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One of the most exciting new features of Windows Server 2008 is its ability to install as a Server Core machine.
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A Server Core installation provides a minimal environment for running specific server roles, which reduces the maintenance and management requirements and the attack surface for those server roles. A server running a Server Core installation supports the following server roles:
- Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
- Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)
- Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS)
- DHCP Server
- DNS Server
- File Services
- Print Services
- Streaming Media Services
- Internet Information Services (IIS)
- Hyper-V
In Windows Server 2008, Server Core installation does not include the traditional full graphical user interface (GUI). You can read more about how to locally and remotely manage Server Core machines by reading the list of articles available below.
This is, in a way, revolutionizing the way Microsoft is looking at GUI-based administration, a step enforced by other means such as Windows PowerShell and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, all allowing strong command line management capabilities.
There are, alas, some GUI tools you might want to use in Server Core. Some of these include:
Task Manager:
Notepad (stripped down):
Time, Date, and Time Zone Control Panel applet:
Regional Settings Control Panel applet:
That's about it. The rest is all CLI and remote management.
What’s new in the Server Core installation option?
The Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 requires initial configuration at a command prompt. A Server Core installation does not include the traditional full graphical user interface. Once you have configured the server, you can manage it locally at a command prompt or remotely using a Terminal Server connection. You can also manage the server remotely using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) or command-line tools that support remote use. In R2, PowerShell can also be used either locally or remotely.
Benefits of a Server Core installation
The Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 and R2 provides the following benefits:
- Reduced maintenance - Because the Server Core installation option installs only what is required to have a manageable server for the AD DS, AD LDS, AD CS, DHCP Server, DNS Server, File Services, Print Services, Web Server and Hyper-V server roles, less maintenance is required than on a full installation of Windows Server 2008.
- Reduced attack surface - Because Server Core installations are minimal, there are fewer applications running on the server, which decreases the attack surface.
- Reduced management - Because fewer applications and services are installed on a server running the Server Core installation, there is less to manage.
- Less disk space required - A Server Core installation requires only about 1.5 gigabyte (GB) of disk space to install and approximately 2 GB for operations after the installation.
- Lower risk of bugs - Reducing the amount of code can help reduce the amount of bugs.
Issues with Server Core installation and upgrading from previous versions
Since Server Core is a special installation of Windows Server 2008, the following limitations are present:
- There is no way to upgrade from a previous version of the Windows Server operating system to a Server Core installation. Only a clean installation is supported.
- There is no way to upgrade from a full installation of Windows Server 2008 to a Server Core installation. Only a clean installation is supported.
- There is no way to upgrade from a Server Core installation to a full installation of Windows Server 2008. If you need the Windows user interface or a server role that is not supported in a Server Core installation, you will need to install a full installation of Windows Server 2008.
Server Core versions
In RTM, Server Core comes in Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter editions for i386 and x64 platforms. In R2, Server Core is only available in the X64 version. Most companies will probably go for the Standard edition because most of the differences found in the Enterprise and Datacenter editions of Windows Server 2008 won't be present in Server Core. The Enterprise Server Core will, however, allow you to utilize more processor and memory support, as well as clustering. Datacenter adds the whole Datacenter hardware program and 99.999% reliability.
More will follow. In the meantime, please read the related articles below.
- Active Directory on Windows Server 2008 Requirements
- An Introduction to IPv6, Part 1
- An Introduction to Network Access Protection’s Components
- Automating The Creation Of Active Directory Snapshots
- Configure Time and Date Settings in Windows 2008 Server Core
- Configuring the Firewall on Server Core for Remote Management
- Configuring Virtual Networks With Hyper-V
- Configuring Windows Server 2008 Server Core Basic Networking Settings
- Control USB Drive Letter Assignment in Windows XP/2003/Vista/2008
- Creating a Group Policy Central Store for Windows Vista and Server 2008
- Creating a Wireless Network Group Policy, Part 1
- Creating an Unattend Installation File for DCPROMO in Windows Server 2008
- Creating a Secure and Auditable Remote Access and Management Environment
- Creating and Managing Virtual Servers with Windows 2008 Server & Hyper-V
- Creating security alerts of abnormal user actions on Windows servers using Microsoft System Center Operation Manager 2007 and ObserveIT
- Delete IE7 History From the Command Line
- DHCP Server Migration Made Easy in Windows Server 2008
- Directory Service Comparison Tool
- Domain Controller Virtualization Options
- Easily Identify Computer Name on Windows 2008 Server Core
- Easily Install Active Directory on Windows 2008 Server Core with CoreConfigurator
- Easily Manage Windows Server 2008 Server Core Settings with CoreConfigurator
- Enable Ping Replies from your Windows 2008 Server Core Server
- Enabling Telnet Client in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista
- Enterprise Print Management in Windows Server 2008, Part 1
- Enterprise Print Management in Windows Server 2008, Part 2
- Enterprise Print Management in Windows Server 2008, Part 3
- Expanding Virtual Hard Disks with Hyper-V
- Exporting Information from Active Directory Snapshots in Windows Server 2008
- Free Packet Sniffers for Windows 2003/Vista/2008
- Get certified on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008 – today!
- Get Ready for Windows Server 2008/Vista Service Pack 2
- Group Policy Object Modeling in Windows Server 2008
- How to Disable SMB 2.0 on Windows Vista/2008
- How to Extend a Disk Partition in Windows Vista and Server 2008
- How to Filter MAC Address with the Windows Server 2003/2008 DHCP Server Callout DLL
- How to Install Windows Server 2008 Step by Step
- How to Install Microsoft Virtual Machine (VM) Additions on Windows Server Core 2008
- Hyper-V beta embedded inside Windows Server 2008 RTM
- Hyper-V Quirks That Take Some Getting Used To
- Implementing Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008
- Import Virtual Machines from Virtual Server to Hyper-V with VMC2HV
- Integrating ObserveIT with the New Windows Server 2008 Terminal Server Features
- Installing Active Directory on Windows Server 2008
- Installing Active Directory on Windows 2008 Server Core
- Installing Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008
- Installing Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008 Server Core
- Installing Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) on Windows Server 2003
- Installing the Virtual SCSI Controller Driver for Virtual Server 2005 on Windows Server 2008
- Installing Windows Server 2008 Core
- Installing Virtual Server VM Additions on Windows Server 2008 & Windows Vista
- Installing VMware Additions on Windows Server 2008 Server Core Installations
- Integrating ObserveIT with the New Windows Server 2008 Terminal Server Features
- Learn about Microsoft's new Windows Server 2008 (IIS 7.0) FTP Publishing Service
- Managing Storage from the Command Line
- Managing Windows 2008 Server Core Local Settings
- Managing Windows 2008 Server Core through RDP
- Managing Windows 2008 Server Core Server Roles
- Managing Windows Server 2008 Disk Quotas
- Managing Windows Server 2008 Disk Quotas, Part 2
- Microsoft Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool
- Monitoring your network with Lansweeper
- Network Issues with Windows Server 2008 RDP and VS/Hyper-V on Dell Servers
- Open in Regedit in IE
- Password Control and Bulk Modify for Active Directory
- Performance Monitoring The Easy Way, Part 1
- Performance Monitoring The Easy Way, Part 2
- Performance Monitoring The Easy Way, Part 3
- Performance Monitoring The Easy Way, Part 4
- Planning a DFS Architecture, Part 1
- Planning a DFS Architecture, Part 2
- Planning a DFS Architecture, Part 3
- Planning for Windows Server 2008 Virtualization
- Product Announcement - Free Windows Server 2008 Training (on DVD)
- Quickly See if your Server, PC or Laptop Supports Hyper-V
- Raising Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Domain and Forest Functional Levels
- Record Secure Remote Access SSL VPN Gateway Sessions
- Redirect Favorites and Cookies folder using a Group Policy
- Reduce Help Desk Calls With The Specops Password Reset Tool
- Remotely Managing Windows 2008 Server Core Firewall
- Remotely Managing Windows 2008 Server Core Settings through MMC Snap-ins
- Remotely Manage Devices in Windows 2008 Server Core
- Rename Windows Server 2008 Domain Controllers
- Running More than 128 VMs on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V
- Securing RDP Remote Desktop and Terminal Server Connections
- Setting Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services Display Data Prioritization
- Setting up a Logon Script through Active Directory Users and Computers in Windows Server 2008
- Setting up a Logon Script through GPO in Windows Server 2008
- Shrinking a Partition in Windows Vista or Server 2008
- Solving offsite tape storage issues with ‘ejectable’ disk backup drives
- Temporarily Bypass Windows Server 2008 Activation
- Three Steps to the Initial Configuration of your Windows 2008 Server After Installation
- Train Signal launches new Windows 2008 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure video training courses
- Understanding VPN Remote Access Mechanism
- Understanding Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Domain and Forest Functional Levels
- Understanding GlobalNames Zone in Windows Server 2008
- Understanding Windows Server 2008 Server Core
- Updated Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to Support Windows Server 2008
- Using GlobalNames Zone in Windows Server 2008
- Using CSVDE and LDIFDE to Export Information from Active Directory Snapshots in Windows Server 2008
- Windows Backup Bug Prevents Israeli Administrators from Backing Up Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2008 ADPREP
- Windows Server 2008 is Released to Manufacturing (RTM)
- Windows Server 2008 Israeli Launch Event & Presentations by Daniel Petri, MVP
- Windows Server 2008 Management Presentation
- Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services Presentation
- Windows Server 2008 Scenarios
- Working with Active Directory Snapshots in Windows Server 2008