Admin Guide: Server Core

Admin Guide
SERVER CORE
Author: Jonathan Gray

Table of Contents
1.0 About Windows Server 2016..............................................................................................2
1.1 Feature comparison.........................................................................................................2
1.2 Server Core Installation..................................................................................................5
1.3 Server Roles Available...................................................................................................5
1.4 Installing Server Core.....................................................................................................6
2.0 Configuring Server Core.....................................................................................................7
2.1 Sconfig............................................................................................................................7
2.2 Management Methods.....................................................................................................8
1.0 About Windows Server 2016
1.1 FEATURE COMPARISON
1.2 SERVER CORE INSTALLATION
When you install Windows Server 2016 using the Setup wizard, you can choose between
Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server (Server with Desktop Experience). The Server with
Desktop Experience option is the Windows Server 2016 equivalent of the Full installation option
available in Windows Server 2012 R2 with the Desktop Experience feature installed. If you do
not make a choice in the Setup wizard, Windows Server 2016 is installed; this is the Server Core
installation option.
The Server Core option reduces the space required on disk, the potential attack surface, and
especially the servicing requirements, so we recommend that you choose the Server Core
installation unless you have a particular need for the additional user interface elements and
graphical management tools that are included in the Server with Desktop Experience option.
With the Server Core option, the standard user interface (the "Server Graphical Shell") is
not installed; you manage the server using the command line, Windows PowerShell, or by
remote methods.
Note: In Windows Server 2016, you cannot convert between Server Core and Desktop
Experience after installation. If you install Server Core and later decide to use Server with
Desktop Experience, you should do a fresh installation.
1.3 SERVER ROLES AVAILABLE

o Active Directory Certificate Services
o Active Directory Domain Services
o DHCP Server
o DNS Server
o File Services (Including File Server Resource Manager)
o Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS)
o Hyper-V
o Print and Document Services
o Streaming Media Services
o Web Server (including a subset of ASP.NET)
o Windows Server Update Server
o Active Directory Rights Management Server
o Routing and Remote Access Server and the following sub-roles:
o Remote Desktop Services Connection Broker
o Licensing
o Virtualization
o Volume Activation Services
1.4 INSTALLING SERVER CORE
Upon booting from installation media, you will be asked to choose which version of Server 2016
you would like to install. Note that the default OS does not include the desktop GUI and the
version that has the desktop GUI included is now called (Desktop Experience).
Choosing Windows Server 2016 Standard or Windows Server 2016 Datacenter will install
the default edition, which is now Server Core.
After the initial installation of Windows Server 2016 Standard or Windows Server 2016
Datacenter, we will be presented with a single text command prompt and asked to change the
local administrator password.
Once the local administrator password has been changed successfully, the operating system is
installed and will now require basic configuration.
Note: As Server Core does not include a traditional “Desktop”, upon installation of the operating
system, you will be presented with a single window command prompt. This command prompt
can be accessed from the console or remotely via RDP if the target Server Core is on the network
and has been configured to allow remote desktop connections.
2.0 Configuring Server Core
2.1 SCONFIG
Base settings of Windows Server 2016 Core can be configured using the Server Core
configuration utility. This can be launched from the command prompt by executing the command
sconfig
From the Server Configuration utility you are able to configure all of the required settings to get
the server on the network, add to domain, turn on/off remote management and activate Windows.
Please see the table on the following page to see all of the items that you can configure from
sconfig.
Task Description
Domain/Workgroup To add or remove the server from a domain or workgroup
Computer Name To change the hostname of the server
Add Local To add a local user to the local administrators group
Administrator Note: You cannot remove any user accounts from the local administrators group using
sconfig
Configure Remote
Management
2.2 MANAGEMENT METHODS

User interface: Command Prompt
Install, configure and uninstall server roles locally: at a command prompt with Windows
Powershell
Install, configure and uninstall server roles remotely: with Server manager, Remote Server
Administration Tools (RSAT), or Windows Powershell.
Remote Desktop: With RDP (mstsc.exe) to the Server Core user interface (command prompt,
powershell).
2.3 Common Management Tasks
Task How Reference

Install and basic config Console
Add server roles Console
- Powershell
Server Manager
- Remote from GUI
Remove server roles

Disk Management
Apply updates
Restart/shutdown
Network Configuration
Event logs

Admin Guide: Server Core

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Admin Guide: Server Core

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Admin Guide

Author: Jonathan Gray

1.3 SERVER ROLES AVAILABLE

2.2 MANAGEMENT METHODS

2.3 Common Management Tasks

Task How Reference

Remove server roles

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