- [Instructor] Time will tell how Microsoft will use
the two parallel release channels over the long haul.
The quick release of features in the semi-annual channels,
and the long-term reliability that people
have come to rely on,
provide different assurances to different people.
The not so gradual move of many services
and server roles to Azure,
may take part of this decision
out of the administrators hands.
However you look at it,
there is change coming down the line
and however that change plays out one thing is for sure,
you don't want to be surprised by a decision
outside of your hands,
may throw a wrench into your IT's strategic plan.
You can stay in the know by reading articles
on popular tech news sites,
and subscribing to Microsoft's online magazines.
Or you could be part of the conversation.
Windows Insiders is a program that Microsoft introduced,
to give the tech community access to the ever evolving
versions of Windows.
When Nano Server was introduced in Windows Server 2016,
there was overwhelming response from the community
to make it even smaller and easier to deploy
for application development environments.
The discussion showed no real need for it
as a infrastructure platform.
As a result, Nano is no longer a deployable platform,
but an application environment
with an incredibly small footprint.
What could happen with the roles and features
you want or plan to use if you stay out of the conversation?
Getting involved is easy.
If you browse to insider.windows.com,
you can sign up to participate in the development
of Windows workstation environments,
or you could click on the For Business link at the top
and choose Windows Server Getting Started
to take a look at and join the conversation
about Windows Server.
On this page, you can register
for the Windows Insider program
including access to preview copies of Windows server
and the Windows Admin center, and other applications.
Then, you could download and install these various products.
Let's take a look at what these downloads currently include.
Under Windows server we have the long-term service channel
and we have the semi-annuals as ISOs,
so that you can install your own machines,
or as virtual hard drives
ready to bring up as a virtual machine.
Under additional downloads,
you can have access to some of the other projects
that are currently under way.
This preview copy of the Windows Admin Center
has already been replaced by the general release,
but this is a good place to keep and eye on,
and download for your own trial version use
any of the next versions of Windows
and the management products.
But the Windows Insider program
is about more than just downloading
and testing out the next thing.
The other feature that's available to you on the
Insider Windows webpage,
is the ability to engage.
To join the conversation.
From here you can look at the feedback hub
and you can participate
in the Windows Insider tech community.
You can follow discussions
that might hold answers to some of your questions
about how new features can be best used.
You can join the conversation by adding comments
or questions about features that you would like to see
developed and maintained.
But even if your only reason for joining Windows Insiders
is to access and test coming versions of products,
it's still a valuable program.
The information that you can gain
will help you to build an understanding
of what's happening next,
and what your fellow administrators are asking for,
and that's going to be valuable information
when it comes to planning the next steps
for your IT infrastructure.