The document discusses the features and management of Nano Server and Windows Containers introduced in Windows Server 2016. Nano Server is a minimal server setup managed remotely using PowerShell, and supports various roles including Hyper-V and DNS server, while Windows Containers provide lightweight virtualization options. Networking, shared folders, and container image management are also covered, highlighting the ease of application deployment across environments.

1. Nano Server and
Windows Containers
RICHARD SIDDAWAY

2. About the Presenter
 PowerShell.org Director
 PowerShell MVP – 9 years
 Author
 Blogger
 Speaker
 Honorary Scripting Guy
 25 year+ IT survivor

3. ”
“Warning:
Danger Will Robinson
The content of this presentation is subject to change as we’re dealing with Windows
Server 2016 CTP5. There could be changes in subsequent builds of Windows Server
2016

4. GUI?
We don’t need no
stinkin’ GUI
Demos on Nano Server
Which film is misquoted?

5. Nano server:
 New to windows with Server 2016
 Bare minimum server
 No local logon
 Manage remotely
 PowerShell
 Server Management Tools
 64 bit applications ONLY
 Setup and start up @ warp factor 20
 Fewer updates

6. Nano server roles:
 Hyper-V
 Clustering
 File server
 DNS server
 IIS
 DSC server
 Push and pull modes
 NOT Pull server in TP5
 Still work in progress
 Container Host

7. Containers are:
 New to windows with Server 2016 (TP3 and later)
 Lightweight virtualisation
 Mobile – easily moved across environments
 Appear as isolated and independent OS to application
 Windows server containers or Hyper-V containers
 Containers share host operating system
 Manage through PowerShell or Docker

8. Windows or Hyper-V containers
Windows Containers
 Share Windows Kernel
 Memory shared through host
 OS trusts applications
 Applications trust each other
 Faster start up
 BIT LESS ISOLATION
Hyper-V Containers
 Own Windows Kernel
 Memory assigned directly
 Applications untrusted
 Applications don’t trust
 Slightly slower start up
 MORE ISOLATION

9. Host and Container combinations
Host Operating System Windows Server Container Hyper-V Container
Windows Server 2016 Full UI Core OS Image Nano OS Image
Windows Server 2016 Core Core OS Image Nano OS Image
Windows Server 2016 Nano Nano OS Image Nano OS Image
If patch host then MUST patch Container OS images as well
i.e. versions MUST match exactly

10. Container concepts

11. Container networking
 NAT Mode
 Internal VM switch
 External address on host + port = Internal address of container
 Many containers on single external address
 Multiple containers hosting applications with same port requirements
 Transparent Mode
 External VM switch
 Containers get IP address from DHCP or assign statically
 Mac spoofing on container host

12. Container networking
 L2 Bridge
 External VM switch
 Traffic between containers on same host & subnet directly bridged
 External traffic through switch
 MAC addresses re-written on traffic ingress/egress
 L2 Tunnel mode
 MS Cloud Stack only
 Similar to L2 bridge
 All traffic through virtual switch

13. Container shared folders
 Enable data sharing between host and container
 Data on host <-> data on container
 Many containers can share a host’s folder
 Configure by container
 Shared folder can be read only
 Good mechanism for software delivery

14. Process
 Add containers feature to VM or Hyper-V server
 Add OS ContainerImage
 Install-PackageProvider ContainerImage -Force
 Find-ContainerImage
 Install-ContainerImage -Name WindowsServerCore
 OR
 Save-ContainerImage -Name WindowsServerCore -Destination
C:ContainerOSImagesWindowsServerCore.wim
 Install-ContainerOSImage -WimPath C:ContainerOSImagesWindowsServerCore.wim

15. Warning: Be careful with providers
 TWO image providers exist
PS> ContainerImageFind-ContainerImage | ft -a
Name Version Source Summary
---- ------- ------ -------
NanoServer 10.0.14300.1010 ContainerImageGallery Container OS Image of Windows Server 2016
Technical Preview 5 : Nano Server I...
WindowsServerCore 10.0.14300.1000 ContainerImageGallery Container OS Image of Windows Server 2016
Technical Preview 5 : Windows Serve...
PS> ContainerProviderFind-ContainerImage | ft -a
Name Version Source Description
---- ------- ------ -----------
NanoServer 10.0.10586.0 Container OS Image of Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 4 : Nano
Server Installation
WindowsServerCore 10.0.10586.0 Container OS Image of Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview : Windows
Server Core Installation

16. Process
 Create container network
 Create Container
 Create shared folder
 Add NAT mapping (if needed)
 Configure container e.g. add IIS and web site

17. Using containers for application
deployment
 Create base container
 Install application
 Create ContainerImage
 VERSIONING
 Duplicate container if required
 Export ContainerImage
 Copy ContainerImage to target
 Import ContainerImage
 Create container