Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2008 R2 Core Edition

Some of the benefits for the usage of core edition’s are:

  • Reduce the attack and servicing surface area for certain server roles by only installing what is required and administrators use
  • Servers optimized by role are easier to service and manage (Remote Management via Server Manager, Full GUI administration possible)
  • Increased reliability and security
  • Less code results in fewer patches and reduced servicing burden
  • Low surface area server for targeted roles
  • More secure and reliable with less management

Even with the for free available Hyper-V 2008 R2 server edition, you can build highly available solutions based on failover clustering and Hyper-V which includes live migration for virtual machines capabilities.

https://www.microsoft.com/hyper-v-server/en/us/r2.aspx

With the also for free available core configurator 2.0 @ Codeplex you have the capability to configure easily your hyper-v or core server or you do enabled remote management capability and install and configure your server remote with the well known server manager (only R2).

How to enable Remote Management (R2)?

  • To enable remote administration
    netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=”Windows Firewall Remote Management” new enable=yes 
  • To allow all Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-ins to connect
    netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=“remote administration” new enable=yes
  • To allow specific MMC snap-ins to connect
    netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=“<rulegroup>” new enable=yes
  • To get a list of rule groups
    netsh advfirewall firewall show rule name=all

Following Tasks are included in the Core Configurator 2.0 which now also supports R2 edition:

  • Product Licensing
  • Networking Features
  • DCPromo Tool
  • ISCSI Settings
  • Server Roles and Features
  • User and Group Permissions
  • Share Creation and Deletion
  • Dynamic Firewall settings
  • Display | Screensaver Settings
  • Add & Remove Drivers
  • Proxy settings
  • Windows Updates (Including WSUS)
  • Multipath I/O
  • Hyper-V including virtual machine thumbnails
  • JoinDomain and Computer rename
  • Add/remove programs
  • Services
  • WinRM
  • Complete logging of all commands execute

Core Configurator 2.0 @ CodePlex

An huge improvement since Windows 2008 is Powershell! which gives us administrators an great tool for automation, remote management or scripting purposes. Specific for Hyper-V there is currently an library of command let’s available at Codeplex which gives you great power and control of your Hyper-V servers.

PowerShell Library provides additional cmdlets
https://www.codeplex.com/PSHyperv

PowerGUI + Hyper-V PowerPack is an excellent way to easily administer Hyper-V (and learn PowerShell).
https://powergui.org

APIs for Server Core are available for programming purposes and documented at MSDN:

Windows Server Core SDK includes a list of APIs which are available in Server Core
https://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms723910.aspx

Additional helpful links around Windows Server 2008 technologies can you find here:

Job Aids for Server Core Installations of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=8dd99ac0-4a59-41e9-8037-f33760d560f0

Server Core – Step-by-Step Guide
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753802(WS.10).aspx
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=B16F4DC4-A3D3-4DC7-AA51-A1C6728B217A&displaylang=en

Step by Step guides
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=518d870c-fa3e-4f6a-97f5-acaf31de6dce&DisplayLang=en

Server Core Blog
https://blogs.technet.com/server_core/default.aspx

“Command-line reference A-Z”
https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=20331

Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd349801(WS.10).aspx

Windows Server Commands, References, and Tools
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd560674(WS.10).aspx

Windows Server 2008 (R2) - Hyper-V
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753637(WS.10).aspx

Windows Server 2008 (R2) - Failover Clustering
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732488(WS.10).aspx

TechNet Newsgroups
https://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=582&SiteID=17

DISM/NETSH is your best friend….

Stay tunedWinking smile!

Ramazan Can