The standout feature of Windows Server 2025, set to be released later this year, is Hotpatching. This allows patches to be updated without the need to reboot the machine. Microsoft has recently introduced the Hotpatch feature for testing in the Windows Server 2025 public preview version.
Hotpatch has been utilized for years in Windows Server 2022, specifically in the Datacenter: Azure Edition running on VMs in the cloud. The principle behind it is to separate security patches into two levels: small patches that do not require a machine reboot, and larger patches that necessitate a full machine reboot (though reduced to four times a year). In Windows Server 2025, this feature has been expanded to the Standard Edition, allowing it to be used on premise machines.
The technology behind this is Azure Arc, a hybrid cloud management software. Users need to install the Azure Arc agent to manage Hotpatch on their machines. Subsequently, they can control the Hotpatch process through the Azure Arc dashboard.
Currently, the Windows Server 2025 preview version is available for download for testing, with a usage limit of 180 days before expiration.
TLDR: Windows Server 2025 introduces Hotpatching, allowing for patch updates without machine reboots, now available for testing in the public preview version. This feature extends to the Standard Edition and can be managed through the Azure Arc dashboard with the installation of the Azure Arc agent.
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