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Support for M365 Apps (O365) on Windows 2022
We have a large number of Windows Server 2016 with M365 Apps (O365) and need to upgrade these servers now (end of support for WS2016 is Jan 2022). The next server product to install for us would be ...
First off I would like to thank everyone for the feedback and apologize for the delay in responding to this thread. Your feedback has made a difference, and sparked many internal discussions... we have customers running M365 on WS2016 and WS2019 today, and we want to enable staying current and secure being able to upgrade to WS2022.
<UPDATED EDIT> In response to your feedback we have announced support for M365 on Windows Server 2022, please see this link for additional information:
Windows Server end of support and Microsoft 365 Apps - Deploy Office | Microsoft Learn
Again, thank you for your feedback and passion!!
Elden Christensen
Principal Group PM Manager
Windows Server Development Team
Hi,
I see this thread moving away from the original question. The key questions we all ask ourselves are:
- Will there be a multi-session Windows as a replacement for terminal services in the future?
- Will there be the same M365 Apps (Office) support for this multi-session OS as for the standard Windows client?
- Will this multi-session OS also be available on all currently dominant hypervisors?
- Will there be a LTSC variant of this multi-session Windows OS?
Honestly, I think it doesn't matter whether this OS is called Windows Server or Windows Enterprise.
best regards
Reinhard
I see this thread moving away from the original question. The key questions we all ask ourselves are:
- Will there be a multi-session Windows as a replacement for terminal services in the future?
- Will there be the same M365 Apps (Office) support for this multi-session OS as for the standard Windows client?
- Will this multi-session OS also be available on all currently dominant hypervisors?
- Will there be a LTSC variant of this multi-session Windows OS?
Honestly, I think it doesn't matter whether this OS is called Windows Server or Windows Enterprise.
best regards
Reinhard
Hi,
Microsoft have already made a statement that Multi-Session Windows is available On premise, however this is limited to Azure Stack HCI. M365 Apps will be supported on this in line with the Modern Lifecyle policy as it is the same as used for Azure Virtual Desktop.
There are however some issues with this is as follows:
1) No availability for running Multi Session Windows on other hyper-visors - Windows Multi Session checks it is on Azure.
2) Azure Stack HCI has additional licensing requirements (although these are bundled if the customer has Software Assurance on their Windows Server licenses or CSP Subscription).
3) Azure Stack HCI is not permitted for use in multi-tenant environments - effectively Microsoft has locked out all other cloud providers from running Windows Multi Session on their platforms as most would potentially run Azure Stack HCI.
4) Azure Stack Hub used to be pushed into multi-tenant environments - Microsoft has now told manufacturers to not push this into multi-tenant environments as it has too much of an overhead - it is also limited in what it can do - instead Stack Hub is now pushed into single-tenant large customers for internal DC specialist workload use.
5) I suspect there will never be an LTSC variant of M365 Apps as it is not designed to be LTSC as this would break Microsoft's ability to take the application forwards.
6) MS Teams Support - Microsoft do not have an option on RDS for Teams Video unless you add on Citrix - but they include the option natively in Azure Virtual Desktop with the new connection broker via WebRTC- ie they need a native on-premise option for this with RDS (There are actually unofficial guides online on how to get the new AVD Client working with RDS and supporting WebRTC - so it cannot be that hard to achieve).
7) Microsoft currently has a licensing anomaly around use of Windows Desktop OnPremise or in Cloud - The recent licensing changes are welcome which permit wider use of Windows OS, however Microsoft have still created a preferential scenario for smaller customers by allowing customers to use Windows OS for free in Azure/Azure Stack HCI with MS365 Business Premium subscriptions put not permitting this on customers alternate hypervisors or alternate cloud provider environments.
Personally I feel that the majority of customers just need choice - allowing Multi-Session Windows with fair and equal licensing and full functionality on any hyper-visor (subject to any required conditions e.g. supports windows etc), via any cloud provider and on any model (On-Premise or Cloud/Dedicated or Shared) would remove the majority of concerns for the majority of customers (I do understand that certain specific environments would still not be able to follow Modern Lifecycle). All of this alongside resolving the continued and growing concerns from the regulators regarding potential anti-competitive practices both in licensing and cloud.
Microsoft have already made a statement that Multi-Session Windows is available On premise, however this is limited to Azure Stack HCI. M365 Apps will be supported on this in line with the Modern Lifecyle policy as it is the same as used for Azure Virtual Desktop.
There are however some issues with this is as follows:
1) No availability for running Multi Session Windows on other hyper-visors - Windows Multi Session checks it is on Azure.
2) Azure Stack HCI has additional licensing requirements (although these are bundled if the customer has Software Assurance on their Windows Server licenses or CSP Subscription).
3) Azure Stack HCI is not permitted for use in multi-tenant environments - effectively Microsoft has locked out all other cloud providers from running Windows Multi Session on their platforms as most would potentially run Azure Stack HCI.
4) Azure Stack Hub used to be pushed into multi-tenant environments - Microsoft has now told manufacturers to not push this into multi-tenant environments as it has too much of an overhead - it is also limited in what it can do - instead Stack Hub is now pushed into single-tenant large customers for internal DC specialist workload use.
5) I suspect there will never be an LTSC variant of M365 Apps as it is not designed to be LTSC as this would break Microsoft's ability to take the application forwards.
6) MS Teams Support - Microsoft do not have an option on RDS for Teams Video unless you add on Citrix - but they include the option natively in Azure Virtual Desktop with the new connection broker via WebRTC- ie they need a native on-premise option for this with RDS (There are actually unofficial guides online on how to get the new AVD Client working with RDS and supporting WebRTC - so it cannot be that hard to achieve).
7) Microsoft currently has a licensing anomaly around use of Windows Desktop OnPremise or in Cloud - The recent licensing changes are welcome which permit wider use of Windows OS, however Microsoft have still created a preferential scenario for smaller customers by allowing customers to use Windows OS for free in Azure/Azure Stack HCI with MS365 Business Premium subscriptions put not permitting this on customers alternate hypervisors or alternate cloud provider environments.
Personally I feel that the majority of customers just need choice - allowing Multi-Session Windows with fair and equal licensing and full functionality on any hyper-visor (subject to any required conditions e.g. supports windows etc), via any cloud provider and on any model (On-Premise or Cloud/Dedicated or Shared) would remove the majority of concerns for the majority of customers (I do understand that certain specific environments would still not be able to follow Modern Lifecycle). All of this alongside resolving the continued and growing concerns from the regulators regarding potential anti-competitive practices both in licensing and cloud.
