Docker Rolls Windows Server Migration Tool
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Microsoft announced last summer it is ending support for Windows Server 2008 in January 2019, with support for Windows SQL server expiring six months later. That has prompted the release of several options for migrating Windows virtual machines and legacy applications to the cloud.
Microsoft is of course encouraging customers to rehost on Windows 2008 workloads on Azure, extending licensing for Azure virtual machines and “reserved instances.” It is also offering incentives like upgrades to Windows Server 2016 for on-premise installations that include application container support.
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced support three years ago for Docker containers on Windows 2016, providing a major boost for the micro-services technology that was then just making its way into enterprise infrastructure.
Docker moved this week to expand its ties to Microsoft with the release of new version of its enterprise platform aimed at migrating Windows Server 2008 applications. Docker Enterprise 2.1 includes tools and services for migrating legacy applications to containers, upgrading and securing them in the process.
San Francisco-based Docker also asserts it is one of the only platforms for encapsulating Windows Server applications in containers. Among the reasons are smaller container image sizes, improved compatibility and more networking options.
Docker Enterprise also is touted as supporting multiple Windows Server and Linux distributions with tools like an integrated image registry. The platform also eliminates the need to recode legacy applications.
The migration platform includes an updated version of the Kubernetes cluster orchestrator that supports autoscaling, Docker said.
Security and compliance features span authentication and encryption modules running on the enterprise version of Docker Engine that comply with federal information processing standards for both Windows and Linux.
Docker said this week its enterprise platform would support Windows Server 2019. Microsoft initially released the server platform in October but backtracked when a glitch surfaced in its Windows 10 NT operating system. The platforms use the same code.
