By Richard Lane
Can you imagine Windows Server without its graphical desktop? Now with this Virtual Lab, Windows Server 2008 Beta 2 Server Core, you can try it out. Windows Server 2008 Server Core is a new installation option. Rather than installing a full desktop, Server Core is a minimal environment designed to be managed from the command line or remotely, for lower maintenance and a reduced attack surface. It is quite a culture shock for admins who have always worked through a GUI. This is an ideal way to get the feel of this new way of working.
There is not much to see in the Virtual Lab, but that is exactly the point. This Lab is all about managing a server from the command line. The lab walks through how to join a domain, enable a firewall, and add server roles including DNS and DHCP.
TIP: I was puzzled about why the password I entered did not work. I discovered it because it contained an @ symbol, and my keyboard layout was not standard US. You can get round this by using “Send @ Key” from the Action menu, or just checking what your keyboard is actually typing.
The lab walks through how to add roles to the server from the command line. I made a couple of typing errors, but that does not matter; just try again. Occasionally you get a restart dialog, but the manual says it is OK to save time by choosing No.
A cool feature of this lab is that you use several different virtual servers and switch between them. You actually get to manage an entire virtual network!
One of the virtual machines is Windows Server 2008 with a full GUI. Working from the command line is neat, but it felt good to get back to a familiar GUI and check some of my work using tools like Active Directory Users and Computers.
TIP: When working in a Virtual Lab, the mouse pointer is trapped in the virtual PC. Press Alt + Gr to release the mouse back to your desktop.
The walkthrough continues with a number of optional components. In some ways that’s misleading: most things are optional with Server Core. It does demonstrate that “Core” does not mean “Limited”. You get the core plus exactly what you need.
A neat thing about this lab is that although there are some guided tasks, you can also explore your Virtual Server. I thought it would be fun to look at Task Manager and see what was running.
I was glad to see that Notepad is available in Server Core. What would I do without one of the oldest applications in Windows?
The lab closes with a look at all the ways you can manage a Server Core machine. WinRS (WIndows Remote Shell) is one particularly powerful option for remote management.
After completing this lab I had a good understanding of what a Server Core installation really means. That will help a lot as I get to grips with real-world installs.
TechNet Virtual Lab: Windows Server 2008 Beta 2 Server Core .