Desktop Experience Overview
Applies To: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012
This topic includes information about Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure, Server Graphical Shell, Desktop Experience, and Media Foundation.
Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure is the set of features that comprises the difference between a Server Core installation and the Minimal Server Interface option of a Full server installation. Uninstalling this feature will convert a Full server installation to a Server Core installation.
Server Graphical Shell is the same user interface that is installed by default when you choose the “Server with GUI” installation option during Setup. To decrease the servicing requirements of your server while still being able to use Microsoft Management Console (MMC) locally, you can uninstall the Server Graphical Shell using Server Manager, which leaves you with the Minimal Server Interface. The Minimal Server Interface requires Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure to be installed. For more information about the server installation options, what is included with each, and how to switch between them (as well as information about the Minimal Server Interface and Features on Demand), see Windows Server Installation Options.
The Desktop Experience feature allows you to install a variety of applications and features that are provided in the Windows client operating system on your server that is running a Windows Server operating system. If you are running Windows Server 2012, the following Windows 8 features are installed when you install Desktop Experience:
Windows Media Player
Video for Windows (AVI support)
Windows SideShow
Disk Cleanup
Sync Center
Sound Recorder
Character Map
Snipping Tool
Support for desktop apps
Windows Store
If you are running Windows Server 2012 R2, the following Windows 8.1 features are installed when you install Desktop Experience:
Windows Media Player
Video for Windows (AVI support)
Windows SideShow
Disk Cleanup
Sync Center
Sound Recorder
Character Map
Snipping Tool
Support for desktop apps
Windows Store
PC settings (adds Change PC settings to the Settings charm)
The ability to play a slide show on your lock screen
Integrated search (searches through the Search charm integrate results from the local computer and the Internet through Bing)
View Scanner and Cameras
Important
When you install Desktop Experience in Windows Server 2012 R2, the integrated search is on by default. This feature sends information to Microsoft. You can turn off the integrated search feature with the following steps:
To turn off integrated search
Open the Windows charm bar (WINDOWS+C)
Click Settings, click Change PC Settings, and then click Search & Apps.
In the Use Bing to search online section, move the slider to Off. Alternately, in the Your Search Experience section, select Don’t get personalized results from Bing.
Note
The Desktop Experience feature requires that you also install the Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure and Server Graphical Shell features.
Media Foundation, which includes Windows Media Foundation, the Windows Media Format SDK, and a server subset of DirectShow, provides the infrastructure required for applications and services to transcode, analyze, and generate thumbnails for media files. You can install Media Foundation separately with Server Manager—but if you install the Desktop Experience feature, you must install the Media Foundation feature as well.
Requirements for running Desktop Experience, Media Foundation, or Server Graphical Shell
There are no special hardware or software requirements for using these features.
Note
The following server features and roles require the Server Graphical Shell—they will automatically be disabled if you uninstall the Server Graphical Shell: Remote Desktop for Administration is supported with or without the Server Graphical Shell. There is only partial functionality if the Server Graphical Shell is not installed:
Running Desktop Experience, Media Foundation, or Server Graphical Shell
How do I deploy and configure these features by using Windows PowerShell?
To install Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure with Windows PowerShell, use the following commands:
Import-Module ServerManager
Install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra
To install the Server Graphical Shell with Windows PowerShell, use the following commands:
Import-Module ServerManager
Install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell
To install Desktop Experience with Windows PowerShell, use the following commands:
Import-Module ServerManager
Install-WindowsFeature Desktop-Experience
To install Media Foundation with Windows PowerShell, use the following commands:
Import-Module ServerManager
Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation
To uninstall the Server Graphical Shell with Windows PowerShell, use the following commands:
Import-Module ServerManager
Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell
How do I deploy and configure these features in a multiserver environment?
All of these features are relevant to a single server at a time.
Can I run these features on virtual machines?
These features function normally on virtual machines with no changes required.
Can I run these features in a clustered environment?
It is possible to run any of these features in a clustered environment, but it is not recommended.
Security considerations for running these features
After installation, these features are designed to be secure by default.
Special considerations for managing these features on the Server Core installation option
These features are not supported on Server Core installations.