Key Points in the Implementation of SharePoint 2019

Background

In this blog post, I will cover the key features, new additions, deprecations, and the removal of old features in SharePoint 2019. This overview will give you a comprehensive understanding of what to expect from SharePoint 2019.

[Disclaimer: All features and content discussed in this blog are subject to change in the future, as this blog is written based on the preview version of SharePoint Server 2019.]

SharePoint 2019 Server Overview

With a growing demand for Microsoft SharePoint's on-premises version, the new release of SharePoint 2019 is designed for on-premises use. Built on the foundational release of SharePoint 2016, this new version aims to bring customers closer to the cloud while making cloud services more accessible to customers. Most features in SharePoint 2019 have been selected from Office 365 and implemented in this version.

A key point about the implementation of SharePoint 2019 is the Converged Code. This means that the codebase used for SharePoint Online feature implementation and SharePoint 2019 on-premises editions is the same. Consequently, any new feature added in SharePoint Online will also be immediately available for the on-premises version, streamlining feature releases compared to past versions.

Hardware Requirements

The hardware requirements for SharePoint Server 2019 are similar to those of SharePoint 2016, with no significant changes. SharePoint 2019 also supports MinRole and Stretched Farm Architecture.

Minimum Databases and Operating Systems required for SharePoint 2019:

• Database Server:
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2016 RTM
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2017 RTM for Windows
  • Note: No support for SQL Server Express edition.
• Operating System:
  • Windows Server 2016 Standard or Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2019 Standard or Datacenter

Different Versions of SharePoint Server 2019

SharePoint 2019 is available in the following versions:

• SharePoint 2019 Standard
• SharePoint 2019 Enterprise
• SharePoint 2019 Enterprise + Project Server

New/Improved Features in SharePoint 2019

Here are the significant new and improved features introduced in SharePoint 2019:

1. File Handling:
   • End users can now preview PDF documents directly in the portal without needing to install Office Online Server.
2. MinRole:
   • SharePoint Server 2019 MinRole includes various roles from SharePoint 2016 feature pack 1:
     • Front-End Server Role
     • Application Server Role
     • Distributed Cache Server Role
     • Search Server Role
     • Custom Role
     • Single Server Farm Role
     • Shared Roles (e.g., Front-end with Distributed Cache)
3. Boundaries:
   • File path length limit increased from 260 to 400 characters.
   • Additional special characters (# and %) are now supported in file names.
   • Maximum file size upload has increased from 10 to 15 GB.
4. New Lists/Sites:
   • New Communication Sites template.
   • Support for modern lists and libraries, and modern site pages.
   • A new SharePoint home page gathers the most relevant sites in one place.
5. PowerApp and Flow Integration:
   • SharePoint connectors for PowerApp and Flow are now available.
   • Existing SharePoint 2013 workflows will be supported by Workflow Manager version 1.0.
6. Development:
   • SharePoint 2019 supports new development based on the SharePoint Framework (SPFx).

Supported Hybrid Features in SharePoint Server 2019

SharePoint Server 2019 supports various hybrid features, including:

• Hybrid Sites
• Hybrid Follow
• Hybrid User Profiles
• Hybrid OneDrive for Business
• Cloud Hybrid Search
• Hybrid Taxonomy and Content Types
• Extensible Hybrid App Launcher

Other New Features

• Modern file and site-sharing experiences for end users.
• A modern search experience.
• Uses modern Internet Information Services (IIS) APIs.
• SMTP authentication for sending emails from SharePoint.
• New PowerShell cmdlets for User Profile Sync, Content Database & SharePoint Applications.
• New SharePoint Health Analyzer rules for better farm maintenance.
• Improved Recycle Bin restore functionality.

Deprecated and Removed Features from SharePoint 2019

The following features/components have been deprecated or removed:

• Access Services 2010 / 2013
• Machine Translation Service
• Digest Authentication
• Aggregated Newsfeeds
• Performance Point Service
• Incoming Email Automatic Mode
• Custom Help
• SharePoint Designer
• Multi-Tenancy
• Groove Sync Client
• Site Mailbox
• PowerPivot Gallery and Refresh
• InfoPath Services
• Site Manager
• Visio Services (Silverlight-based rendering)
• Lists Web Services
• Code-Based Sandbox Solutions

Conclusion

Microsoft has introduced a robust set of features in the on-premises release of SharePoint 2019, expected to be available for the general public (RTM release) in October 2019. The source code for SharePoint 2016 and 2019 reflects the stability of SharePoint Online, making it a reliable choice for organizations.

SharePoint is not just a document repository; it has the potential to drive innovation and efficiency within organizations. Let’s keep SharePointing towards success!

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