Role vs Features in Windows Server 2016 or 2019

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Hi IT Pro TV:

I hope everything is well down in the ITProTV, I really like this forums, I get responses really quick regarding my concerns, now I have another specific question regarding the differences between a Role and Features, I read a book or PDF (Windows Server Essentials with Tom Carpenter from Learnsmartsystems) and confused me regarding a feature inside a server role, so correct me if I am wrong, so let say I have a Web Server, I install a role (IIS) and add or install a feature like FTP, would this be the correct way of knowing the difference between a role and a feature. IIS is the role and FTP is the feature inside the Windows Server 2016/2019 Server Operating system. Dan L.

@Daniel-Loyer ,

A role is something that a server provides to the network for consumption. Roles are hosted on a server, but used by other computers on the network. For example, DNS is a role. You install it on a server, and then other computers connect and use the DNS service to resolve names. Other examples are Active Directory, DHCP, IIS, etc.

A feature is consumed by the server it is being installed on. It is not being used by other computers on the network. For example, Windows Backup is a feature. When you install it on a server, that server can now use it to do backups. If you want to back up other servers, you would install Windows Backup on each one.

The difference between roles and features is all about who will be using it, the server it's being installed on or other computers on the network.

I have not read the book you are referring to, but it sounds like he could have chosen a better word. It sounds like he was describing a property, capability or "feature" of a role, but not referring to a Windows Feature you would install.

Hope this helps,

Terrific explanation of this. I was wondering about this as well. Thank you for spending the time to reduce confusing misuse of buzz words in the industry. Great teaching style!