White Papers

Introduction
7 Dell EMC SC Series: Microsoft Windows Server Best Practices | 680-042-007
1.2 Windows Server 2019 overview
Microsoft Windows Server 2019 is the latest release of the Windows Server operating system. Windows
Server 2019 is designed to be the operating system of choice for the modern data center and the cloud. If
offers many improvements and enhancements to features that were introduced in previous Windows Server
versions, along with many new features. To learn more about specific Windows Server features, visit the
Microsoft Windows IT Pro Center.
Windows Server 2019 is supported with SC Series SAN and DAS configurations with the release of SCOS
7.4.
1.2.1 Long-term servicing channel and semi-annual channel
After the release of Windows Server 2016, Microsoft adopted a new model for future Windows Server
releases that uses two separate but parallel tracks. Windows Server 2019 is the next-generation release of
the long-term servicing channel (LTSC) track which offers five years of mainstream plus five years of
extended support for ten years of total support. Windows Server 2019 certification testing with SC Series
storage was completed with the October 2018 generally available (GA) LTSC release.
In parallel with the LTSC track is the new semi-annual channel (SAC) track, which offers a core-only release
of Windows Server every six months. SAC versions are supported by Microsoft for only 18 months. They
allow Microsoft to release new features to customers without a two to three year wait cycle for the next LTSC
release. New features in SAC versions roll up for inclusion in the next LTSC release. SAC versions of
Windows Server are primarily intended for virtualized test and development environments as opposed to long-
term production deployments. SC Series certification testing is conducted with LTSC versions of Windows
Server.
1.2.2 Windows Admin Center
In 2018, Microsoft released Windows Admin Center (WAC) as a new locally-installed, browser-accessible
HTML5-based tool for consolidated and simplified management of Windows Server environments. It
consolidates the most commonly used in-box and remote management tools for core and With Desktop
installs of Windows Server to one location. Because WAC is an extensible platform, third parties have the
option to develop integrations for their own products or solutions.
Administration and monitoring of SC Series storage from WAC is not currently supported. For more
information on WAC, visit the
Microsoft Windows IP Pro Center.
1.3 SC Series support for previous Windows Server versions
Several LTSC Windows Server versions that are supported with SC Series are in various phases of
mainstream or extended Microsoft support: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows
Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019. Microsoft extended support for Windows
Server 2008 R2 is scheduled to end in January 2020.
SCOS 7.4 supports Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019. To verify
Windows Server version compatibility with your version of SCOS, consult the applicable SC Series
documentation for your array.
The best practice guidance in this document applies to versions of Windows Server currently in mainstream
or extended supported by Microsoft (Windows Server 2008 R2 through Windows Server 2019) unless
otherwise noted.