In its release notes, Microsoft points to a smaller size for the platform. Windows Server weight 4.05GB if you’re installing on a disk and 1.856GB through download. It’s predecessor, version 1909, weighed 4.97GB of disk and 2.257GB on download. It seems Microsoft is working on a downwards trend for size and it is worth remembering last year’s version 1903 weighed a meaty 5.1GB of disk and 2.311GB through download. Microsoft says this reduction is partly because the Server Core no longer uses .NET Framework optimization. If you want to access Windows Server version 2004, you can get its images in the following places:
docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/windows/servercore:2004 docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/windows/nanoserver:2004 docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/windows:2004
Performance Push
Of course, the obvious benefit of a smaller system is performance gains. Microsoft says Windows Server version 2004 has faster startup times and enhanced performance. In its announcement blog, Microsoft discusses how this release also targets container optimizations: “Windows Server, version 2004 is a Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) Release. In our most recent Windows Server SAC releases, we’ve optimized for containers. In this release, we continued improving fundamentals for the core container platform such as performance and reliability. We’ve also worked with .NET team and PowerShell team and further optimized image size and performance for Server Core containers.” Windows Server version 2004 is available starting today.
