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Windows Server 2008 Core Quick Reference

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This month I have been setting up my first Windows 2008 core server to go into a production environment. It has been a very interesting experience as I was expecting a straight forward process but ran into a few challenges. What with some vendor specific hardware and a bizarre WSUS issue, I have certainly had some fun.

Therefore I thought that I would share with you my cheat sheet that has a few basic commands that got me through this build and some commands seemed to be harder to find than expected. Now they are in no particular order from a technical point but are in the order that I found them/needed them. J

 

Set the computer name

Netdom computername [origcomputername] /add Core.contoso.com

Netdom computername [origcomputername] /makeprimary core.contoso.com

Configure IP address

Netsh int ipv4 set address “Local Area Connection” static 192.168.1.200 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1

Netsh int ipv4 set address “Local Area Connection” source=dhcp

Netsh int ipv4 set dnsserver “Local Area Connection” static 192.168.1.200 primary

Netsh int ipv4 set winsserver “Local Area Connection” static 192.168.1.200 primary

Change the name of the network interface

Netsh int set interface name = “Local Area Connection” newname = “LAN”

Manage Firewall

Netsh firewall set opmode enable

Netsh firewall set opmode disable

Enable Remote Administration

Netsh firewall set service remoteadmin enable

To set up the registry for remote admin

Cscript C:\Windows\System32\Scregedit.wsf /ar 0

If you are using an older version of TS client, then you need to drop the security levels on core

cscript C:\Windows\System32\Scregedit.wsf /cs 0

To enable automatic updates

cscript C:\Windows\System32\Scregedit.wsf /AU 4

To use the Disk Management MMC snap-in remotely

Net start vds

To view main hardware/software details of core

Systeminfo.exe

Reset the administrator password

Net user administrator *

To activate the server

Slmgr.vbs –ato

To join the domain

Netdom join <computer name. /domain:<domainname> /userd:<username> /password:<password>

Restart core

Shutdown /r

To remotely find out if this server a core build using WMI

    wmic path win32_operatingsystem get OperatingSystemSKU /value

    To list installed drivers:

Sc query type= driver

 

    Installing a driver that is not included:

Copy the driver files to Server Core

Pnputil –i –a <path>\<driver>.inf

 

    List of installed patches:

wmic qfe list

 

To List the installed roles

OCList

 

To install a role

Start /w ocsetup <name of role>

 

Hopefully you will find this useful too :)

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Windows Server 2008 Core Quick Reference

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    The set computer name doesn't appear to work on my side.  I've got almost everything else working.  It's a nice beast, but a pain at the same time.  I'm curious how the unix fanboys will react :)

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Hello, I'm the writer who owns documenting Server Core installations of WS08 and WS08R2. In case you aren't aware of it, you can get the Step-by-Step Guide here:http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=518d870c-fa3e-4f6a-97f5-acaf31de6dce&DisplayLang=en The SxS Guide includes a complete list of tasks and the commands to do them. I'm currently updating it to include R2 content as well. In addition, I'm working on a job aid. This downloadable, printable, foldable document would include the most-needed commands, with space for you to add your own deployment-specific content as needed. This list is great info to help me figure out what to include--if you all would like to cast your votes for particular must-have tasks or commands in the comments here, I would find that priceless. I could also use some feedback on what file format would work best for you all for the job aid. PDF? thanks, vv J.O.

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Hi All Sometimes you just want a new Domain created quickly for a bit of testing. Given that Windows

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Fair point Thomas, I have renamed the article and thanks for the suggestion having reviewed the set computername section, I have discovered that I did miss out two switches..  I have amended the post and it now works.  Thanks for your feedback Gazanga..  :)

  • Anonymous
    January 20, 2013
    Can you correct the command to reset the password of administrator to "net user"