Switching Roles in your SharePoint Server 2016 by Using MinRoles

One of the recent changes in the deployment of SharePoint is the implementation of MinRoles that allow a server to be identified on a specific role within the farm. In the latest Feature Pack 1, there are options to convert server roles within a farm (Go to System Settings > Servers > Convert server role in this farm). On this page, you can change a current server’s MinRole from the current role to the following:

• Application
• Front-end
• Distributed Cache
• Search
• Custom
• Application with Search
• Front-end with Distributed Cache

Each of these roles will configure the server to run the appropriate servers based on the MinRole assigned.Gone are the days of having a Front-end servers run all of the generic windows services on a server and the implementation of MinRole architecture properly utilizes the ability for these roles to efficiently manage server performance based on its workload. As a deployment strategy is put in place for migrating to SharePoint 2016, utilizing the MinRoles within your SharePoint farm will provide benefits for flexibility when you need to change roles of a server quickly and efficiently. One of the actions that will need will need to take place one the role is converted is that your farm will have to re-crawl search content or distributed cache, as examples, when the role is changed from a web front-end to a search server or to a distributed cache role the appropriate service will have to be performed again.

Resources:

Bill Baer (November 8, 2016). Feature Pack 1 for SharePoint Server 2016 now available.
https://blogs.office.com/2016/11/08/feature-pack-1-for-sharepoint-server-2016-now-available/