Windows Server 2016

Windows Server 2016 is the server counterpart of Windows 10 Anniversary Update. After two and a half years of development, it was released on 12 October 2016 and is the successor to Windows Server 2012 R2. It was succeeded by Windows Server, version 1709 in the semi-annual channel and Windows Server 2019 in the long-term servicing channel. It is the first version to support upgrade paths to Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022 and the last version to support upgrade paths from Windows Server 2012.

As with Windows 10, it now uses a new periodical release system, and as a result many builds after the RTM still identify themselves as Windows Server 2016. Builds for the multiple updates can be seen on their respective pages.

Windows Server 2016, like previous versions of Windows Server before it and versions after it, is only compatible with 64-bit processors, while Windows 10 is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit processors.

Nano Server
This version introduces Nano Server (codenamed Tuva), a massively cut down variant of the Windows operating system primarily designed to run in a container, but originally also capable of running in a classic virtual machine or real hardware. The new variant notably removes the entire GUI stack, only leaving behind an emergency text-based shell running in a custom-designed console host.