Today, Microsoft released Windows Server Insider Preview build 17079. Interestingly, the build replaces 17074, which was released only a week ago. Typically, new Server builds only show up about once a month.
One thing that's worth noting is that with Windows Server Redstone 4 previews, you no longer need a product key like you did with previous updates. It's included in the build now, which will expire on July 2. After that date, you'll be expected to upgrade to the production version.
Here's what's new:
In-place OS Upgrade: Customers are now able to upgrade their Windows Server, version 1709 installations to the current preview build using In-place OS Upgrade. This feature is available starting in build 17079. This feature also enables customers to perform build-to-build upgrade of the next released preview build.
Running setup.exe, customers should be presented with the option to “Keep personal files and apps”, which causes the migration steps in setup.exe to run and upgrade Windows Server while preserving applications, data, and user settings.
Please refer to the Known Issues section below for additional information.
Tell us more. How might your organization benefit from upgrade functionality? Please let us know by completing this short survey. Thanks in advance. Survey link
Developers and Containers
- Optimized Server Core container base images (30% smaller). Available on Windows Insider Docker Hub here
- MSMQ now installs in a Server Core container
- Key Application Compatibility bug fixes
There are some known issues, which are much fewer than the last build:
[NEW] When Hypervisor Code Integrity (HVCI) is enabled, a system may fail to start. On affected systems, firmware locates UEFI runtime services in memory described as Memory-Mapped I/O (MMIO).
Running nanoserver-insider containers on a Windows Server Core host will fail, and may crash the host.
As a workaround, you can add “—isolation=hyperv” when running or building the containers such as “docker run –isolation=hyperv microsoft/nanoserver-insider”.
There are also some known issues that have to do with In-place OS Upgrade:
(1) Drives that are protected with BitLocker should have BitLocker suspended (disabled) before In-place OS Upgrade, and resumed (enabled) after In-place OS Upgrade.
(2) AD Domain Controllers might not upgrade correctly – please backup any AD DC before applying In-place OS Upgrade.
Windows Server Insider Preview build 17079 is available in both ISO and VHDX formats, and you can download it here.
6 Comments - Add comment