As we’ve come to expect fromnew versions of Windows Server, Windows Server 2016 arrives packed with a huge array of new features. Many of the new capabilities, such as containers and Nano Server, stem from Microsoft’s focus on the cloud. Others, such as Shielded VMs, illustrate a strong emphasis on security. Still others, like the many added networking and storage capabilities, continue an emphasis on software-defined infrastructure begun in Windows Server 2012.
The GA release of Windows Server 2016 rolls up all of the features introduced in the five Technical Previews we’ve seen along the way, plus a few surprises. Now that Windows Server 2016 is fully baked, we’ll treat you to the new features we like the most.
Docker-driven containers
Containers represent a huge step for Microsoft as it embraces the open source world. Microsoft has worked together with Docker to bring full support for the Docker ecosystem to Windows Server 2016. (Windows 10 Anniversary edition delivers essentially the same feature set.) You install support for Containers using the standard method to enable Windows features through Control Panel or via the PowerShell command:
Install-WindowsFeature containers
You must also download and install the Docker engine to get all of the Docker utilities. This line of PowerShell will download a Zip file with everything you need to install Docker on Windows Server 2016: