[5] Windows Server 2016 was released on September 26, 2016 at Microsoft's Ignite conference[1] and reached general availability on October 12, 2016.

[24] However, in Technical Preview 5, Microsoft has re-added the ability to administer Nano Server locally through PowerShell.

[27] Microsoft has been reorganized by Satya Nadella, putting the Server and System Center teams together.

According to James Vincent of The Verge, this decision endangers Intel's dominance of the server CPU market.

[32] A public beta version of Windows Server 2016 (then still called vNext) branded as "Windows Server Technical Preview" was released on October 1, 2014; the technical preview builds are aimed toward enterprise users.

Core licenses are sold in packs of two with Standard Edition providing the familiar rights to run 2 virtualized OS environments.

[38] Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview, released on October 1, 2014, was the first beta version of the operating system made publicly available.

Highlights of this version include:[39] The third technical preview of Windows Server 2016 was made available on August 19, 2015.

Its highlights include: The last technical preview of Windows Server 2016 was made available on April 27, 2016.

[47] It is offered to the Microsoft Software Assurance customers who have an active Windows Server 2016 license and has the same system requirements.

This is the first Windows Server product to fall under the "Semi-Annual Channel" (SAC) release cadence.