14 DAY TRIAL // After taking everyone by surprise with an announcement that Apple is bringing iTunes to the Windows Store, Microsoft also shared some other jaw-dropping news at Build, this time concerning Linux.
Ubuntu, Fedora, and SUSE are all coming to the Windows Store, with the last two to also be added to the Windows Subsystem for Linux with the release of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update in September. And there is more news on the Linux front.
Microsoft is also bringing the Windows Subsystem for Linux to Windows Server, which means that systems powered by the Server SKU of its operating system will also be able to emulate the Bash on any of the three aforementioned distros.
Windows 10 and Windows Server share a big part of the underlying technology, but until now, WSL has been an exclusive feature of the first. Microsoft, however, is bringing it on Windows Server later this year, though no specifics were provided on the ETA.
“This unique combination allows developer and application administrators to use the same scripts, tools, procedures and container images they have been using for Linux containers on their Windows Server container host. These containers use our Hyper-V isolation technology combined with your choice of Linux kernel to host the workload while the management scripts and tools on the host use WSL,” Microsoft revealed at Build this week.
Windows Insider program for Windows Server
In addition, Microsoft has also announced that Windows Server will be supported in the Windows Insider program, with partners to be allowed to test-drive early builds of the operating system and send feedback to the company, just like it happens in the more consumer-oriented version of the program for Windows 10.
The Windows Insider program for Windows Server will kick off this summer and Microsoft says that, in addition to preview builds of the operating system, container images will also be provided for participating users to download and test them.
The next feature release for Windows Server will be aligned with the debut of the Fall Creators Update for Windows 10 due in September, Microsoft says, and will be available for customers with Software Assurance, while LTSB systems will get it with the next major version of Windows Server.