Windows Server 2016 is coming and we have a new installation option to deploy the new Microsoft’s server system. I am talking about Nano server. However, what is Nano server and which are the best scenarios to deploy it?

Nano Server is a cloud based Windows Server without Graphical User Interface.
Ok Patrick but Windows Server 2008 has already launched the Server Core that is a Windows server version without Graphical User Interface, are they similar?

The answer is DEFINITLY NO!

Nano server is a small, modern, fast and safe operating system designed for the cloud.
A single Nano’s server installation has less than 500 MB, it has just 11 ports opened and less binaries, it means the number of vulnerabilities was reduced significantly. With fewer reboots and critical patches to install, Nano Server is a perfect operating system to an IT infrastructure modern and scalable.

For example, DevOps that use Chef or puppet to control their cloud infrastructure can now add and manage Nano server to increase the workload of their Apps as well.
Some roles like Hyper-V, IIS, DNS and a storage host for Scale-Out File Server are perfect to be hosted in a Nano server.

On the other hand, Active Directory cannot be deployed as a role in Nano server, and we cannot use GPO to control it. However, we can use Desired State configuration to apply settings.

To manage a Nano server we can use tools like Hyper-V Manager, MMC, WMI, PowerShell, Server Manager, System Center, Puppet and Chef.

Since Nano server is new for Windows Server 2016, there is no available upgrade or migration path from older versions to Nano server.