This document summarizes a presentation about building, deploying, and supporting Server Core in Windows Server 2008 R2. The presentation covers the benefits of Server Core, including a smaller footprint, fewer patches required, and greater stability. It also discusses some of the limitations of Server Core, such as limited GUI functionality and .NET framework support. The presentation provides guidance on installing and configuring Server Core, and recommends using remote management tools like PowerShell instead of direct console access for ongoing management.

1. Building, Deploying, and Supporting Server Core - in an R2 World Don Jones ConcentratedTech.com Pre-requisites for this presentation: 1) Familiarity with Windows administration 2) Very basic understanding of command-line / PowerShell use Level: Intermediate

2. This slide deck was used in one of our many conference presentations. We hope you enjoy it, and invite you to use it within your own organization however you like. For more information on our company, including information on private classes and upcoming conference appearances, please visit our Web site, www.ConcentratedTech.com . For links to newly-posted decks, follow us on Twitter: @concentrateddon or @concentratdgreg This work is copyright ©Concentrated Technology, LLC

3. About the Instructor Don Jones Contributing Editor, technetmagazine.com IT author, consultant, and speaker Co-founder of Concentrated Technology Seven-time recipient of Microsoft ’s Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award Author and Editor-in-Chief for Realtime Publishers Trainer for www.CBTNuggets.com

4. About this Session Will focus on Server Core in Windows Server 2008 R2 – some substantial differences since the RTM release Much of what we ’ll cover is provisioning and ongoing management, although for the most part managing services on Server Core is no different than doing so on “full Windows.”

5. Let ’s Start… My starting point is a completed Server Core install. That ’s the boring bit and you can’t actually go wrong. We pick up where installation has completed , meaning we ’re looking at a basically-useless server and a command-line window.

6. Server Core Introduction Windows… without “windows” Minimal (core) GUI functionality (why?) Femto-footprint Severely restricted set of available roles Full Windows Server kernel Cmd.exe console environment New: Windows PowerShell v2 (!!!!!) …including WinRM and WMI!

7. Server Core Roles DHCP Server DNS Server Domain Controller IIS – including all IIS 7.5 features (except GUI) and ASP.NET FSRM File Server Print Server Streaming Media Server Hyper-V Server* (if you bought that, or got the free SKU)

8. Benefits Smaller footprint on disk and in memory (I ’ve run virtual DCs in as little as 256MB) Fewer patches (about 2/3 less, so far) Fewer moving parts (greater stability) Ideal for branch office scenarios Ideal for virtualization

9. Disadvantages Limited ability to run GUI-based software and some dependencies Limited .NET Framework v2 and v3.5 Some applications “just don’t work;” this is not intended as a platform server but rather as an infrastructure server Keep in mind: R2 is x64 only

10. Myths Can ’t run antivirus (in fact, most run fine) Can ’t run management agents (most run fine – keep in mind .NET and GUI restrictions) Can ’t install drivers (has enough GUI to install most hardware drivers) Only supports command-line management (in fact, supports remote GUI tools just like any other server)

11. Known to Work ForeFront, Backup Exec 12, McAfee antivirus, CA antivurs (oddly, not Symantec last I looked) Run msiexec /I product.msi to install See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/227091 Even FireFox works (but please, don ’t)

12. Secret Advantage Helps maintain single-purpose or infrastructure servers “ No, boss, we can’t install RightFax on the domain contoller – it’s running Server Core!”

13. One-Time Decision No path to go from full Windows  Server Core No path to go from Server Core  full Windows Make your bed and sleep in it!

14. A “killer use” for Win2008 Convert infrastructure (DNS/DHCP/DC) servers to Server Core Makes these critical servers easier to maintain (fewer maintenance reboots) Especially useful for DCs – save more physical memory for AD and less for the OS Also especially useful as a Web server (Web Edition Server Core)

15. Another “killer use” As a dedicated Hyper-V server Microsoft ’s thinnest hypervisor (~1GB disk) Available as a free download (doesn ’t include any licenses for guests) Manageable via SCVMM if you own that

16. Core Virtually Rocks Perfect in virtual machines – configure VM with fewer resources that a physical machine would offer I ’ve run 8-10 Server Core DCs, in a 10k object domain, on an 8GB 2-way/4-core 64-bit box with resources to spare Great for branch offices – drop in a VM host and run several VMs for different roles, rather than piling all roles on one machine

17. Tricky Tricky No UAC GUI… but UAC exists Simply no way to elevate processes on the fly Either use RunAs or… stay off the console! (or turn UAC off) Disable in registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

18. More Tricks Regedit works! Background color: HKEY_CURRENT_ USERControl PanelColorsBackground (provide R G B values) Screen saver: HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktopScreenSaveActive (0 is off)

19. The Management Model Supports RDP, but Cmd.exe or PowerShell only Ideally: Stay off the console. Treat Core as “headless” Manage using remote GUI consoles Exceptions: Local config (networking, etc; installing antivirus, etc)

20. Perfect Management Enable WinRM and “Remote Shell” (via Group Policy, if you want) Manage by using PowerShell v2 on a remote machine: Enter-PSSession –computerName SRV1 Invoke-Command { whatever } -computerName SRV1

21. This Requires Discipline Windows admins rely VERY heavily on direct console management Bah! Particularly in R2, rely on PowerShell for many-to-one remote management Regardless, rely on remote GUI consoles to manage Server Core boxes

22. When Does Server Core Suck? When you ’ve got mandatory third-party software (usually mgmt agents) that won’t run on it Solution: Pester the vendor to “get it in gear” with supporting Server Core directly Also: When you suck at the command-line (buy a “Server Core” book)

23. I like... Administering Windows Server 2008 Server Core by John Paul Mueller Windows Server 2008 Server Core Administrator ’s Pocket Consultant by Wes Miller (free eBook!)

24. Installing and Configuring Install is the standard WinPE installer – nothing different Initial configuration is now made easier by… Sconfig: Basic OS configuration menu (yay!) PowerShell: ServerManager cmdlets enable role/feature installation (use Get-WindowsFeature to see a list of what ’s available) Slmgr: Install product keys (-ipk) and activate (-ato) Windows Dcpromo: For AD install; needs an unattended installation file (create with Dcpromo on a full Windows machine)

25. Hands On Let ’s see a bit of this in action This is also a great time to start asking any questions you ’ve been holding on to

26. Thank You! Please feel free to pick up a card if you ’d like copies of my session materials I ’ll be happy to take any last questions while I pack up Please complete and submit an evaluation form for this and every session you attend!

28. This slide deck was used in one of our many conference presentations. We hope you enjoy it, and invite you to use it within your own organization however you like. For more information on our company, including information on private classes and upcoming conference appearances, please visit our Web site, www.ConcentratedTech.com . For links to newly-posted decks, follow us on Twitter: @concentrateddon or @concentratdgreg This work is copyright ©Concentrated Technology, LLC