Lesson 1: Installing Servers

Selecting a Windows Server 2012 Edition

Lesson 1: Installing Servers

Planning
• The Windows Server 2012 Edition you choose should be based on multiple
factors, including:
o The roles you intend the servers to perform
o The virtualization strategy you intend to implement
o The licensing strategy you plan to use

Windows Server 2012 Core Editions

• Windows Server 2012 Datacenter
• Windows Server 2012 Standard
• Windows Server 2012 Essentials
• Windows Server 2012 Foundation

Datacenter
• Designed for large and powerful servers
• Supports up to 64 processors
• Fault tolerance—hot-add processors
• Only available to purchase through:
o Microsoft volume-licensing program
o Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), bundled with a server
Standard
• Includes the full set of Windows Server 2012 features
• Only differs from Datacenter by the number of virtual machine instances
permitted by the license

Essentials
• Includes nearly all features from Datacenter and Standard editions, except:
o Server Core
o Hyper-V
o Active Directory Federation Services
• Limited to one physical or virtual server instance
• Maximum of 25 users
 Foundation
• Reduced version of the operating system designed for small businesses
• Supports only basic server features:
o File and print services
o Application support
• No virtualization rights
• Limited to 15 users

Supporting Server Roles

Three basic categories of server roles are:
• Directory services
o Store, organize, and supply information about a network and its
resources
• Infrastructure services
o Provide support services for network clients
• Application services
o Provide communication services, operating environments, or
programming interfaces for specific applications

Directory Services Roles

• Active Directory Certificate Services
• Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
• Active Directory Federation Services
• Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS)
• Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS)

Infrastructure Services
• DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
• DNS Server
• Hyper-V
• Network Policy and Access Services (NPAS)
• Health Registration Authority (HRA)
• Remote Access
• Volume Activation Services
• Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)

Application Services
• Application Server
• Fax Server
• File and Storage Services
• Print and Document Services
• Remote Desktop Services
• Web Server (IIS)

Supporting Server Virtualization

POSE: Physical operating system environment

VOSE: Virtual operating system environment

Edition POSE Instances VOSE Instances

Datacenter 1 Unlimited
Standard 1 2
Foundation 1 0
Essentials 1 POSE or VOSE 1 POSE or VOSE

Server Licensing
• Licensing Windows Server 2012 includes purchasing licenses for both servers
and clients.
Original Equipment
Retail Volume Licensing
Manufacturer

Datacenter No Yes Yes

Standard Yes Yes Yes
Foundation No No Yes
Essentials No Yes Yes

Installing
Windows Server 2012
Lesson 1: Installing Servers

System Requirements
Minimum system requirements for all editions of Windows Server 2012:
o Processor: 1.4 GHz 64-bit
o RAM: 512 MB
 o Disk space: 32 GB
o DVD or USB flash drive
o Super VGA (800 x600) or higher resolution monitor

Maximum Hardware Configurations

Windows Server Windows Server

2012 2008 R2
Logical
640 256
processors
RAM 4 terabytes 2 terabytes
Failover cluster
63 16
nodes
A failover cluster is a group of servers that work together to maintain high
availability of applications and services. If one of the servers, or nodes, fails,
another node in the cluster can take over its workload without any downtime (this
process is known as failover).

Clean Installation

• Necessary when you have a bare metal computer.

• Use if you are willing to reformat an existing disk.
• Creates the most stable environment.
Performing a
Clean Installation
• Connect and power on all devices.
• Boot from the Windows Server installation DVD.
• Select Language, Time and Currency format, and Keyboard layout.
• Click Install Now.
• Select your edition of Windows Server 2012.
• Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
• Select the partition on which to install.
• When the installation is complete, set your password.

Working with
Installation Partitions
• You can create, manage, and delete partitions on your hard drive.
• Click Drive options (advanced) and four buttons will appear:
o Delete
o Extend
o Format
o New
Choosing Installation Options
Lesson 1: Installing Servers

Using Server Core

• Stripped-down version of the operating system
• Takes you to a Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Type commands at the command prompt

Advantages of
Server Core
• Hardware resource conservation
• Reduced disk space
• Reduced patch frequency
• Reduced attack surface
Server Core Defaults
• Server Core is now the default installation option.
• GUI tools can be added and removed using Windows PowerShell commands.
• New Server Manager includes comprehensive remote administration tools.
Using the Minimal
Server Interface
• A setting that removes some of the most hardware-intensive elements from the
GUI.
• Middle ground between Server Core and full GUI installation.
• Administrators are left with essential tools:
o Server Manager
o MMC applications
o Device Manager
o Windows PowerShell

Using Features
on Demand
• Allows you to optimize resource utilization by removing files related to
unused Windows features stored in WinSxS directory.
• Permanently remove files for unused features using Windows PowerShell
commands.
• The following command will disable the Server Graphical Shell and remove
its source files from WinSxS:
Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell –Remove
• If you attempt to enable the feature in the future, the system will download it
from Windows Update or from an image file you specify.

Upgrading Servers
Lesson 1: Installing Servers

Upgrading Servers
• Setup program creates a new Windows folder in which to install the new
version of Windows Server 2012.
• The program then migrates applications, files, and settings from the old OS to
the new.
• To minimize risks involved in this complex procedure, administrators must
perform backups and be able to troubleshoot problems that may arise.

Upgrade Paths
• Windows Server 2012 has very limited upgrade paths.
• You can only upgrade Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, 64
bit versions only, to their comparable Windows Server 2012 edition.
• For all other Windows versions and editions, you will have to perform a Clean
Installation.

Preparing to Upgrade
• Check hardware compatibility.
• Check disk space.
• Confirm that software is signed.
• Check application compatibility.
• Ensure computer functionality.
• Perform a full backup.
• Purchase Windows Server 2012.

Performing an
Upgrade Installation
• Insert the Windows Server 2012 installation DVD while your current server is
still running, and run the Setup program.
• The installation program will run the same way as a clean installation except
on the Which type of installation do you want page, you must select Upgrade:
Install Windows and keep files, settings, and applications option.
• The Setup program will provide a Compatibility Report

Lesson Summary
• Microsoft releases all of its operating systems in multiple editions, which
provides consumers with varying price points and feature sets.
• Windows Server 2012 includes predefined combinations of services called
roles that implement common server functions.
• A clean installation is the simplest way to deploy Windows Server 2012 on a
bare metal computer or a computer with a partition that you are willing to
reformat (losing all of the data on the partition in the process).
Lesson Summary
• Many enterprise networks today use servers that are dedicated to a particular
role. When a server is performing a single role, does it really make sense to
have so many other processes running on the server that contribute little to
that role?
• When you select the Windows Server Core installation option, you get a
stripped-down version of the operating system.  
• If the advantages of Server Core sound tempting, but there are traditional
server administration tools you don’t want to give up, Windows Server 2012
provides a compromise that it calls the Minimal Server Interface.
• The Minimal Server Interface is a setting that removes some of the most
hardware-intensive elements from the GUI.
Lesson Summary
• An in-place upgrade is the most complicated form of Windows Server 2012
installation. It is also the lengthiest, and the most likely to cause problems
during its execution. Whenever possible, Microsoft recommends that
administrators perform a clean installation, or migrate required applications
and settings instead.