Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 3 brings container support

As promised by Gabe Aul just over a week ago, Microsoft today releases Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 3. One of the biggest new additions to this build is native support for Windows Server Containers, Microsoft's take on Linux containers.

Developers have been begging for container support in Windows Server for some time now, and the introduction of this feature could be the start of Microsoft offering up some serious competition to Linux server software. This is not the only new feature to be found in Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 3, there's also software-defined datacenter enhancements and new Nano Server functionality.

For companies running both Windows and Linux servers, the introduction of container support means that it will be much easier to deploy containers to both. Microsoft has worked with Docker to bring container support to Windows Server 2016, and containers can be managed and deployed using either PowerShell or the Docker client. Microsoft promises that future builds will include Hyper-V Containers, optimized for use in virtualized environments.

Windows Server Technical Preview 3 is available for download from the TechNet Evaluation Center, where Microsoft introduces the latest release:

At the heart of the Microsoft Cloud Platform vision, Windows Server brings Microsoft’s experience delivering global-scale cloud services into your infrastructure. Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 3 provides a wide range of new and enhanced features and capabilities spanning server virtualization, storage, software-defined networking, server management and automation, web and application platform, access and information protection, virtual desktop infrastructure, and more.

Improvements have also been made to System Center 2016 that make it easier to managed virtualized environments. A full list of new features can be found on TechNet.

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