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Home Articles&Tutorials MicrosoftHyperVArticles InstallationandDeployment

Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 HyperV (Part 1)

by Janique Carbone [Published on 16 Jan. 2013 / Last Updated on 16 Jan. 2013]

InPartIofthisarticleseries,youlearnaboutthedifferentinstallationoptionsavailableinWindowsServer2012.
IfyouwouldliketoreadthenextpartinthisarticleseriespleasegotoInstallingandConfiguringWindowsServer2012HyperV(Part2)(/articlestutorials/microsofthyperv
articles/installationanddeployment/installingconfiguringwindowsserver2012hypervpart2.html).

Introduction
InPartIofthisarticle,youlearnaboutthedifferentinstallationoptionsavailableinWindowsServer2012.NewoptionsimproveontheServerCoreInstallationandFullInstallation
scenariosthatarealsoavailableinWindowsServer2008R2.ThesenewoptionsallowyoutoremovetheServerGraphicalShellfromaFullInstallation(renamedServerwithaGUI
inWindowsServer2012),andalsoaFeaturesonDemandoptiontoreducethefootprintoftheWindowsServer2012installationontheserver.

(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735625174?ie=UTF8&tag=isaserver120&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0735625174)

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Server Core Installation

LikeWindowsServer2008R2,theServerCoreInstallationoptionisavailableinWindowsServer2012.Whenyouperformthistypeofinstallation,youelecttoinstallWindowsServer
2012withouttheServerGraphicalShell.Inthisconfiguration,neithertheMicrosoftManagementConsolenortheDesktopExperiencefeaturesareavailable.Youcanmanagea
SeverCoreInstallationserverlocallyusingthecommandlineorWindowsPowerShell,remotelyfromaserverthatwasinstalledusingtheServerwithaGUIinstallation,orfroma
workstationthatisconfiguredwiththeWindows8RemoteServerAdministrationTools(RSAT).
TheServerCoreInstallationoptionisthedefaultoptionforWindowsServer2012.BecauseitdoesnotloadtheServerGraphicalShell,itistherecommendedinstallationmethodto
minimizeserverupdaterequirements,reduceoperatingsystemsizeondisk,andminimizetheserverattackfootprint.Youcanstillconfigureserverrolesonthistypeofinstallation.
However,noneoftheassociatedGUIbasedmanagementconsoleswillbeinstalledduringtheconfigurationprocess.Assuch,theServerCoreInstallationrequiresapproximately4
GBlessofharddiskspacethantheServerwithaGUIinstallationoption.
YoucanusethestepsinthefollowingproceduretoperformaWindowsServer2012ServerCoreInstallationusingtheWindowsSetupGUI:
1. BootthephysicalserverorvirtualmachineusingtheWindowsServer2012media.
2. AttheWindowsSetupscreenshowninFigure1,selecttheappropriateLanguage,TimeandCurrencyFormat,andKeyboardorInputMethodoptionsusingthepulldown
menus,andthenclickNext.

Figure1:WindowsServer2012SetupScreen
3. AsshowninFigure2,selectInstallNowonthenextscreen.

Figure2:WindowsServer2012InstallationScreen
4. TheWindowsServer2012SetupbeginsasshowninFigure3.

Figure3:WindowsServer2012SetupscreenafterInstallNowSelection
5. OnthenextWindowsSetupscreen(Figure4),enteryourWindowsServer2012productkey,andthenclickNext.

Figure4:WindowsServer2012SetupscreenforProductKeyInput
6. AsshowninFigure5,selecttheServerCoreInstallationoptionforyourWindowsServer2012edition(WindowsServer2012StandardinFigure5),andthenclickNext.

Figure5:WindowsServer2012SetupscreenforOperatingSystemSelection
7. AfterreadingtheLicenseTermsonthenextWindowsSetupscreen(Figure6),clickthe
IAccepttheLicenseTermscheckboxifyouagree,andthenclickNext.

Figure6:WindowsServer2012SetupscreenforLicenseTerms
8. AsshowninFigure7,clickontheCustom:InstallWindowsOnly(Advanced)optiontoinstallacleanversionofWindowsServer2012.Alternatively,youcanselectthe
Upgrade:InstallWindowsandKeepFiles,Settings,andApplicationsoptiontoupdateapreviousWindowsServerversioninasupportedupgradescenario.

Figure7:WindowsServer2012SetupscreenforInstallationTypeSelection
9. OnthenextWindowsSetupscreen(Figure8),selecttheDriveandPartitionwhereyou
wanttoinstallWindowsServer2012operatingsystemfiles,andthenclickNext.

Figure8:WindowsServer2012SetupscreenforDriveandPartitionSelection
10. AsshowninFigure9,theWindowsServer2012installationbegins.Duringinstallation,thesystemmayrebootseveraltimes.

Figure9:WindowsServer2012InstallationSnapshot
11. WhentheWindowsServer2012ServerCoreInstallationiscomplete,clickNexttochangetheAdministratorpassword(Figure10).

Figure10:WindowsServer2012AdministratorPasswordScreen
12. AfteryouenterthenewAdministratorpasswordandverifyit,clickOKtoacknowledgethepasswordchange(Figure11).

Figure11:WindowsServer2012PasswordAcknowledgmentScreen
13. BecausethisisaServerCoreInstallation,onlyacommandwindowisopenafteryouare
loggedintothesystem(Figure12).

Figure12:WindowsServer2012ServerCoreInstallationCommandWindow
AfterWindowsServer2012isinstalled,youmaketheserverusefulbyconfiguringnetwork,firewall,domain,update,andotherstandardsettings,aswellastherolesandfeaturesfor
whichitmustprovideservice.WithaServerCoreinstallation,youcanconfigureroleslocallyusingtheWindowsPowerShell.
Youcanusethestepsinthefollowingproceduretodiscoverserverrolesandfeatures,andinstallmultiplerolesandfeaturesusingWindowsPowerShell:
1. AsshowninFigure13,typeinPowerShellinacommandwindow.

Figure13:WindowsServer2012CommandWindowsStartingPowerShell
2. TypeGetWindowsFeatureatthePowerShellCommandLine(Figure14)toviewtheserverrolesandfeaturesthatareinstalledoravailableontheserver.

Figure14:WindowsServer2012GetWindowsFeaturePowerShellCmdlet
3. TypeInstallWindowsFeaturefollowedbythefeaturename(e.g.,HyperVinFigure15)listedintheGetWindowsFeaturecmdletoutputtoinstallaroleorfeature.

Figure15:WindowsServer2012InstallWindowsFeaturePowerShellCmdlet
4. AsshowninFigure16,theinstallationbeginsandtheprogressupdatesthroughouttheoperation.

Figure16:WindowsServer2012RoleInstallationinWindowsPowerShell
5. Aftertheinstallationiscomplete,thestatusoftheoperationisdisplayedasshowninFigure17.

Figure17:WindowsServerRoleInstallationStatusinWindowsPowerShell
Itispossibletoinstallmultiplefeaturesatoncebyseparatingthefeaturenameswithcommas.Ifyouwanttouninstallaserverroleorfeature,youcanusetheUninstall
WindowsFeaturePowerShellcmdletfollowedbythefeaturename.Ifyouuninstallaroleorfeature,theinstallationfilesremainondisktoallowyoutoreinstallatalatertimewithout
needingoriginalinstallationmedia.

Server with a GUI Installation

TheprocessfortheServerwithaGUIinstallationisidenticaltotheServerCoreinstallationoption,withtheexceptionthatyouselecttheServerwithaGUIoptionattheinstallation
prompt(Figure18).

Figure18:WindowsServer2012ServerwithaGUIInstallationSelection
AftertheServerwithaGUIinstallationcompletes,youcanconfiguretheserverandinstallrolesandfeaturesusingtheServerManagerconsoleshowninFigure19,orusing
WindowsPowerShellifyouprefertoscripttheserverconfigurationprocess.

Figure19:WindowsServer2012ServerManagerConsoleAddRoles

Switching Between Server Core and Server with a GUI Installations

InWindowsServer2012,youhavetheoptiontoswitchbetweenaServerCoreInstallationandaServerwithaGUIinstallationorviceversa,basedonchangesinrequirementsfor
anyparticularserver.
Converting from a Server Core Installation to a Server with a GUI Installation

TheproceduretoconvertaServerCoretoaServerwithaGUIinstallationissimpleusingWindowsPowerShell.However,itisarequirementthatyouissuethePowerShellcmdlets
usingelevated(Administrator)privileges.
YoucanusethestepsinthefollowingproceduretoconvertaServerCoreinstallationtoaServerwithaGUIinstallationusingWindowsPowerShell:
1. FromacommandwindowrunningwithAdministratorprivileges,typePowerShelltoinvoketheWindowsPowerShellenvironment.
2. AsshowninFigure20,typeGetWindowsImageImagePath<pathtowim>\install.wimtodeterminetheindexnumberfortheappropriateServerwithaGUIimage.

Figure20:WindowsServer2012GetWindowsImagePowerShellCmdlet
3. AsshowninFigure21,typeInstallWindowsFeatureServerGuiMgmtInfra,ServerGuiShellRestartSourcewim:<pathtowim>\install.wim:<Index#>at
thePowerShellCommandLinetoinstalltheWindowsServer2012GUIcomponents.

Figure21:WindowsServer2012InstallWindowsFeaturePowerShellCmdlet
4. Ifyouprefer,youcanuseWindowsUpdateasthesourceoftheinstallationfilesbytypingInstallWindowsFeatureServerGuiMgmtInfra,ServerGuiShell.
5. AsshowninFigure22,WindowsServer2012restartstocompletetheinstallationoftheGUIcomponents.

Figure22:WindowsServer2012FeaturesConfiguration
Converting from a Server with a GUI Installation to a Server Core Installation

Conversely,youcanconvertfromaServerwithaGUIinstallationtoaServerCoreinstallation(arestartisalsorequired)usingtheWindowsPowerShellcmdletUninstall
WindowsFeatureServerGuiMgmtInfrarestart,asshowninFigure23.

Figure23:WindowsServer2012UninstallWindowsFeaturePowerShellCmdlet

Minimal Server Interface Option

AnotherWindowsServer2012configurationoption,MinimalServerInterface,allowsyoutoremovesomeofthegraphicalcomponentsinstalledwithaServerwithaGUIinstallation.
Thecomponentsthatareremovedinclude:
InternetExplorer10
WindowsExplorer
Desktop
StartScreen
ControlPanel
Taskbar
TheMicrosoftManagementConsole,ServerManager,andsomeControlPanelappletsremainontheserver.
Converting to a Minimal Server Interface from a Server with a GUI Installation

BoththeServerManagerandWindowsPowerShellcanbeusedtoconvertaServerwithaGUIinstallationtoaMinimalServerInterfaceconfiguration.
YoucanusethestepsinthefollowingproceduretoconvertaServerwithaGUIinstallationtoaMinimalServerInterfaceConfigurationusingServerManager:
1. OntheWindowsServer2012system,openServerManagerasshowninFigure24.

Figure24:WindowsServer2012ServerManagerConsole
2. AsshowninFigure25,clickManageandselectRemoveRolesandFeatures.

Figure25:ServerManagerConsoleRemoveRolesandFeaturesSelection
3. IntheRemoveRolesandFeaturesWizard(Figure26),ontheBeforeYouBeginpage,selectNext.

Figure26:RemoveRolesandFeaturesWizardBeforeYouBeginPage
4. OntheSelectDestinationServerpage(Figure27),selecttheserverandclickNext.

Figure27:RemoveRolesandFeaturesWizardSelectDestinationServerPage
5. OntheRemoveServerRolespage(Figure28),clickNext.

Figure28:RemoveRolesandFeaturesWizardRemoveServerRolesPage
6. OntheRemoveFeaturespage(Figure29),scrolldowntotheUserInterfacesandInfrastructurefeature,clicktoexpandit,unselecttheServerGraphicalShelloption,andthen
clickNext.

Figure29:RemoveRolesandFeaturesWizardRemoveFeaturesPage
7. OntheConfirmationPage(Figure30),clickRemove.

Figure30:RemoveRolesandFeaturesWizardConfirmRemovalSelectionsPage
8. Aftertheremovalprocesscompletes(Figure31),clickCloseandrestarttheserver.

Figure31:RemoveRolesandFeaturesWizardRemovalProgressPage
9. AsshowninFigure32,aftertherestarttheMinimalServerInterfaceisenabled,andtheServerManagerandacommandwindowaredisplayed.

Figure32:WindowsServer2012MinimalServerInterfaceConfiguration
Ifyouprefer,youcanusethestepsinthefollowingproceduretoconvertaServerwithaGUIinstallationtoaMinimalServerInterfaceConfigurationusingWindowsPowerShell:
1. OntheWindowsServer2012system,typeUninstallWindowsFeatureServerGuiShellinaWindowsPowerShellwindowwithelevatedprivileges(Figure33).

Figure33:WindowsServer2012UninstallWindowsFeatureCmdlet
2. Whentheremovalprocesscompletes,restarttheserverusingtheRestartComputerPowerShellcmdlet.
WithaMinimalServerInterfaceconfiguration,youcancontinuetousetheServerManagertomanagetheserveroruseWindowsPowerShell.

ItisalsopossibletoachieveaMinimalServerInterfaceconfigurationbyaddingtheGraphicalManagementToolsandInfrastructurefeaturetoaServerCoreinstallation.
YoucanusethestepsinthefollowingproceduretoconvertaServerCoreinstallationtoaMinimalServerInterfaceConfigurationusingWindowsPowerShell:
1. OntheWindowsServer2012system,typeInstallWindowsFeatureServerGuiMgmtInfrainaWindowsPowerShellwindowwithelevatedprivileges(Figure34).

Figure34:WindowsServer2012InstallWindowsFeatureCmdlet
2. Whentheinstallationprocesscompletes,restarttheserverusingtheRestartComputerPowerShellcmdlet.
Inthisconfiguration,youcanbenefitfromaWindowsServer2012installationwithaminimizedattacksurface,andsmalleroperatingsystemfootprintondiskwhilestillbeingableto
performmanagementtasksusingtheGUImanagementtoolslikeServerManager.

Features on Demand Option

OnaServerCoreinstallation,theinstallationfilesforgraphicalfeaturesarenotcopiedtothelocaldiskinordertominimizetheoperatingsystemfootprint.InWindowsServer2012,it
isalsopossibletoremovethebinaryfilesforotherrolesandfeatures.IfyouwanttoinstallaroleorfeaturewhosefileswereremovedfromtheWindowsServer2012installation,you
havetospecifyaccesstoaninstallationsource(e.g.,WIMimage)andtheindexnumberoftheimagetoensurethatthecomponentfilesareinstalledfromthesameversionof
Windows.AnotheroptionistouseWindowsUpdateastheinstallationfilesource.
Forexample,touninstalltheGraphicalServerShellfilesfromaWindowsServer2012installation,youcanusethefollowingWindowsPowerShellcmdlet:
UninstallWindowsFeatureServerGuiShellRemove
InordertoinstalltheGraphicalServerShellfilesusingtheWindowsUpdatesiteastheinstallationsource,youcanusethefollowingWindowsPowerShellcmdlet:
InstallWindowsFeatureServerGuiShell
Ifyouwanttousealocalinstallationsource,youhavetousetheSourceoptionfollowedbythepathtotheinstallationfoldersandtheindexoftheWindowsServer2012image.

Conclusion
Inthisarticle,youlearnedabouttheServerCoreandServerwithaGUIinstallationoptionsthatallowyoutoindividuallyconfigureserversbasedonwhetherornotyouhavea
requirementtousethegraphicaluserinterfacecomponentstomanageaparticularserver.InWindowsServer2012,itisalsopossibletoswitchbetweentheseinstallationoptionsas
serverrequirementschange,andtofurtherconfiguretheinstallationusingeithertheMinimalServerInterfaceorFeaturesonDemandoptions.InPartIIofthearticle,youwilllearnthe
detailsabouttheconfigurationoftheHyperVroleinWindowsServer2012.
IfyouwouldliketoreadthenextpartinthisarticleseriespleasegotoInstallingandConfiguringWindowsServer2012HyperV(Part2)(http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/articles
tutorials/microsofthypervarticles/installationanddeployment/installingconfiguringwindowsserver2012hypervpart2.html).

See Also
InstallingandConfiguringWindowsServer2012HyperV
(Part2)(http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/articles
tutorials/microsofthypervarticles/installationand
deployment/installingconfiguringwindowsserver2012
hypervpart2.html)
What'sNewinWindows8forHyperVBasedCloud
Computing(Part2)HyperVinWindows8client
(http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/articles
tutorials/microsofthypervarticles/general/whatsnew
windows8hypervbasedcloudcomputingpart2.html)

The Author Janique Carbone

JaniqueCarbonehasspentthebetter
partof15+yearsintheITindustry,
including7yearsatMicrosoftasa
SeniorConsultantandTechnical
AccountManager.

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