List out all the differences between SP2010 VS SP2013 VS SP2016 VS SP 2019 VS SE

 List out all the differences between SP2010 VS SP2013 VS SP2016 VS SP 2019 VS SE

SharePoint 2010 vs SharePoint 2013 vs SharePoint 2016 vs SharePoint 2019 vs SharePoint Subscription Edition (SE)

This is one of the most important SharePoint Architect/Administrator interview topics.

Executive Summary

Feature	SP2010	SP2013	SP2016	SP2019	SharePoint SE
Release Year	2010	2012	2016	2018	2021+
Support Model	Fixed Lifecycle	Fixed Lifecycle	Fixed Lifecycle	Fixed Lifecycle	Continuous Updates
Modern Experience	No	No	Limited	Partial	Enhanced
MinRole	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Zero Downtime Patching	No	No	Yes	Improved	Best
OpenID Connect	No	No	No	No	Yes
TLS 1.2 Support	Limited	Partial	Yes	Yes	Native
SPFx Support	No	No	Limited	Yes	Full
Workflow Manager	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	SharePoint Workflow Manager
PowerApps Integration	No	No	Limited	Yes	Better
Power Automate Integration	No	No	Limited	Yes	Better
Modern Lists/Libraries	No	No	Limited	Yes	Enhanced
Subscription Updates	No	No	No	No	Yes

 

SharePoint 2010

Architecture

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(Widget not relevant here; ignore—continuing with architecture.)

Key Features

• Ribbon UI introduced
• Service Applications introduced
• Managed Metadata Service
• User Profile Service
• Business Connectivity Services (BCS)
• Claims Authentication support introduced
• Sandbox Solutions
• InfoPath Forms
• SharePoint Designer Workflows

Database Architecture

Typical databases:

• Content DB
• Config DB
• Central Admin DB
• Search DB
• User Profile DB

Major Limitations

• No MinRole
• No modern UI
• No responsive pages
• Limited mobile support
• No cloud-first capabilities

Common Interview Question

Why organizations moved from SP2010?

• End of support
• Security concerns
• Legacy workflows
• Poor mobile experience

 

SharePoint 2013

Major Improvements

Search Revolution

Microsoft integrated FAST Search.

Features:

• Content Search Web Part (CSWP)
• Display Templates
• Search-driven sites
• Continuous Crawl

Social Features

• Newsfeed
• Communities
• Microblogging
• My Sites improvements

Workflow Improvements

• Workflow Manager introduced
• SharePoint 2013 Workflows
• Stages and loops

App Model Introduced

Instead of Farm Solutions:

• SharePoint Apps
• Provider Hosted Apps
• Auto Hosted Apps

New Service Apps

• App Management Service
• Subscription Settings Service

Challenges

• Complex Workflow Manager setup
• Heavy My Site dependencies
• App Model adoption issues

 

SharePoint 2016

Cloud-First Version

Microsoft built SP2016 using SharePoint Online experience.

Major Improvements

MinRole

Servers assigned roles:

• Front End
• Application
• Distributed Cache
• Search
• Custom

Benefits:

• Automatic optimization
• Better performance
• Easier administration

Zero Downtime Patching

Patch servers one at a time.

Benefits:

• No major outage
• Reduced maintenance windows

Large File Support

Up to 10 GB uploads.

Compliance Enhancements

• DLP (Data Loss Prevention)
• Compliance Center
• eDiscovery improvements

Hybrid Improvements

• Hybrid Search
• Hybrid OneDrive
• Hybrid Sites

Challenges

• Limited modern UI
• Limited Power Platform integration
• Still dependent on classic pages

 

SharePoint 2019

Modern Experience Arrives On-Prem

Modern UI

Introduced:

• Modern Lists
• Modern Libraries
• Modern Team Sites
• Modern Pages

Better User Experience

Features:

• Responsive design
• Faster rendering
• Drag-and-drop improvements

Power Platform Integration

Support for:

• PowerApps
• Power Automate

Enhanced Search

• Modern search experience
• Improved indexing

Infrastructure Benefits

• Better MinRole
• Better patching
• Better reliability

Challenges

• Not feature-equivalent to SharePoint Online
• Modern experience still limited

 

SharePoint Subscription Edition (SE)

Microsoft's Future On-Prem Platform

SE is the successor to SharePoint Server.

Biggest Difference

No version upgrades.

Instead:

• Continuous feature updates
• Evergreen model

Similar to:

• Windows Server servicing
• SharePoint Online release model

 

New Features in SE

OpenID Connect (OIDC)

Supports:

• Microsoft Entra ID
• Identity Providers using OIDC

Microsoft Entra ID integration is a major enhancement compared with older on-prem versions.

Modern Authentication

Supports:

• OAuth
• OIDC
• Claims

Stronger Security

• TLS 1.2+
• Improved certificate handling
• Security hardening

Modern Administration

PowerShell improvements:

• Better farm management
• Better automation

Modern UX Enhancements

Compared to SP2019:

• More modern pages
• Better list experience
• Better integration capabilities

Workflow Changes

• SharePoint 2010 Workflows deprecated
• SharePoint Designer approaching retirement
• Move toward Power Platform solutions

Feature Updates

Instead of waiting years:

SP2019 → next version (years)

SE → regular feature releases

 

Real-Time Administrator Comparison

Task	SP2010	SP2013	SP2016	SP2019	SE
Farm Deployment	Complex	Complex	Easier	Easier	Easier
Patching	High Downtime	High Downtime	Low Downtime	Better	Best
Authentication	NTLM/Kerberos	Claims	Claims	Claims	Claims + OIDC
Hybrid Setup	Difficult	Moderate	Better	Good	Best
Automation	Limited	Moderate	Good	Better	Best
Security	Basic	Better	Strong	Stronger	Strongest
Modern UI	None	None	Limited	Good	Best On-Prem
Cloud Readiness	None	Low	Medium	High	Highest

 

 

Windows Networking Commands (IP Address, DNS, Routing, Connectivity)

 

Windows Networking Commands (IP Address, DNS, Routing, Connectivity)

These are the most important networking commands used by Windows Administrators, SREs, SharePoint Administrators, System Engineers, and Infrastructure Teams.

 

1. View IP Address

CMD

ipconfig

PowerShell

Get-NetIPAddress

Output:

IPv4 Address : 10.10.10.25
Subnet Mask  : 255.255.255.0
Gateway      : 10.10.10.1

 

2. Detailed IP Configuration

ipconfig /all

Shows:

• IP Address
• MAC Address
• DNS Servers
• DHCP Server
• Lease Information
• Gateway

Real-Time Use

Checking SharePoint server network configuration.

 

3. Release Current IP

ipconfig /release

Used when DHCP-assigned IP needs renewal.

 

4. Renew IP Address

ipconfig /renew

Obtains new IP from DHCP.

 

5. Flush DNS Cache

ipconfig /flushdns

Real-Time Scenario

After DNS changes:

ipconfig /flushdns

Removes stale DNS records.

 

6. Register DNS

ipconfig /registerdns

Updates computer DNS registration.

 

7. Display DNS Cache

ipconfig /displaydns

Shows cached DNS entries.

 

8. Test Connectivity (Ping)

ping google.com

ping 8.8.8.8

Continuous Ping

ping -t google.com

Stop using:

CTRL + C

 

9. Check DNS Resolution

nslookup google.com

Output:

Server:  dns.company.com
Address: 10.10.10.10

Name: google.com
Address: 142.250.x.x

 

10. Advanced DNS Lookup

nslookup

Interactive mode:

set type=mx
google.com

 

11. Trace Network Route

tracert google.com

Shows:

• Every network hop
• Router path
• Latency

Real-Time Scenario

Investigating SharePoint access delays.

 

12. PathPing

Combines Ping + Tracert.

pathping google.com

Shows packet loss per hop.

 

13. Display Routing Table

route print

Example:

Network Destination
0.0.0.0
10.10.10.0
192.168.1.0

 

14. Add Static Route

route add 192.168.10.0 mask 255.255.255.0 10.10.10.1

 

15. Delete Route

route delete 192.168.10.0

 

16. View ARP Table

arp -a

Shows:

IP Address
MAC Address

 

17. Clear ARP Cache

arp -d *

 

18. View Network Connections

netstat

 

19. Active Connections

netstat -an

Shows:

Local Address
Foreign Address
Port
State

 

20. Find Listening Ports

netstat -ano

Example:

TCP 0.0.0.0:80 LISTENING
TCP 0.0.0.0:443 LISTENING

 

21. Find Process Using Port

netstat -ano | findstr 443

Then:

tasklist | findstr PID

 

22. View Network Adapters

CMD

getmac

PowerShell

Get-NetAdapter

 

23. View Network Configuration

Get-NetIPConfiguration

 

24. Test Port Connectivity

PowerShell

Test-NetConnection google.com -Port 443

Output:

TcpTestSucceeded : True

Real-Time Scenario

Verify SharePoint SQL connectivity.

Test-NetConnection SQLSERVER -Port 1433

 

25. Check Open Ports

Get-NetTCPConnection

 

26. Display DNS Servers

Get-DnsClientServerAddress

 

27. Resolve DNS

Resolve-DnsName google.com

 

28. Check Network Interface Statistics

Get-NetAdapterStatistics

 

29. View Routing Table (PowerShell)

Get-NetRoute

 

30. Display TCP/IP Settings

Get-NetIPConfiguration

 

31. Check Firewall Rules

Get-NetFirewallRule

 

32. Verify Website Access

Invoke-WebRequest https://www.microsoft.com

Output:

StatusCode : 200

 

SharePoint Administrator Network Troubleshooting Commands

Check SQL Connectivity

Test-NetConnection SQLSERVER -Port 1433

 

Check SharePoint Web URL

Test-NetConnection sharepoint.company.com -Port 443

 

Check DNS Resolution

nslookup sharepoint.company.com

 

Verify IIS Ports

netstat -ano | findstr :80

netstat -ano | findstr :443

 

Verify Load Balancer VIP

ping sharepoint.company.com

 

Quick Interview Commands (Most Asked)

ipconfig
ipconfig /all
ipconfig /flushdns
ping
nslookup
tracert
pathping
arp -a
route print
netstat -ano

PowerShell

Get-NetIPAddress
Get-NetIPConfiguration
Test-NetConnection
Resolve-DnsName
Get-NetRoute
Get-NetAdapter
Get-NetTCPConnection

These commands cover nearly all day-to-day Windows network troubleshooting tasks, including DNS issues, IP conflicts, SharePoint farm connectivity, SQL Server communication, load balancer troubleshooting, firewall validation, and server health checks.

 

From <https://chatgpt.com/c/6a112c5f-1ee8-8320-a9d7-17dc8316f68a>

 

What SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE)

 What SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE)

Here’s a structured, in‑depth guide to SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (on‑prem), tailored for an IT admin/architect view.

 

1. What SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE) Is

SharePoint Server Subscription Edition is Microsoft’s latest on‑premises SharePoint Server product, released initially in December 2021 as the successor to SharePoint Server 2019.alrafayglobal+1

Instead of major version jumps, it uses a continuous, evergreen update model with feature updates roughly twice per year (e.g., 22H2, 23H1).learn.microsoft+1

Key positioning:

• Designed for organizations that must keep data on‑prem or in regulated environments but still want more modern SharePoint capabilities.alrafayglobal
• Bridges legacy farms (2016/2019) and SharePoint Online, providing a smoother path for gradual or hybrid cloud adoption.learn.microsoft+1

 

2. Architecture and Supported Scenarios

Core architecture

• Runs on Windows Server 2019 / 2022, with SQL Server 2019+ for content and configuration databases.200oksolutions+1
• Supports traditional multi‑server farm topologies: web front‑ends, application servers, and dedicated search or distributed cache roles.200oksolutions+1

Typical farm examples:

• Single‑server farm (all roles + SQL for dev/PoC).learn.microsoft
• 3‑server farm: 2 front‑ends with Distributed Cache + 1 app/search server + external SQL cluster.200oksolutions

Common scenarios:

• Classic intranet, ECM, team collaboration, workflows, and departmental apps where data residency is critical.alrafayglobal+1
• Hybrid: search, BCS, user profiles, or OneDrive/Teams integration with Microsoft 365 while content remains on‑prem.learn.microsoft+1

 

3. Licensing and Subscription Model

“Subscription Edition” does not mean pure per‑user cloud subscription; it is still an on‑prem server product with license + CAL model, but updated continually.q-advise+1

High‑level licensing model:

• Server license for each SharePoint Server SE instance.q-advise
• Client Access Licenses (CALs) for users or devices that access the server, with Standard and Enterprise CAL layers similar to earlier versions.q-advise+1

Integration aspects:

• Project Server Subscription Edition is now a feature of SharePoint SE, enabled with a Project product key and Enable-ProjectServerLicense.microsoft
• Certain Microsoft 365 suites (E3/E5) provide equivalent on‑prem rights where Software Assurance/volume licensing applies; details differ by agreement and need licensing guide/LAR confirmation.reddit+1

 

4. New and Improved Features (vs 2019)

Microsoft positions SE as a security‑hardened, modernized, evergreen SharePoint Server with both platform and functional changes.learn.microsoft+1

Platform / security:

• Evergreen model: Two feature updates per year (H1, H2) plus regular security fixes.alrafayglobal+1
• Modern authentication: Support for OpenID Connect (OIDC), improved OAuth/OAuth2 scenarios, and better integration with identity providers.learn.microsoft+1

Security enhancements:

• Support for TLS 1.3 for improved encryption in transit.alrafayglobal+1
• Integration with Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI) to detect malicious content before it’s processed.learn.microsoft+1

Functional / UX improvements:

• Continued improvements to “modern” UX parity relative to SharePoint Online (list/library experiences, site pages) though not full parity.alrafayglobal+1
• Simplified upgrade/patching model: you stay on SE and apply cumulative feature updates instead of doing in‑place version upgrades to 2022/2025 etc.learn.microsoft+1

Admin improvements:

• Support for newer Windows/SQL versions and modern TLS/protocol defaults to simplify compliance.learn.microsoft+1
• Updated Central Admin and PowerShell tooling, including new cmdlets for subscription‑style maintenance.learn.microsoft+1

 

5. Planning and Prerequisites

Infrastructure prerequisites

For a production multi‑server farm (typical pattern described in implementation guides):200oksolutions+1

• OS: Windows Server 2019 or 2022, fully patched.
• SQL: SQL Server 2019 or later on a separate server or cluster, with service account having dbcreator and securityadmin roles.200oksolutions
• Static IPs and hostname resolution for all farm servers.200oksolutions

Accounts to plan:

• SQL Server service account.200oksolutions
• Farm admin account (used to run setup and configuration wizard).200oksolutions
• Farm service account (used for timer, Central Admin, app pools, etc.).200oksolutions

All typically require local admin rights during installation and appropriate SQL roles.200oksolutions

Other considerations:

• Decide topology and server roles up front (e.g., stand‑alone, min‑role layout: Front‑end with Distributed Cache vs Application with Search).learn.microsoft+1
• Storage layout for content, logs, Search index, and Distributed Cache to meet performance and HA requirements.200oksolutions

 

6. Installation – High‑Level Steps

Microsoft provides an ISO image for SharePoint Server Subscription Edition; the installation flow is similar to 2016/2019 but with updated prerequisites.microsoft+2

1. Prepare servers and SQL
• Install Windows Server, patch, join domain, set static IPs.200oksolutions
• Install and configure SQL Server instance, ensure connectivity from SharePoint servers.200oksolutions
2. Run the SharePoint Products Preparation Tool
• Mount the SE ISO, run splash.hta, and choose “Install software prerequisites.”200oksolutions
• Tool installs required components (IIS, .NET, Windows features); restart if prompted.200oksolutions
3. Run SharePoint Setup
• From the same splash screen, choose “Install SharePoint Server.”200oksolutions
• Enter your SharePoint Server Subscription Edition product key and accept license terms.microsoft+1
• Choose install path (often a non‑system drive is recommended for easier troubleshooting).200oksolutions
4. Run SharePoint Products Configuration Wizard
• Launch the configuration wizard after setup (or from Start menu if closed).200oksolutions
• For the first server, choose “Create a new server farm.”200oksolutions
• Provide SQL Server name, configuration database name, and farm admin creds.200oksolutions
• Configure the passphrase (needed to join more servers), Central Admin port, and authentication method.200oksolutions
• Choose appropriate server role (e.g., “Application with Search” for the first app server).200oksolutions
5. Join additional servers to farm
• On front‑end servers, run setup, then configuration wizard.200oksolutions
• Choose “Connect to an existing farm,” supply configuration DB server and passphrase.200oksolutions
• Select relevant min‑role (e.g., “Front‑end with Distributed Cache”).200oksolutions
6. Post‑installation configuration
• Verify all servers appear correctly in Central Administration → “Servers in Farm.”200oksolutions
• Run the Farm Configuration Wizard or manually configure service applications: Search, Managed Metadata, User Profile, etc.learn.microsoft
• Apply latest cumulative update / feature update to ensure you are at the latest SE build.alrafayglobal+1

 

7. Upgrading from Older Versions

SE is designed as the forward path for SharePoint 2016/2019 farms.learn.microsoft+1

Upgrade approach:

• In‑place upgrade is not supported from 2016 to SE; you build a new SE farm and use database attach (similar to previous jumps).learn.microsoft
• The path 2016 → 2019 → SE or 2019 → SE via DB attach is supported and documented in Microsoft’s IT Pro guidance.learn.microsoft

Benefits vs staying on 2019:

• Longer support horizon with ongoing feature updates.alrafayglobal
• Access to new security and modern auth capabilities that will not be back‑ported to 2019.learn.microsoft+1

 

8. Development Model and SPFx

SharePoint Framework (SPFx) is supported on SE with a particular version band, allowing modern client‑side customizations similar to SharePoint Online (but usually one or more major versions behind the cloud).voitanos

Key points:

• You develop SPFx solutions targeting the version range supported by SE (documented by SPFx guidance for SE).voitanos
• On‑prem SE does not auto‑track the very latest SPFx versions released for SharePoint Online; you need to align with the specific version listed for SE.voitanos

Classic development:

• Farm solutions (full trust) and sandboxed solution patterns continue to function, consistent with 2016/2019.learn.microsoft
• CSOM and REST APIs remain primary integration interfaces for external systems.learn.microsoft

 

9. Operations, Patching, and Lifecycle

Because SE is “evergreen,” the operational model differs slightly from older versions.learn.microsoft+1

Updates:

• Microsoft issues Feature Updates (H1/H2) containing new functionality and changes, and cumulative updates/security fixes regularly.alrafayglobal+1
• You remain on SharePoint Server Subscription Edition but move through build numbers that correspond to these feature updates.alrafayglobal

Operational practices:

• Treat each feature update like a mini‑upgrade: test in staging, validate customizations and 3rd‑party solutions before production rollout.alrafayglobal
• Continue standard SharePoint ops practices: backups at SQL level, farm backup, search index protection, and config documentation.learn.microsoft

Lifecycle:

• SE effectively replaces future on‑prem “version names” (2022, 2025, etc.)—Microsoft has signaled that future innovation on‑prem will come via SE feature updates, not new separate major versions.q-advise+1

 

10. When to Choose SE vs SharePoint Online

Typical reasons to choose SE:nakivo+2

• Regulatory or contractual requirements for data to remain on‑prem.
• Tight integration with on‑prem line‑of‑business systems, low‑latency internal network dependencies.
• Customized solutions using full‑trust code that cannot move to SharePoint Online easily.

Reasons to prefer Online:

• Need for full modern experience parity, rapid innovation, and integrated services like Teams, OneDrive, Viva, etc.fiboo+1
• Desire to offload infrastructure, patching, and DR to Microsoft’s cloud platform.nakivo+1