Microsoft confirms plans for cloud-oriented 'Nano Server' in Windows Server 2016

Stripped down Windows Server containers to encourage organisations to develop cloud apps on Windows instead of Linux

Microsoft has confirmed plans to include "Nano Server" technology into the forthcoming Windows Server 2016 - although the technology will not make it into the preview coming out in May.

Plans for Nano Server had been leaked in March when Microsoft mole "WZor" published a slide-deck from Windows Server senior program manager Refaat Issa, which included details of the technology and how the stripped-down version should also improve reliability and security.

However, in a Microsoft Technet blogpost today, distinguished engineer and lead architect Jeffrey Snover finally unveiled details of Microsoft's plans for both Nano Server and containerised applications that can be run in the cloud.

"Nano Server is a deeply re-factored version of Windows Server with a small footprint and remotely managed installation, optimised for the cloud and a DevOps workflow. It is designed for fewer patch and update events, faster restarts, better resource utilization and tighter security," wrote Snover.

Nano Server focuses on two main areas, he added. First, "born-in-the-cloud applications" supporting multiple programming languages and run times, such as C#, Java, Node.js, Python and others. These can run in containers, on virtual machines, or on physical servers. Second, Microsoft's Cloud Platform infrastructure, supporting compute clusters running Hyper-V, and storage clusters running Scale-out File Server.

"Nano Server will allow customers to install just the components they require and nothing more," promised Snover. As a result, it would require a 93 per cent smaller virtual hard-disk size, 92 per cent fewer critical bulletins and 80 per cent fewer reboots.

He continued: "To achieve these benefits, we removed the GUI stack, 32-bit support (WOW64), MSI [Microsoft software installer] and a number of default server core components. There is no local log-on or remote desktop support. All management is performed remotely via WMI and PowerShell.

"We are also adding Windows Server roles and features using features-on-demand and DISM [deployment image servicing and management]. We are improving remote manageability via PowerShell with desired-state configuration, as well as remote file transfer, remote script authoring and remote debugging. We are working on a set of new web-based management tools to replace local in-box management tools."

However, Nano Server will be API-compatible with other versions of Windows Server within the subset of components that it includes. Visual Studio will be fully supported, including remote debugging capabilities and notifications when APIs reference unsupported Nano Server components.

He added: "We are working with Microsoft Visual Studio and System Center as well as partners like Chef to ensure that Nano Server works seamlessly in a DevOps continuous deployment and management workflow."

While Nano Server and the containerisation of Windows Server answers a growing demand for customers for more cloud-friendly technology from Microsoft, it is more significant in terms of the growing battle for dominance between Microsoft, Google, Amazon and others in cloud computing.

This week, for example, Google led a $12m round of funding for CoreOS, a company bidding to make a stripped-down version of Linux that will be more cloud friendly. By taking out the extraneous services that aren't required, the operating system running applications in the cloud can scale-up more easily and provide better performance. It also improves security by removing unnecessary components.

However, for a proprietary software vendor like Microsoft, stripped down cloud operating systems and containerisation also make it easier for developers to build applications that can run on multiple operating systems or cloud - reducing vendor lock-in and the ability of vendors to charge a premium for their software and services.

Microsoft is promising to release more details about Nano Server and Windows Server 2016 at its Build 2015 developer conference later this month in San Francisco, California.