NEW! Mirantis Academy -   Learn confidently with expert guidance and On-demand content.   Learn More

< BLOG HOME

Announcing Support for Windows Server 2019 within Docker Enterprise

Staff - January 29, 2019
image
Docker is pleased to announce support within the Docker Enterprise container platform for the Windows Server 2019 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release and the Server 1809 Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) release. Windows Server 2019 brings the range of improvements that debuted in the Windows Server 1709 and 1803 SAC releases into a LTSC release preferred by most customers for production use. The addition of Windows Server 1809 brings support for the latest release for customers who prefer to work with the Semi-Annual Channel. As with all supported Windows Server versions, Docker Enterprise enables Windows Server 2019 and Server 1809 to be used in a mixed cluster alongside Linux nodes.

Windows Server 2019 includes the following improvements:
  • Ingress routing
  • VIP service discovery
  • Named pipe mounting
  • Relaxed image compatibility requirements
  • Smaller base image sizes

Docker and Microsoft: A rich history of advancing containers

Docker and Microsoft have been working together since 2014 to bring containers to Windows Server applications, along with the benefits of isolation, portability and security. Docker and Microsoft first brought container technology to Windows Server 2016 which ships with a Docker Enterprise Engine, ensuring consistency for the same Docker Compose file and CLI commands across both Linux and Windows Server environments. Recognizing that most enterprise organizations have both Windows Server and Linux applications in their environment, we followed that up in 2017 with the ability to manage mixed Windows Server and Linux clusters in the same Docker Enterprise environment with Docker Swarm, enabling support for hybrid applications and driving higher efficiencies and lower overhead for organizations. In 2018 we extended customer choice by adding support for the Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) Windows Server 1709 and 1803 releases.

Delivering choice of container orchestration

Docker Enterprise 2.1 supports both Swarm and Kubernetes orchestrators interchangeably in the same cluster. Docker and Microsoft are now working together to let you deploy Windows workloads with Kubernetes while leveraging all the advanced application management and security features of Docker Enterprise. While the Kubernetes community work to support Windows Server 2019 is still in beta, investments made today using Docker Enterprise to containerize Windows applications using Swarm can translate to Kubernetes when available.

Accelerating your legacy Windows Server migration

Docker Enterprise’s Support for Windows Server 2019 also provides customers with more options for migrating their legacy Windows Server workloads from Windows Server 2008, which is facing end-of-life, to a modern OS. The Docker Windows Server Application Migration Program represents the best and only way to containerize and secure legacy Windows Server applications while enabling software-driven business transformation. By containerizing legacy applications and their dependencies with the Docker Enterprise container platform, they can be moved to Windows Server 2019, without code changes, saving millions in development costs. Docker Enterprise is the only container platform to support Windows Global Managed Service Accounts (gMSAs) – a crucial component in containerizing applications that require the ability to work with external services via Integrated Windows Authentication.

Next steps

  • Read more about Getting started with Windows containers
  • Try the new Windows container experience today, using a Windows Server 2019 machine or Windows 10 with Microsoft’s latest 1809 update.
  • All the Docker labs for Windows containers are being updated to use Windows Server 2019 – you can follow along with the labs, and see how Docker containers on Windows continue to advance.

Choose your cloud native journey.

Whatever your role, we’re here to help with open source tools and world-class support.

GET STARTED
NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter for exclusive interviews, expert commentary, and thought leadership on topics shaping the cloud native world.

JOIN NOW