Microsoft Corp. is updating its operating system for small and low-powered “internet of things” devices.

Microsoft Windows Server IoT 2019 is the “binary equivalent” of Windows Server 2019, which is a version of its Windows OS that runs on servers in data centers. The IoT version is meant for developers that need a lightweight OS for smaller connected devices, the company said.

It’s being offered exclusively to original equipment manufacturers and other businesses that make products for industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and retail. It comes with five years of mainstream support, plus an additional five years of extended support for those willing to pay more.

Microsoft said Windows Server IoT 2019 is ideal for companies that want to build gateways connected to dozens of sensors that can then send data back to its Azure cloud for real-time analysis and insights.

One of the main new features in this release is the ability to deploy what Microsoft calls Robot Operating System apps, which bring added intelligence to “industrial robotic applications.” The Robot Operating System first appeared as an experimental release on Windows last year.

Essentially it’s a set of libraries and tools for building complex robots using Visual Studio, plus various AI and cloud services, including Azure Cognitive Services, Windows Machine Learning and Azure IoT cloud. There’s also a new IoT Device Agent, which enables operators to configure, monitor and manage their devices remotely from the Azure dashboard.

“With 5G getting real, the backbone of IoT applications needs upgrading too, and Microsoft is looking for a piece of that upgrade cycle with Windows Server IoT 2019,” said Holger Mueller, principal analyst and vice president at Constellation Research Inc. “At the same time, performance requirements are increasing, with laser-enabled manufacturing, 3-D printing and more robotic automation. These require a more powerful on-premises platform, which this release provides.”

Alongside the release of Windows Server IoT 2019, Microsoft made available a public preview of Windows 10 IoT Core. The preview is bundled with various Azure services and runs on Dutch chip maker NXP Semiconductor N.V.’s i.MX 8M and i.MX 8M Mini processors. Microsoft said they will enable “secure, power-optimized devices for the intelligent edge” and give developers a choice of using Linux or Windows IoT.”

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