New servicing branch: Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) of Configuration Manager

Yesterday a new announcement has been done. There is a new servicing branch called: Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) of Configuration Manager. Where ConfigMgr Current Branch offers new functionality and support for Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, LTSB of Configuration Manager is not. When Software Assurance (SA) or equivalent subscription rights became expired, customers, per product terms, would have to move back to ConfigMgr 2012 (R2). Besides of support for an fixed 10-year lifecycle (and equivalent subscription rights as mentioned), I guess there is no need to use the LTSB version of Configuration Manager.

While the LTSB is derived from the current branch of Configuration Manager (version 1606), it is scaled back and reduced in functionality to permit the extended support model. LTSB of Configuration Manager will not receive new functionality or support for new Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016. It will continue to receive security updates only. By design, LTSB of Configuration Manager is intended to be fixed in functionality and very infrequently updated, so any features or components that require continuous updating or are tied to a cloud service have been removed. What's left is ConfigMgr 2012 (R2) with less features and no Hybrid MDM.

These removed features include:
-Support for Windows 10 Current Branch (CB) and Current Branch for Business (CBB)
-Support for the future releases of Windows 10 LTSB and Windows Server
-Windows 10 Servicing Dashboard and Servicing Plans
-The ability to add a Microsoft Intune Subscription, which prevents the use of Hybrid MDM and on-premises MDM
-Asset Intelligence
-Cloud-based Distribution Point
-Support for Exchange Online as an Exchange Connector
-Any pre-release features available in the current branch of Configuration Manager

Not my cup of tea :-)
Source: Enterprise Mobility and Security Blog

System Center 2016 and Windows Server 2016 available for download now!

As for today System Center 2016 and Windows Server 2016 bits are available for download. Strange that Microsoft decided to announce General Availability (GA) during Microsoft Ignite, and publish bits two weeks later for download?

Within System Center 2016, the 1606 version of Configuration Manager is included. Customers still on ConfigMgr 2012 (R2) can upgrade directly to 1606 now. No need to upgrade to 1511 (RTM) first and upgrade to 1606 afterwards.

System Center 2016

 

Windows Server 2016

Just download the bits and happy upgrade! :-)

Microsoft Hybrid Cloud (12-10):
Another big step in Hybrid Cloud – Windows Server 2016 general availability
Managing the software-defined datacenter with System Center 2016

System Center 2016 and Windows Server 2016 release date

It was known already that both System Center 2016 and Windows Server 2016 were released in Q3 this year. On several blogposts now it's mentioned that both solutions will be launched at the Microsoft Ignite conference in late September. Let's have a look at some highlights of both solutions:

System Center 2016 aims to ease the deployment, configuration, management and monitoring of your virtualized, software-defined datacenter and hybrid cloud infrastructure built on Windows Server 2016. A key goal of System Center 2016 is to improve the performance and the usability of System Center components to enhance your operational experience.

Highlights of System Center 2016 include:
-Support for new Windows Server 2016 technologies, including lifecycle management for Nano server-based hosts and virtual machines, Storage Spaces Direct, and shielded virtual machines;
-Performance and usability improvements, including all the update rollups since System Center 2012 R2, improved UNIX and Linux monitoring, and ability to tune management packs and alerts;
-Native integrations with Microsoft Operations Management Suite to give you expanded analytics, data correlation, orchestration, archival, and hybrid management capabilities.

Windows Server 2016 is the cloud-ready operating system that delivers new layers of security and Azure-inspired innovation for the applications and infrastructure that power your business.

Highlights of Windows Server 2016 include:
-Increase security and reduce business risk with multiple layers of protection built into the operating system.
-Evolve your datacenter to save money and gain flexibility with software-defined datacenter technologies inspired by Microsoft Azure.
-Innovate faster with an application platform optimized for the applications you run today, as well as the cloud-native apps of tomorrow.

Just great to have new functionality coming soon!

Used sources:
System Center 2016 to launch in September
What’s new in System Center 2016 Technical Preview 5
Windows Server 2016 new Current Branch for Business servicing option

Install the GUI on Windows Server Technical Preview 2

During Microsoft Ignite last month, Windows Server Technical Preview 2 is released. More information about Microsoft Ignite announcements can be found here: Microsoft Ignite 2015 (Event) recap. Download of Windows Server Technical Preview 2 can be done on Microsoft Evaluation Center. When installing Windows Server Technical Preview 2, no GUI is installed by default. Let's have a look at the installation steps needed to have a GUI again.
 

This option (recommended) reduces management and servicing by installing only what is needed to run most server roles and applications. It does not include a GUIU, but you can fully manage the server locally or remotely with Windows PowerShell or other tools.
 

This option is useful when local admin tools are required (for example, to provide backward compatibility for an admin tool that cannot be run remotely). All server roles and features are supported.
 

Change password (look-and-feel) when choosing "Windows Server Technical Preview 2"

 

Change password when choosing "Windows Server Technical Preview 2 (with local admin tools)"

 

After installation run PowerShell from the command prompt. Start the following cmdlet to install the GUI and reboot the server:

Install-WindowsFeature Server-GUI-Shell -Restart

Just great to have the GUI back again (if you want it like me)! Windows Server 2016 (final name) will be released some time next year. Stay tuned for more!