Windows Nano Server

Windows Nano Server is the compact version of the Windows Server 2016 operating system, optimized for clouds and containers Windows Server and Hyper-V.

2016: Nano Server Image Builder

On October 18, 2016 Microsoft announced release of Nano Server Image Builder.

The product represents the graphical interface for creation of images of Nano Server and boot files for USB.

Screenshot of the software window, (2016)

Main Functions:

• Creation of the Nano Server graphical interface in about tens of user preferences.
• Create the USB key for detection of the firm ware and hardware settings of the server.
• Creation of a boot USB key which can be used for Nano Server installation directly on the equipment.
• If desired it is possible to create the boot ISO file which can be used for deployment from DVD or the BMC connected servers.
• Creation of the PowerShell command which can be reused, changing a machine name.

2015: Windows Nano Server

On April 8, 2015 Microsoft submitted^[1].

Nano Server is the reorganized version of the Windows Server system of small volume. It is established and controlled remotely. According to the statement of vendor, the product is created to reduce quantity of patches and updates, reset time, for more effective use of resources and increased security.

Nano Server contains only necessary components. As a result:

• more compact server images,
• implementation is quicker carried out,
• smaller volume of network traffic,
• smaller downtime
• higher security.

The new product is focused on use, generally in two scenarios:

• support of the cloud applicaions written in the different languages (C#, Java, Node.js, Python other) started in containers, virtual machines or physical servers;
• support of computing clusters from Hyper-V and clusters of storage with Scale-out File Server.

Using Nano Server Microsoft could reduce the volume of the image file of a system by 93%, to reduce the number of the critical bulletins of security which are subject to installation by 92% and for 80% to reduce the number of necessary resets.

That to execute it, developers removed from Nano Server a set of components, including the graphical user interface, the installer and support of 32-bit applications (WOW64 component). System management is executed exclusively remotely using the WMI and PowerShell tools.

Nano Server will be available in 2016, together with Windows Server 2016. In the preliminary version of Windows Server 2016 planned to release in May, 2015, the new component will not enter.

Notes