Microsoft will offer a core version of Windows Server 2019, which comes without a desktop and is managed via PowerShell and Admin Center. But there is also a desktop version available.
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Already in March 2018 Microsoft had announced the upcoming Windows Server 2019 version in the blog entry Windows Server 2019. In a new blog post Server Core and Server with Desktop: Which one is best for you, dated from July 5, 2018, the Windows Server team presents its plans for the future. And they're quite a surprise. Ned Pyle pointed out the new features via Twitter:
Windows Server 2019 in Core mode benefits from Windows Admin Center & the Server Core App Compatibility feature. For many workloads & environments, you can ditch the desktop. Give it a go. https://t.co/gxHIMmGaKX
— Ned Pyle (@NerdPyle) 6. Juli 2018
Windows Server Core
According to Microsoft, for most server scenarios, the Server Core installation option is the best (and recommended) choice. A server core installation comes without a desktop and is suitable for large data centers and clouds, both physical and virtual. According to Microsoft, the smaller footprint of Server Core provides a smaller attack surface and is therefore less vulnerable than the Desktop Server option.
Microsoft writes, that in the past users have had problems running apps that require local GUI interaction on Server Core. Either the apps fail to install or, worse, they fail later or just don't run right. Microsoft adding a new Server Core-based application compatibility feature to address these problems. Admins can install it or uninstall it on demand.
For Windows Server Insiders, it's possible to get the Server Core App Compatibility feature-on-demand (FOD) now, if some of the apps don't run (well) on server core.Microsoft hopes, that most of this pass run well with the App Compatibility FOD. New server management apps should be designed to work remotely, ideally as extensions to Windows Admin Center. According to Microsoft, you can overtime use Server Core everywhere without the App Compatibility FOD at all. On Twitter @SwiftOnSecurity expressed the whole thing with this tweet:
Breaking: Microsoft confirms Server 2019 is dropping Desktop Experience, will only support PowerShell and Hololens.
— SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) 6. Juli 2018
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Of course there is also an installation variant of Windows Server 2019, called Desktop, which comes with the usual desktop from Windows 10 including start menu. Further details may be read at Server Core and Server with Desktop: Which one is best for you,
