Microsoft Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019 is the fundamental answer to the current challenges of modern IT, which is increasingly shifting towards cloud-based applications and services, away from local data centers. The new Windows Server operating system is based on Windows 10 and is well equipped to meet these challenges: it offers many improvements to existing features as well as new ones that make it easier to work efficiently and effectively, while making management and protection of sensitive data even more comprehensive.
In addition, the Windows Server 2019 operating system tightly connects on-premises (local) environments with Azure. As a result, enterprises benefit from additional layers of security and new hybrid capabilities.
The Storage Migration Service tool not only facilitates the switch to the new server version, but also the migration of servers including data to the cloud. There, Azure File Sync or a Windows Server in Azure can serve as the storage location.
As with the previous version, Microsoft also retains the licensing form with Windows Server 2019 in the Standard and Datacenter editions, which is based on cores instead of CPUs.
Wiresoft offers the Windows Server 2019 editions Standard and Datacenter as 2-core licenses, as well as original, unused single licenses of a 16-core package. These come legally from volume licenses from companies that did not need the entire license volume.
Windows Server 2019 - the most important new functions and features
Compared to the 2016 version of Windows Server, Windows Server 2019 offers a number of improvements as well as additions that take both security and virtualization capabilities to a new level.
The hybrid features integrated in the 2019 version of the server enable even greater integration and the use of Microsoft Azure services in the local data center. Services such as Azure Backup, Azure Site Recovery as well as Azure Update Management and the Azure Network Adapter can now be used. The Azure Network Adapter offers the advantage of connecting an on-premises server to an Azure virtual network in the Azure cloud.
Below is an overview of the most important new services in Windows Server 2019:
Windows Server 2019 - Kubernetes support and expanded support for Linux
The Windows Server 2019 platform, like the previous version, supports containers or Kubernetes. Now it is also possible to use Linux and Windows containers in parallel, managed with Kubernetes. Kubernetes has also been supplemented with new functions such as container networking. Individual images for containers were also improved in the process. Added to this was the "windows" container image, which has a wider range of functions than the previous images.
Windows Server 2019 - Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI)
HCI platforms are great for server and desktop virtualization, they are relatively easy to implement and manage, as well as scale. Windows Server 2019 also offers new features here compared to the 2016 version, which significantly simplify the complexity and deployment and of IT infrastructures.
Windows Server 2019 - New services for Software Defined Networking (SDN)
Software Defined Networking also offers a number of improvements and additions in the 2019 version. New features here include firewall monitoring and the ability to peer two networks while seamlessly connecting them. Encrypted Networks provides secure encryption of virtual networks using Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS), which can prevent tampering and eavesdropping attempts.
Windows Server 2019 analytics with System Insights
Windows Server 2019 offers predictive analytics capabilities with System Insights. Supported by a machine learning model, server system data such as performance values and events can be analyzed and accurate predictions can be made to reduce the effort required to reactively manage Windows Server instances, such as those experiencing performance bottlenecks.
Windows Server 2019 - Increased security for sensitive data in Windows Server 2019
Threats to, or protection of, infrastructure and sensitive workloads continues to be a high priority for all modern enterprises. To that end, tools such as a Domain Controller and Shielded VMs are now available in Windows Server 2019. In addition, new features have been added to Windows Defender, such as Exploit Guard, which forms part of Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) and enables monitoring of access to the network and the documents and folders located there. Further, Azure AD security features such as Azure AD Banned Passwords and the Azure AD Password Protection allow to protect the local Active Directory.
Other features that are only included in the 2019 Datacenter server edition are described in the following comparison.
Windows Server 2019 - Windows Server 2019 Standard and Datacenter comparison
While the two server editions, Standard and Datacenter, have nearly identical feature sets, they differ in their respective virtualization capabilities. Which edition of Windows Server 2019 is best suited in each case is therefore mainly determined by the degree of virtualization that is operated in a company.
Thus, there are some differences that influence the decision to buy a particular edition: For example, Hyper-V is severely limited in the Standard edition, as is the use of Storage Spaces Direct and storage replication; here, only the Datacenter edition offers the full range of services.
Windows Server 2019 Standard
Windows Server 2019 Standard is suitable for smaller and also larger companies that need more advanced features. Unlimited container support is included in the Standard edition. However, when using Hyper-V containers, care must be taken to ensure that only two containers are allowed, as the Standard edition only allows 2 virtual machines (VMs).
The Standard edition has a RAM limit of 24 TB and no CPU limit, with a minimum of 16 cores per server and 8 cores per processor.
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter offers the widest feature set of the editions, with virtually unlimited virtualization rights, this version is ideal for the needs of organizations with large IT workloads and high virtualization.
As in the Standard edition, the RAM limit here is 24 TB and the number of cores is unlimited. However, the number of virtual machines and Hyper-V containers allowed is unlimited.
The main different features between the server editions Standard and Datacenter are the following:
Windows Server 2016 - Shielded Virtual Machines (Shielded VM)
Shielded Virtual Machines enables the creation and protection of highly secure virtualization infrastructures. Shielded VM compartmentalizes virtual servers and prevents unauthorized people from accessing and copying critical data from a VM that is outsourced to a public cloud, for example, and then launching it on a third-party server. Shielded VM thus provides reliable protection against data misuse and theft.
Windows Server 2016 - Software Defined Networking
SDN - Software Defined Networking - for Windows Server 2019 enables central configuration as well as dynamic management of physical network devices - such as routers and switches - as well as virtual ones - e.g. gateway.
Windows Server 2019 - Storage features
Server 2019 - Storage Spaces Direct and Storage Replica
Depending on the server edition, Windows Server 2019 offers a different scope of storage features, with only the Datacenter edition supporting all of Windows Server 2019's features in this regard. For example, the Standard edition does not have Storage Spaces Direct, but does have Storage Replica.
Server 2019 - Storage Replica for Windows Server
Storage Replica in Windows Server 2019 minimizes downtime with Disaster Preparedness and prevents data loss at the file system level. Here, both synchronous and asynchronous replication are supported by Storage Replica: In synchronous replication, Storage Replica mirrors data at physical sites with fail-safe volumes; in asynchronous replication, data is mirrored between sites using higher-latency network links.
Server 2019 - Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) - in data center servers only
With Storage Spaces Direct, the local data storage of servers can be combined into a virtual cluster. In this cluster, the nodes have different physical disks, which can also be different disk systems. The communication between the individual data carriers takes place with the SMB protocol. S2D not only simplifies the setup and administration of software-defined storage (SDS) systems, but and also enables the creation of scalable and highly available storage systems.
Server 2019 - Minimum hardware requirements for Windows Server 2019
To ensure the secure trouble-free operation ofWindows Server 2019, the following minimum requirements are necessary. The actual requirements depend in each case on the respective system configuration as well as installed applications.
RAM: 512 MB
2 GB for servers with the "desktop display" installation option
Hard disk space: 32 GB
Required processor speed: 1.4 GHz with 64Bit
Graphics card with support for Super VGA: 1,024 x 768 Px
Licensing Windows Server 2019 Standard and Datacenter
Microsoft's licensing model for the 2019 Windows Server Standard and Datacenter editions is based solely on the number of cores. As with the previous 2016 version, the per-core licensing introduced by Microsoft is based on two CPU cores each as the minimum unit. In addition to the hardware (core license), the clients accessing Windows Server 2019 must also be licensed (CALs).
How does core licensing of Windows Server 2019 work?
Windows Server 2019 licensing is always based on physical hardware. Each license covers two physical processor cores. Both Windows Server 2019 Standard Edition and Datacenter Edition are licensed based on the number of processor cores of the physical server on which the server operating system is to be installed.
According to Microsoft's licensing regulations, a minimum licensing of 8 cores per processor applies - regardless of the actual number of cores, which may be lower. Thus, when licensing a server with 2 processors, at least 16 cores are charged, so 8 2-core license packs are required.
Additional licensing requirements for Windows Server 2019
Each Standard server licensed with Windows Server 2019 entitles you to run a maximum of two Hyper-V instances per core license. However, if more Hyper-V instances are required in the Standard edition, all active cores must be relicensed.
In the Windows Server 2019 Datacenter version, on the other hand, there is no limitation in terms of VMs. The prerequisite is that all processor cores of the server are licensed.
A server licensed for 16 cores can run a maximum of 2 Windows servers. For the execution of 3 Windows servers, a licensing of 32 cores is then required. However, no additional license is required for Linux instances.
Buy Windows Server 2019 editions cheap at Wiresoft
Windows Server 2019 editions are available from Wiresoft in Standard and Datacenter editions. Depending on whether you want to supplement existing licenses of Windows Server 2019 or license your servers with the new edition, you have the choice between 2-core additional licenses or individual volume licenses from 16-core packages for the Standard and the Datacenter edition. In doing so, Wiresoft offers low-cost unused licenses from companies that are purchased legally.
Thus, when purchasing Windows Server 2019 lic enses from Wiresoft, you will receive only original unused licenses that come from European companies and are therefore compatible. They have been thoroughly checked by Wiresoft beforehand for authenticity as well as flawless functionality. Many satisfied Wiresoft customers confirm this. Please feel free to contact us for any questions regarding your licensing needs for Windows Server editions 2019 Standard and Datacenter.
