September 20, 2024 at 03:08PM
Microsoft has announced the public preview of Hotpatching for Windows Server 2025, allowing the installation of security updates without requiring a system restart. Hotpatching aims to reduce workload impact, improve security protection, and minimize the need for system reboots. This feature is expected to simplify change control and provide shorter patch windows.
From the meeting notes:
– Hotpatching is now available in public preview for Windows Server 2025, allowing installation of security updates without restarting.
– Hotpatching deploys Windows security updates without requiring a reboot by patching the in-memory code of running processes without restarting them after each installation.
– Benefits of Windows Hotpatching include faster installs, reduced resource usage, lower workload impact, and improved security protection.
– Windows Server Director of Product, Hari Pulapaka, highlighted the significant reduction in required reboots.
– Hotpatching has been available for Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition since February 2022.
– Non-Windows updates and Windows non-security updates require reboots and cannot be installed through Hotpatching.
– Hotpatching is available through Azure Arc for Windows Server 2025, enabling the Windows Server internal licensing service for Hotpatch to run and deliver updates to customers.
– Enabling Hotpatching on Windows Server 2025 Datacenter and Standard edition evaluation machines requires specific prerequisites, such as Virtualization Based Security being enabled, and the July Security update installed.
Let me know if you need anything else.