They get streamed from Microsoft's content network locations as in-place upgrades, In contrast, IT pros have to install.

The SAC model doesn't have mainstream and extended support phases because new feature updates arrive continuously. The updates are referred to as channels, and each channel is supported for 18 months max. With the SAC model, major OS feature updates arrive twice per year (in the spring and fall). Nottage said that 'LTSC 2016 shares the same codebase as Windows 10 IoT, which is the evolution of Windows Embedded OS.' It's just for devices using embedded OSes.

The LTSC model is just recommended by Microsoft for use with things like medical devices that can't tolerate frequent changes. Microsoft, though, recommends that organizations use the 'semiannual channel' (SAC) model of Windows 10 instead. It has a five-year 'mainstream support' phase followed by a five-year 'extended support' phase, so it's what organizations are used to, and it's what they typically want. LTSC is similar to Microsoft's update model for Windows 7, with major operating system feature updates arriving perhaps every two to three years.

Windows ltsc