Active Directory/Documentation/Server 2008 Core

Setting up Windows Server 2008 Core the first time can be a little frustrating since most of tools people are used to using aren't there. So here's a cheat sheet for getting you machine setup and into the domain, at which point you can use most server management tools remotely.

Change Computer Name

netdom renamecomputer <ComputerName> /NewName:<NewComputerName>

Reboot/Logoff

Reboot after 0 seconds with comment "Changed Server Name"
shutdown /r /T 0 /C "Changed Server Name"

Reboot for "OS Reconfiguration (Planned)"
shutdown /r /d p:2:4

Type "Logoff" to logoff.

Setting up Licensing

slmgr.vbs -ipk <USE MAK KEY>
slmgr.vbs -ato

Join Domain

netdom join Computer_Name /domain:wolftech.ad.ncsu.edu /userd:unityid.admin /passwordd:Password

Installing vmware tools

• Select Virtual Machine->Install/Upgrade VMware Tools
• Nothing happens!
• Navigate to the CD drive and run setup.exe or msiexec.exe /i “<path to VMware Tools.msi>” /qn (for quiet install)
• After reboot your screen will now be @ 640x480!
• http://philipflint.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/changing-the-screen-resolution-in-windows-server-2008-server-core/

Adding server roles

http://www.petri.co.il/managing-windows-2008-server-core-server-roles.htm

Updating the firewall

http://www.petri.co.il/remotely-managing-windows-2008-server-core-firewall.htm

Patching

Server 2008 Core only supports 2 modes of Automatic updates:

• Disabled
• Automatically download updates and install them using the schedule

(Automatically) Updating Server Core

Enable RDP

• From XP: "Cscript %windir%\system32\SCRegEdit.wsf /CS 0"
• From Vista: "Cscript %windir%\system32\SCRegEdit.wsf /AR 0"
• 0 is Enable, 1 is Disable

Useful Links

Server Core Technet Blog