DEVOPSdigest

Docker announced the Windows Server Application Migration Program, offering a way to containerize and secure legacy Windows Server applications in advance of the end-of-support deadline for Microsoft Windows Server 2008.

With Docker Enterprise 2.1 and tools and services specifically designed for Windows Server application migration, customers can quickly and easily migrate and modernize legacy Windows applications while driving continuous innovation across any application, anywhere.

With a large percentage of Windows Server applications still running on Windows Server 2003 or 2008, companies that postpone migrating legacy applications and systems are vulnerable to security risks and a higher cost of maintenance. Traditional methods such as upgrading the underlying operating system or migrating applications on to new systems or the cloud, require significant resources and only serves to add to the existing technical debt. Docker's new program helps organizations seamlessly migrate legacy applications with the only container platform capable of containerizing Windows Server applications. Additionally, enterprise customers can take advantage of services and tools that leverage Docker's experience in application migrations to quickly discover, containerize and migrate Windows Server applications with immediate cost savings.

The latest release, Docker Enterprise 2.1, enables organizations to easily migrate and modernize legacy Windows Server applications while driving continuous innovation across any application, anywhere. New features of Docker Enterprise 2.1 include:

- Improved performance and compatibility for Windows Server Applications: updated support for Windows Server 2016, 1709, 1803 and 20191 in addition to smaller image sizes, improved compatibility and expanded networking options.

- Greater insights and availability with out-of-the-box dashboards: new dashboards and management console including health status visibility and deeper service and platform benefits.

- Enhanced security and compliance: support for industry standard security and authentication including SAML 2.0 authentication and the cryptographic modules in Docker Engine - Enterprise have been validated against FIPS 140-2 standards for both Windows and Linux.

"Because we have been working with customers on Windows Server containers from the beginning, Docker has a proven model for migrating and modernizing legacy Windows Server applications quickly and cost-effectively to any infrastructure, on-premises or in the cloud," said Scott Johnston, Chief Product Officer for Docker. "Windows Server customers come to us for help designing a container strategy for their legacy applications that will help mitigate end of support issues. Through this program many customers experience a 50 percent reduction in the total cost of ownership (TCO) of applications using Docker Enterprise, freeing up budget for strategic IT initiatives such as cloud migration or edge computing."

The Docker program includes a new service offering based on the experience of proven methodologies from Docker's Modernize Traditional Application (MTA) program and from working with enterprises like Mitchell International on migrating applications using Docker Enterprise. As part of the services engagement, customers will be able to accelerate discovery and conversion using Docker Application Converter, a tool that automatically scans systems for target applications and speeds up the conversion process by automatically creating Docker artifacts.

Additionally, customers will have access to Docker Certified Infrastructure which automates implementation and configuration best practices for integrating containers into enterprise IT infrastructure like VMware vSphere, Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. When combined with Docker's expertise, organizations will have a "blueprint" for future migration projects and new application development.