The latest features of Windows Server 2019 include disk anomaly detection and a new predictive analytics capability that helps you forecast capacity requirements for computing, networking, and storage. These capabilities run locally on your Windows Server instance, so you can manage them easily through Windows Admin Center.
You can continue to use the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) and Annual Channel (AC). The LTSC release maintains a traditional lifecycle of security and quality updates, while AC offers a faster pace of innovation focusing on containers and microservices.
Enhanced Intel Management Engine
The Intel Management Engine is a microcontroller that operates independently of your computer’s operating system and hardware. It hosts the firmware of Intel Active Management Technology (iAMT), which enables remote control of your computer system even when turned off or unresponsive.
The ME provides various features for out-of-band management, including:
It can power on and respond to iAMT commands before the microprocessor; most other components are awake. This reduces power consumption by allowing the ME to be fully functional without waking up much of the rest of the system.
Despite Intel’s attempts to make the ME inescapable, software developers have managed to turn it off or limit its functionality. For example, the free software program intelmetool11 can detect whether or not the ME is present and disabled on a system.
However, it is still possible for Intel to install nonfree code on the ME, and users cannot remove or replace that software. This severely attacks computer users’ freedom, privacy, and security.
A solution to these concerns is to release the ME internal firmware components under a free software license like the GNU General Public License. This would allow users to see how the firmware is implemented and modify it. A further step would be to implement a secure boot feature that enables the ME to verify the integrity of any loaded firmware.
Enhanced Intel Management Engine
Windows Server 2019 standard offers an enhanced Intel Management Engine as a security feature. This new feature detects malicious files in the kernel and memory. It will suppress the malware and prevent it from running. It also offers several other features, including advanced threat protection, which assesses system behavior and threat responses. It also enables users to view the status of a machine, as well as its current state and memory usage.
In addition to these features, the enhanced ME is more stable than previous versions. This means that it is less likely to encounter bugs and errors. Additionally, it can monitor the OS’s and other components’ health and take action when needed.
Another interesting feature of the new ME is that it can run a graphical environment on the desktop side without installing a separate software image. This can help reduce the OS’s footprint and improve IT operations’ efficiencies.
However, it should be noted that this feature cannot disable the ME entirely because it is embedded in the hardware. However, the firmware can be modified to disallow certain functions. Firms like System76, which makes Linux laptops and desktops, have developed a firmware update to disable the ME. Additionally, Dell has begun selling a ruggedized laptop that defaults to a disabled ME.
Enhanced Intel Management Engine
The latest features of Windows Server 2019 offer significant security enhancements and other capabilities that simplify IT administrators’ workloads. For example, the Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection feature automatically blocks and alerts about potential malicious attacks. This feature uses deep kernel and memory sensors backed by Microsoft’s massive security resources to detect and respond to threats.
Another new feature is Storage Spaces Direct, which allows enterprises to create pools of storage units that are automatically grouped to improve storage efficiency and performance. This feature also provides enhanced data deduplication and compression to reduce storage costs. Another important new feature is support for shielded Linux VMs, which expands the range of operating systems that Windows Server protects in a virtualized environment.
The new features of the Intel Management Engine are designed to improve security, efficiency, and scalability in hybrid environments. In addition, they offer improved integration with Azure to help organizations extend their on-premises infrastructure into the cloud. This version of the OS also provides improved Hyper-V virtualization, storage spaces, and software-defined data center capabilities. It is also available as a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release and includes a GUI for more straightforward configuration. Semi-annual Channel (SAC) releases do not have the Desktop Experience and are only suited for Server Core deployments or Nano Server container images.
Enhanced Intel Management Engine
Microsoft constantly upgrades its Windows Server platform with new tools to simplify administrators’ workloads. The latest version, Windows Server 2019, offers capabilities such as machine learning models in System Insights and software-defined data center components to make your servers more productive. IT pros can also use this operating system to upgrade existing applications into cloud-ready solutions.
The OS also includes centralized management tools, making monitoring and controlling your systems easier from a single interface. This helps your business improve performance and reduce operational costs. In addition, the platform provides security enhancements to help protect your data and systems from attacks. These include enhanced Windows Defender ATP, which prevents zero-day exploits and malware. The OS also has Shielded VMs, which encrypt disk and state to protect virtual machines from unauthorized access.
Finally, the OS offers improved storage and networking technologies. These improvements help companies to store and manage data more efficiently. It also allows for advanced network virtualization, which enhances application and server performance.
Additionally, the OS is optimized for container deployment. It features a small footprint, which reduces the size of container images and speeds up download times. It also offers advanced caching and deduplication to help businesses save storage space. Additionally, it supports the Kubernetes platform and enables Windows and Linux containers to run in the same environment.
