
Reinhard- Hi,
Microsoft have already made a statement that Multi-Session Windows is available On premise, however this is limited to Azure Stack HCI. M365 Apps will be supported on this in line with the Modern Lifecyle policy as it is the same as used for Azure Virtual Desktop.
There are however some issues with this is as follows:
1) No availability for running Multi Session Windows on other hyper-visors - Windows Multi Session checks it is on Azure.
2) Azure Stack HCI has additional licensing requirements (although these are bundled if the customer has Software Assurance on their Windows Server licenses or CSP Subscription).
3) Azure Stack HCI is not permitted for use in multi-tenant environments - effectively Microsoft has locked out all other cloud providers from running Windows Multi Session on their platforms as most would potentially run Azure Stack HCI.
4) Azure Stack Hub used to be pushed into multi-tenant environments - Microsoft has now told manufacturers to not push this into multi-tenant environments as it has too much of an overhead - it is also limited in what it can do - instead Stack Hub is now pushed into single-tenant large customers for internal DC specialist workload use.
5) I suspect there will never be an LTSC variant of M365 Apps as it is not designed to be LTSC as this would break Microsoft's ability to take the application forwards.
6) MS Teams Support - Microsoft do not have an option on RDS for Teams Video unless you add on Citrix - but they include the option natively in Azure Virtual Desktop with the new connection broker via WebRTC- ie they need a native on-premise option for this with RDS (There are actually unofficial guides online on how to get the new AVD Client working with RDS and supporting WebRTC - so it cannot be that hard to achieve).
7) Microsoft currently has a licensing anomaly around use of Windows Desktop OnPremise or in Cloud - The recent licensing changes are welcome which permit wider use of Windows OS, however Microsoft have still created a preferential scenario for smaller customers by allowing customers to use Windows OS for free in Azure/Azure Stack HCI with MS365 Business Premium subscriptions put not permitting this on customers alternate hypervisors or alternate cloud provider environments.
Personally I feel that the majority of customers just need choice - allowing Multi-Session Windows with fair and equal licensing and full functionality on any hyper-visor (subject to any required conditions e.g. supports windows etc), via any cloud provider and on any model (On-Premise or Cloud/Dedicated or Shared) would remove the majority of concerns for the majority of customers (I do understand that certain specific environments would still not be able to follow Modern Lifecycle). All of this alongside resolving the continued and growing concerns from the regulators regarding potential anti-competitive practices both in licensing and cloud.
- Just to close the loop: looks like official support came out with v2302 (released 2/28/2023): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/endofsupport/windows-server-support#windows-server-2022
- Yes, we see that too. The way that page is written however, it almost makes it seem like another LTSC version of Windows (or Office!) will be released only grudgingly, with Microsoft always hinting that this may be the last time. This thread in general has moved from discussing that specific support item to trying to encourage Microsoft NOT to move to the "move fast and break things" philosophy... or the "make your customers pay more by dragging them to the cloud for everything"... we kind of need someone in IT to stay away from those ideas. Maybe it simply needs to go out of fashion?
I would say one thing is abundantly clear. Microsoft are not making decisions on what is logical or best for their customer, they're dictating licensing conditions and software support, and artificially crippling operating system (server and desktop), to forcefully steer customers to a more expensive (profitable) platform that in most cases, cost aside, isn't even the best solution for the customer.
This isn't necessarily unsual for a company, though normally if you just make a great product the profitability comes easy, especially with software. What's maybe different here is Microsoft are not really try to hide the fact, and with the restriction on Win 10/11 multi-session licensing being exclusive to Azure, it's also very anti-competitive. It's a court case waiting to happen in my opinion.
Anyway, the whole situation just seems totally unecessary as it's clearly not a technical limitation. Must be frustrating for the developers and almost everybody else at Microsoft who just want to make the best products they can.Hi EldenChristensen maybe I am not properly informed, but it seems that the option to host AVD on Azure Stack HCI is often noted here. But is there any pricing or Product Terms update yet to allow this?
Again, I could be missing something, but there is no commitment for production yet in terms of licensing and cost. Kindly asking for clarification.
edit:
Elden: "At Ignite we announced that Enterprise Agreement customers with Software Assurance can exchange their existing licensed cores of Windows Server Datacenter to get Azure Stack HCI at no additional cost."
It is not yet mirrored in Product Terms, but it seems this is going to be expanded (and was intended by Microsoft) for all licensing programs offering Windows Server Datacenter with SA or SA equivalent rights. I am still working torwards a clarification and this to be added to Product Terms. Hope it is coming.Deleted AVD on Stack HCI is in preview, and has been for a while, so Product Terms and finalized pricing aren't available. Currently available details are here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/azure-stack-hci-overview#pricing
JimGaynor is there any ETA to GA for this? As you said it is in preview for quite a while and customers are hesitant to plan this option as RDSH / Citrix alternative when they have no visibility about prices and terms. They are unlikely eager to put any workloads in testing or even production stage, even in preview until terms are clear. This mindset differs from customer to customer or region to region. But from what I see AVD in Azure is the only option that is being discussed by deciders as alternative, which is quite sad.
- Honestly this is showing the middle finger to msp/csp. What about after 2026 when msps are not allowed to run m365 apps on Terminal server?
Run everything on azure and fire 80% of technicians because profit margins are tiny in your cloud?
I‘m furious- As CSP we have Customers who wouldn't put der Workload to Azure. They would put their Server Back to their location and move from Office 365 to SPLA Office or to a alternative.
So their is fewer Cloud Value for Microsoft. And Problems for their Partners to have Managed Products for their Customers.
I would like to have Azure Stack HCI for multi Tenancy. So we can put different Customers on a Azure Stack HCI. This would help to make the transformation to the Cloud easier.- Yes i hope microsoft makes this happen
JoachimKroneMicrosoft
EldenChristensen - has there been a decision?- TJ_Devine
JoachimKrone Sorry for the delay -- we've had to dot a few i's on the business side, but as Elden shared we've been actively working on the topic. This morning we announced that, based on feedback from customers, we are updating our support policy for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2022, available through October 2026 (mainstream support). The announcement is here: Windows Server 2022 adds support for Microsoft 365 Apps - Microsoft Community Hub and we'll have the support and documentation updated in coming days. Thank you for your patience!
Thanks TJ_Devine - I guess what all of us are wondering is how long MS will offer on-premise software we need for our clients. I'd hate to wake up one day and find out there will never be another Office LTSC, that the next Windows server won't offer RDS, and now you have to re-architect everything to be different yet again. I'm not sure what assurances you can offer about any of that, but we'd hate Microsoft to go the way of Adobe with cloud-only stuff forever.
rtravni42 we're facing same problem - strategic decisions how to handle onPrem RDS with M365 cannot wait until 2025. Provide multi-session Win10/11 for onPrem or keep RDS alive!
Really appreciate EldenChristensen looking into this! Keep going!
- EldenChristensen
F_Neumann just for awareness there is another on-prem option, Azure Virtual Desktop is coming to Azure Stack HCI. This will allow running Windows 10 and Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session virtual desktops on-prem. It's currently in preview:
Azure Virtual Desktop for Azure Stack HCI (preview) - Azure | Microsoft Docs
Thanks!
EldenYeah, but again you forgot Support for Multitanant Scenarios.
Sorry to say this, but all your team is delivering are peaces, not a working model for broad markets.
1) Get Multitanancy to ASHCI Sceranios
2) Get Support for M365 on Server 2022 BUT also be clear what the restrictions are
3) Get clear about the end of support for M365 in remote scenarios in 2025 and stay with your decision before everyone will put ton of investments into it and you rethink it in 2024...
SO make your homework, for all partners, not just for the enterprice customers....
- This is a pretty naked power & cash grab by Microsoft. They're basically saying - we have you over a barrel, and we're going to make you pay in the worst way possible. You will be forced to subscribe to every piece of software we release, whether it's Windows, Office, or Exchange. How long until they say they'll only support it in THEIR cloud? Because that's the next step.
- We have the same issue.
Please include support for Microsoft 365 Apps on Server 2022.- Where do we launch a formal complaint regarding this? greatquux is right, and we need to push back. We are already completely re-examining our platform choices for clients due to this change in policy.
- We are now about to say goodbye to RDS. We have 90% less RDS CALs and server cores to license and will bring our customers to other solutions in the next month. What a stupid decision by ms. They could still have cashed in for a workstation and terminal server...
Will the new One Outlook work on Server 2022 for RDP? If so, then can at least configure for exchange email and clients can use outlook. Also, if not One Outlook, just any future version of outlook that is not called Office 365?
In short want a solution for RDP on Server 2022 with standalone ver of Outlook.
- That is my issue too.
See https://vdnieuwenhof.eu/do-we-need-to-upgrade-to-windows-server-2022-for-rds-citrix/ and more; Outlook apparently is not supported on Windows 2022 but Office 2019 should work.
Can anybody confirm this?
