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Improve server utilization with virtualization and containers: HPE Gen10 + Windows Server 2016

Server consolidation is typically the first thought that comes to customers minds when talking about the benefits of server virtualization. Yes, it is true, virtualization can help customers run more applications on fewer servers (ultimately resulting in reduced costs). But, did you know that virtualization and container technology (we will dive into what this is in a moment if you donโ€™t know) also deliver a range of other valuable benefits!?


Whether your customer has two servers or a room full of them, you can help them use virtualization and container technologies found in Windows Server 2016 to get the most out of their investment. It is important to note that this is especially relevant for customers who have recently refreshed, or are planning to refresh, aging servers with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Gen10 Servers.

 

Windows Server Containers and Hyper-V Containers
So, what are these containers we keep talking about? First, it important to understand that there are two different types of containers with different degrees of application isolation: Windows Server Containers, and Hyper-V Containers. In a nutshell, while Windows Server Containers provide application isolation through process and namespace isolation technology, Hyper-V Containers expand on the isolation by running each container in a highly optimized virtual machine.


So what does this mean for your customers' IT solutions? Letโ€™s take a closer  look at both types and how they can benefit your customers.


Windows Server Containers
are one of the new features found in Windows Server 2016 and give users a way to "wrap up" an application with its libraries and dependent binaries into its own box. They are isolated, resource controlled, and portable application environments which share the underlying operating systemโ€™s kernel with other Windows Server Containers. This makes them a very lean way to run multiple identical, or similar, applications in parallel, with very little overhead and still a reasonable amount of separation. They donโ€™t โ€œlug aroundโ€ their own full blown operating system (OS), but piggy-back on the host OS and can be run on a physical host OS or inside a virtual machine.


Hyper-V Containers
come into play when a greater degree of application isolation is desired (for example, environments that have applications processing very security sensitive data). Think of a Hyper-V Container as a very highly optimized virtual machine that allows you to reduce the overhead of running a separate operating system for each containerized application instance while still managing the application as a container. This allows for a good degree of hardware resource optimization that is balanced with the need for greater application isolation.

Note: Hyper-V Containers are treated like Virtual Machines. This means, with a Windows Server 2016 Standard edition license, users get the rights for up to two Hyper-V Containers included (and can add more in increments of two by fully re-licensing the serverโ€™s total CPU cores using Windows Server 2016 Standard edition Additional Core Licenses) or , with Windows Server 2016 Datacenter licenses, users get the rights for unlimited Hyper-V Containers.


Windows Server Containers and Hyper-V Containers can help your customers increase their server performance (by reducing resource needs of each instance), increase security (by isolating application environments), and enable greater workloads flexibility and portability between on-premises and cloud deployment.

 

HPE ProLiant Gen10 Server and ROK
When you are creating server solutions for your customers, make sure you are giving them the very best (in our opinion): HPE Gen10 Servers + HPE Reseller Option Kit (ROK) Windows Server licensing.


HPE ROK licenses are the simplest, most cost-effective license for many small businesses. They are the same Windows Server operating system one would get directly from Microsoft BUT with added benefits. Through HPEโ€™s OEM agreement with Microsoft, we are able to customize and optimize ROK licensing for Windows Server specifically for ProLiant Servers and it is BIOS-locked to ensure it can only be installed on ProLiant servers. This gives your customers peace of mind, knowing their Windows Server 2016 licensing is optimized for their HPE Server.


But wait, thereโ€™s more! Your customers arenโ€™t the only ones to benefit from ROK! You, our beloved resellers, benefit from ROKโ€™s flexibility (stock, sell, and install the OS as you would any other HPE server option, on any HPE supported server), convenience (no Microsoft licensing forms or download websites required), and ease of deployment (guided installation options with HPE iLO Intelligent Provisioning technology) so it is a win for all involved!


Now, go out and help your customers achieve server greatness and improve their server utilization with virtualization and container technologies!



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Blog: Increase agility, productivity, and efficiency with HPE Gen10 Servers + Windows Server 2016 


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About the Author

Willa

Willa manages the HPE | Microsoft Coffee Coaching program. Follow along to learn more about the latest HPE OEM Microsoft product releases and how the HPE Microsoft partnership can benefit partners and customers.