Alexander’s Blog

As you may know, Windows Server 2008 Server Core is a minimal operating system that uses relatively little disk space (1 GB) and can improve security because there are fewer files installed and it makes the management easier because there is less fluff added to the Server Core. Server Core cannot run server applications and there is no Graphical User Interface (GUI). Yes, you heard it right. No Windows in Windows Server 2008 Server Core. I want to know who came up with this brilliant idea to come up with an operating system that should be named “Windows” that won’t have any windows?

So how do you manage services in Server Core? Obviously, you use the command shell. Sometimes I wonder if we are going back to the old DOS days. Exchange Server 2007 is a major step backwards for administrators who expect to manage servers using GUI. Server Core also doesn’t has a GUI and you must learn and use the command shell. I have been telling my students for more than a decade, if you want to become a successful network administrator you need to know MS-DOS well. In other words, you need to know the command line interface well.

You know that sooner or later someone will come up with some GUI tools that should have been part of the Exchange Server 2007 or Server Core in the first place. Well, a fellow Directory Services MVP from Israel by the name Guy Teverovsky has written a GUI tool for the Server Core. Check out his blog for all the details.

Here are some of the features of the tool.

• Product Activation
• Configuration of display resolution
• Clock and time zone configuration
• Remote Desktop configuration
• Management of local user accounts (creation, deletion, group membership,
  passwords)
• Firewall configuration
• WinRM configuration
• IP configuration
• Computer name and domain/workgroup membership
• Installation of Server Core features/roles

The tool can be downloaded from Guy’s blog here.

Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) enables IT administrators to remotely manage roles and features in Windows Server 2008 from a computer running Windows Vista SP1.

It includes support for remote management of computers running either a Server Core or full installation option of Windows Server 2008. Click the links below to download RSAT:

RSAT for Windows Vista for x86-based systems
RSAT for Windows Vista for x64-based systems

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2008 unifies the tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment into a common deployment console and collection of guidance. The fourth generation deployment accelerator adds integration with recently released Microsoft deployment technologies to create a single path for image creation and automated installation. MDT’s tools and end-to-end guidance reduce deployment time, standardize desktop and server images, limit service disruptions, reduce post-deployment help desk costs, and improve security and ongoing configuration management.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit technologies eliminate interaction time required to install desktop and server operating systems. Interaction at the targeted computer may take a few moments using the Lite Touch Installation (LTI) method or it can be completely automated using Zero Touch Installation (ZTI). Zero Touch Installation utilizes Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 or Systems Management Server 2003 with the Operating System Deployment Feature Pack. Lite Touch Installation can be used when software distribution tools are not in place.
Microsoft Deployment Tookit 2008 also uses Configuration Manager 2007’s stand-alone media-initiated operating system deployment feature. This release offers project management guidance for all deployment roles and separates technical documentation for the products and technologies to facilitate automation tasks.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008 enables deployment of the following Microsoft products:

Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate (32 and 64 bit) RTM and SP1
Office Professional, Professional Plus, Enterprise, and Ultimate 2007
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2003 R2 (32 and 64 bit)
Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 (32 and 64 bit) or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

To download the toolkit click here.

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Solution Accelerator is an agentless tool that will find computers on a network and perform a detailed inventory of the computers using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), the Remote Registry Service, or the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Using the inventory data, the tool will assess and report whether computers can run Windows Vista, Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Application Virtualization (SoftGrid), and Windows Server 2008. This includes assessment of device driver availability and recommendations for hardware upgrades that may be required.

System Requirements
Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008; Windows Vista; Windows Vista Service Pack 1; Windows XP Professional Edition

Hardware Requirements:

• 1.6-GHz or faster processor minimum
• 1.5 GB of RAM minimum (2.0GB for Windows Vista)
• 1 GB of available hard-disk space required
• 10/100 Mbps network adapter required

Software Requirements:

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition for storing inventory and assessment data. Microsoft Word 2003 SP2 or Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Excel 2003 SP2 or Microsoft Excel 2007 for generating reports.

CPU Architecture:

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator can only be installed on 32-Bit versions of any of the supported operating systems.

Click here to download this free tool.

Here’s a nice little tool that will speed up your system by getting rid of the junk files, such as temporary files, memory dump files, cookies, etc. This is an impressive tool with lots of features. It’s easy to use, fast and it’s FREE.

I like to configure the option to Minimize to System Tray under Options, Advanced. You can download the tool here.