Windows Server 2016 Datacenter (1607) to 1809 options

[Jaan]

Can i do a inplace update to 1809 using WSUS or do i have to reinstall from fresh and install 1809 LTSC?

 

I'm hoping to run the clients on 10 1809 LTSC

 

or should i be going to Server 2019? We don't use azure or 365 here as we primarily use Gsuite or Office 2013 Pro Plus.

 

We're thinking have both the clients and server on the same channel would make more sense. But i'm totally confused over the Server upgrade paths.

 

cheers

[LytchettNM]

We are still running a few servers on 2012r2 and slowly upgrading to 2016 i’ve not tried an in-place upgrade on a server if you do please let me know how it goes, not had any issue so far with clients on 1803/ 1809 and servers not.

But are you aware that new version of server are core only?

[itwasntme]

Server 2019 has desktop experience. Is server 1809 core only? Edited October 15, 2018 by itwasntme

[LytchettNM]

Yes i was thinking about server v1809 and was not aware of the Server 2019.

[Michael]

No massive rush - Server 2016 is supported until 2027!

[Norphy]

There are two distinct versions of Windows Server:

 

You have the "Windows Server" version with versions like 1709, 1803, 1809. These are in the Semi-Annual Channel (SAC). They're support for (I think) 18 months (although possibly the x09 releases are now supported for 30 months like Windows 10, I don't know). These are the more bleeding edge builds and have the new features which will probably be rolled up into the next LTSC build. The SAC versions of Windows Server are Core only.

 

Then you have the "Windows Server (Year)" branch with versions like 2016, 2019. These are in the Long Term Support Channel (LTSC). They are updated every three years and are supported for five years in the mainstream and five years after that for extended support. The LTSC gets security updates but receives no feature updates until the next version. The LTSC has both the Desktop Experience and Core versions.

 

MS recommend that most applications use the LTSC version.

[Jaan]

I'm still confused with this release.

 

Is server 2019 build 1809?

 

so server 2016 wont get 1809?

 

or is it a new product?

 

I'll be running Win 10 LTSC clients (1809) and would like to have the server of the same support branch. I'm not sure if i need 2016 (1809 LTSC) or if server 2019 IS 1809?

 

I struggling to get my head around this..... although it is Monday!

 

Wiki says that the current build of Server 2019 is 10.0.17763..... but my Windows 10 install (1809) is 17763.55 (this was an inplace update by WSUS, not on the LTSC branch)

 

All my servers are running Server 2016 DC 1607 14393.2485......

 

Any links of enlightenment will be highly appreciated.

 

cheers

[Michael]

To the best of my knowledge, you can support Windows 1809 clients with Server 2016, but if I'm wrong, I'd just create/load a VM of Server 2019 and leave the rest 'as is'.

[Norphy]

Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server 1809 are built on the same codebase and will have feature equivalence for now. Server 2019 is in the LTSC, Server 1809 is in the SAC. If you want a long term supported version of Windows Server, use Windows Server 2019, NOT Windows Server 1809.

 

Windows Server 2016 is built around the same codebase as Windows 10 1607 and LTSC 2015. Windows Server 2019 is based on Windows 10 1809 and LTSC 2019.

 

If you use a build with a year number after it, you're golden.

[Jaan]

Cool thanks, its server 2019 i need then if i'm running Windows 10 LTSC 1809. Both of which are a LTSC channel and the same "builds" of OS?

 

Thanks for your input. Not doing anything yet, just planning. I bet an inplace update isn't supported? especially for Dcs

 

Thanks again

Edited October 15, 2018 by Jaan

[Norphy]

If you're using LTSC on the desktop (without wanting to get into a long drawn debate, I would advise against it personally), be careful about terminology again.

 

Windows 10 1809 is NOT the LTSC. If you get Education/Enterprise 1809, you'll get the version on the SAC with all of the WPF apps. If you want LTSC, you will need to download Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019. THAT is the LTSC based on the 1809 build.

Edited October 15, 2018 by Norphy

[Jaan]

That makes sense now thanks. If you want LTSC you have to download it from the licensing portal. It doesn't have a build number in its title but it does have a year.

 

Our Tech machines have been built from 1803 and updated to 1809 via wsus. Our "test" PC was built from the 2019 LTSC iso from the portal.

 

our Wsus server display this as below;

 

 

So the only windows 10 on the LTSC channel (and still running 1809) is the test pc. the other four windows 10 pcs are running 1809, but aren't LTSC and will be able to get feature updates if we approve them.

 

I don't have a server 2019 instance yet.

 

But i assume it would be something like "Server Datacenter 2019 LTSC" (from a clean install, not inplace update?) and not simply Server Datacenter 2016 as we currently have.

 

 

Thanks again for your input.

Edited October 15, 2018 by Jaan