Since Microsoft introduced Windows 2008 back in 2007, there is the opportunity to install a Core Server. It was the first time Microsoft introduced a lean-and-mean server, where a lot of the Linux and Unix admins always complained that the GUI on a server eats so many resources where nobody ever really uses it.

Core server installations have a big advantage above the full installation of windows: it uses up less resources on your (virtual) infrastructure.

Personally, I run a DC and a Fileserver on Windows 2008 Core, both configured with 512 Megs RAM and 1 CPU, which is more than enough for the task. If you are still on a physical infrastructure, usually a core installation is not really usefull. But when you are fully virtual, like most of us are, you can take full advantage of the less use of resources for a DNS server, DHCP server, Domain Controller, File server or a Web server. Here you can see what functions can be installed on a Windows 2008 (R2) core server.

But introducing a server with just a text window to manage it, also introduces a brand new problem: the standard Windows administrator has no clue about command line. Of course there were some initiatives to make the Core Server interface more userfriendly. Core Configurator is such a tool. But intially you need some commands to create your basis for the installation.

When I did my first core server installation, I googled my *ss off to collect all the commands needed to properly configure the server to do what I wanted it to do. Now there really was no document that simply gave you the lines you needed to create your own basic install, so I decided to collect and bundle the commands in a document myself, which you will find below. I hope you all find it useful. If you have any aditions, please let us know by posting a comment or send us a mail.

VMGuru.nl Microsoft Windows 2008 © Core Server Commands