Windows 10 IoT Core and CE App Container

Mark Williams 6

Hi,

I have been trying to make sense of the information on availability of Windows 10 IoT Core. It seems according to the product lifecycle page the last revisions of IoT Core are now discontinued and we should refer to Windows 10 IoT Core Services.

However IoT Core Services isn't an OS release as such but services to help deploy updates and run devices.

We would like to use CE App Container which was in August 2020 update, presumably to one of the now "retired" Win 10 IoT Core releases.

All that seems to be available now is Windows 10 IoT Core LTSC 2019. But by its nature this will only get security updates and not feature updates (which I assume CE App Container is).

So how do I get a currently supported version of Windows 10 IoT Core with CE App Container if the only supported version is LTSC 2019 and that pre-dates the App Container??!!

There was mention in an article a 2021 LTSC due with Core part of it but no date.

I hope someone can clarify the situation!! Thanks Mark

Cris Zhan-MSFT 6,641 Reputation points

2021-01-28T07:11:12.363+00:00

Hi,
I want to confirm what you are trying to achieve. Do you want to migrate existing WinCE application to Windows IoT Core? Or do you want to develop new application on Windows IoT Core using new Windows 10 features?

For migrating existing WinCE application, you can use Windows CE App Container.

For developing new application, the latest version of official public release for Windows IoT Core is Build 17763.253. To get further update, OS Packages for custom and commercial FFUs running the Semi-Annual servicing channel is required.

Best Regards,
Mark Williams 6 Reputation points

2021-01-28T07:53:33.577+00:00

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I am looking to run an existing CE app using the App Container on Windows 10 IoT. I understand all of that process and how that works. The bit I am trying to establish is - is there a Windows 10 IoT version that will be supported for some time that includes the app container.

What I have learned from your website:

Searching product lifecycle page all IoT core versions marked discontinued and to use "Core Services" (the product retired Nov 10 2020)
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-iot-core

Searching product lifecycle for what is available is Windows IoT Core LTSC 2019

CE App container was released August 2020

LTSC 2019 is only able to receive security patches and reliability updates (no features)

CE App container seems to be a new "feature"

... will continue in a new reply due to 1000 char limit in replies....
Mark Williams 6 Reputation points

2021-01-28T07:54:14.033+00:00

....continued:

So according to your website the only core version, LTSC 2019, currently in support until 2029, is not entitled to a feature update and won't include CE app container

The other releases of IoT core discontinued end of last year.

Also articles on the web suggest a "convergence" of IoT core and enterprise and the more you read the article the more it seems IoT core will only be supported on that LTSC 2019 version and you are dropping arm32 so there will be no more feature updates for people left with only LTSC 2019 to use

Can you clarify the situation? Particularly which currently supported version of IoT Core contains app container and point me to the lifecycle page with EoL info?

Thank you!

Mark

1 answer

Cris Zhan-MSFT 6,641 Reputation points

2021-02-03T02:55:40.863+00:00
Hi，

The 2021 long term supported release of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise will combine the best of IoT Core and IoT Enterprise by offering several new features in a smaller footprint on both x64 and ARM64 hardware. Going forward, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise will be the only non-server version of Windows 10 IoT offered. (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/internet-of-things/moving-forward-with-windows-ce-using-the-windows-ce-app/ba-p/1582360)

The Windows CE App Container software requires an updated version of Windows Compact 2013 (Build number 6294 from June 2020 or later) along with updated Windows 10 IoT Core Packages for x64 and ARM32 (August 2020 update or later). To obtain the latest packages for Windows 10 IoT Core, please contact your Microsoft distributor. (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot-core/windows-ce-app-container-getting-started#prerequisites)

Summary:

With Windows 10 IoT Core Services, your Windows 10 IoT Core OS will continue to receive security updates until 2029, no feature update.

To support Windows CE App Container, don't worry about public released prebuild IoT version, what you need is updated Windows 10 IoT Core Packages for x64 and ARM32 (August 2020 update or later). This you may contact your local Microsoft distributor.
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Mark Williams 6 Reputation points

2021-02-03T15:09:22.197+00:00

@Cris Zhan-MSFT I am sorry but that is not answering my question. This is cut and paste from another microsoft article - the one I used to reference my claims above.

It is suggesting the 2021 version of IoT won't be on ARM32 as I pointed out in a message above.

It is also suggesting that for IoT Core (I can run on ARM32) the CE App Container is in the August 2020 update.

So back to my question again, if LTSC 2019 is the only supported ARM32 IoT Core, how do I get a release with the August 2020 update! Where August 2020 comes after LTSC 2019 and CE App Container is a feature update, not eligible for LTSC releases!

LTSC 2019 is only entitled to security updates. How do I get the app container feature? OR can you confirm that the LTSC 2019 version can accept an update to get CE App container?!

Once again to simplify the question: Which version of Windows 10 IoT is available that is in support, runs on ARM32 and has CE App Container?

dvescovi 1 Reputation point

2021-03-02T17:31:21.587+00:00

I am also very interested in this info. And confused.

I also have another basic question. Since the original CE 5 based image (built for CE App Container) can only be built for ARM32 or x86 (there was no x64 or ARM64 back in the CE days) Must that (CE) image ONLY be deployed to a matching IoT Core architecture?
(i.e. ARM32 CE <-> ARM32 IoT Core and x86 CE <-> x86 IoT core)? I assume you can not deploy a CE x86 image to a ARM64 IoT core device using CE app container? Please confirm.

Since ARM32 IoT Core (and maybe x86 IoT Core) is no longer supported going forward from what I gather then it seems to be a catch 22.
Looks like CE App Container is only available on a IoT Core point release and there is no upgrade path. Seems like you created the same dead end path on IoT Core you were trying to correct with CE App Container in the first place.
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Windows 10 IoT Core and CE App Container

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