Following the release of Windows 10 version 2004, the next generation of Windows Server has become available as well. Windows Server, version 2004 is a Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) Release, also optimized for containers.
Here’s how you can pull the new Windows Server, version 2004 base OS container images from MCR:
docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/windows/servercore:2004
docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/windows/nanoserver:2004
docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/windows:2004
The Server Core container image is designed for maximum application compatibility so customers can modernize their traditional Windows Server applications. The majority of those apps are ASP.NET-based web apps. In Windows Server, version 2004, the Server Core container image no longer optimizes the .NET Framework for performance, which saves a lot of space. Instead, .NET Framework optimization (aka “NGEN”) is done in the higher-level .NET Framework runtime image.
Check out the official announcement
To learn which features have landed in this Windows Server release, check out the following set of announcements.