Windows Server 2019 Essentials update. Windows Server 2016 Essentials Logo. Migrating Windows Server Essentials 2016 to Windows Server 2019 Essentials, Standard or Datacenter is a bit different compared to previous migrations where we came from any SBS version or Windows Server Essentials SKU before 2019 and migrated to any Windows Server Essentials version before 2019. On September 5, 2018 the Microsoft Windows Server Team announced via the Windows Server Blog that they are killing off Windows Server Essentials as it currently exists today:. Windows Server 2019 Essentials, based on Windows Server 2019, is the current version of Server Essentials, initially released in October 2018. Microsoft has been offering these small business editions of Windows Server for more than a decade, with Windows Server 2016 Essentials as the current option. However, if you are considering installing any version of Windows Server Essentials, we would encourage you to consider Microsoft 365. About Windows Server Essentials. The Microsoft Evaluation Center brings you full-featured Microsoft product evaluation software available for download or trial on Microsoft Azure. Windows Server 2019 Essentials will include many of the same characteristics as the 2016 version. Even though pricing for Windows Server 2019 isn't yet known publicly, the pricing of Windows Server 2016 might serve as a guide. Windows Server Essentials edition is a cloud-connected first server designed for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices. The capabilities of Windows Server 2019 have been deprecated to a considerable extent when you compare it to the Windows Server 2016 Essentials. Josh Hendrickson @canterrain February 21, 2019, 9:00am EDT. These versions are meant for companies with up to 25 users. Applies To: Windows Server 2016 Essentials; Windows Server 2019 Essentials. Windows Server 2019 Essentials includes new support for Azure Active Directory via AAD Connect. LTSC support for Windows Server 2016 Essentials. AAD Connect can now be installed on Windows Server 2019 Essentials. Windows Server 2016 Essentials, based on Windows Server 2016, is the previous version of Server Essentials, released in September 2016 with general availability October 12, 2016. Microsoft offers desktop and server versions of Windows. Having understood that, we would suggest you opt for the Windows Server 2019 Standard itself no matter whether you require fewer than 25 users or even more than that. At first glance Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 look similar, but each has different uses. But regardless of whether you decide to deploy or upgrade Windows Server 2019 Essentials, it might be wise to look at alternative ways to restore PCs in the event of a … Windows Server 2019 Essentials is designed for smaller businesses. If you load up a clean copy of Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, it would be easy to confuse the two at first.