Release Notes: Important Issues in Windows Server, version 1709

Applies to: Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel

These release notes summarize the most critical issues in the Windows Server® operating system, including ways to avoid or work around the issues, if known. For information about by-design changes, new features, and fixes in this release, see What's New in Windows Server version 1709 and announcements from the specific feature teams. Unless otherwise specified, each reported issue applies to all editions and installation options of Windows Server 2016.

This document is continuously updated. As critical issues requiring a workaround are discovered, they are added, as are new workarounds and fixes as they become available.

Storage Spaces Direct

Storage Spaces Direct is not included in Windows Server, version 1709. If you call Enable-ClusterStorageSpacesDirect or its alias Enable-ClusterS2D, on a server running Windows Server, version 1709, you will receive an error with the message The requested operation is not supported.

It is also not supported to introduce servers running Windows Server, version 1709 into a Windows Server 2016 Storage Spaces Direct deployment.

The Windows Server release model is offering a new option in order to align with similar release and servicing models for Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Apps. The Semi-Annual Channel releases deliver new functionality for customers who want to move at a rapid cadence and will have new releases available twice a year, in spring and fall.

The Semi-Annual Channel of Windows Server is focused on containers and application scenarios benefiting from faster innovation, see this blog for additional information. Customers looking for infrastructure roles, such as Storage Spaces Direct, should use Long-Term Servicing Channel releases like Windows Server 2016 (available now) and Windows Server 2019 (coming later this year). We are committed to building the best platform for hyper-converged infrastructure, and we continue to develop new features and improve existing ones based on your feedback.

Storage Spaces Direct was introduced in Windows Server 2016 and is the foundation for our hyper-converged platform. We have been thrilled by the positive adoption of the Microsoft hyper-converged platform and we are committed to our customers.

We've been listening to your feedback and are working to deliver the next set of innovations for our hyper-converged platform. These features are available today in Windows Insiders builds, and we would love for you to try them and share your feedback. For customers looking for a validated hyper-converged solution, we recommend the Windows Server Software Defined program.