Configure a Server Core Server

Applies To: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012

This topic explains how to accomplish common server configuration tasks, such as setting passwords, configuring Windows Firewall, joining a domain, and activating the server, all while the server is in Server Core mode.

This topic assumes that you have installed the server in Server Core mode initially and are proceeding directly to these configuration tasks. If you have installed the server in Server with a GUI mode and have since switched to Server Core mode, these steps still apply.

1.1. Set the administrative password

To set the administrative password

1. When your computer starts for the first time after the installation completes, you will be prompted to enter a new password.

2. Type an appropriate administrative password.

You can later change the administrative password. To do this, log in and press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then choose Change Password from the Windows Security menu.

1.2. Set a static IP address

To view your current network configuration use the Get-NetIPConfiguration Windows PowerShell cmdlet.

To view the IP addresses you are already using, use the Get-NetIPAddress Windows PowerShell cmdlet.

For a complete reference on Windows PowerShell cmdlets for Net TCP/IP, see https://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh826150.aspx.

To set a static IP address

1. In Windows PowerShell, run Get-NetIPInterface.

2. Make a note of the number shown in the IfIndex column of the output for your IP interface or the InterfaceDescription string. If your computer has more than one network adapter, make a note of the number or string corresponding to the interface for which you wish to set a static IP address.

3. In Windows PowerShell, run New-NetIPAddress –InterfaceIndex 12 –IPAddress -192.0.2.2 –PrefixLength 24 –DefaultGateway -192.0.2.1

   Where:

   InterfaceIndex is the value of IfIndex from Step 2 (in this example, 12)

   IPAddress is the static IP address you intend to set (in this example, 192.0.2.2)

   PrefixLength is the prefix length (another form of subnet mask) for the IP address you intend to set (in this example, 24)

   DefaultGateway is the default gateway (in this example, 192.0.2.1)

4. In Windows PowerShell, run Set-DNSClientServerAddress –InterfaceIndex 12 -ServerAddresses 192.0.2.4

   Where:

   InterfaceIndex is the value of IfIndex from Step 2

   ServerAddresses is the IP address of your DNS server

5. To add multiple DNS servers, run Set-DNSClientServerAddress –InterfaceIndex 12 -ServerAddresses 192.0.2.4,192.0.2.5

   Where in this example, 192.0.2.4, 192.0.2.5 are both IP addresses of DNS servers

If you need to switch to using DHCP, use the Windows PowerShell command Set-DnsClientServerAddress –InterfaceIndex 12 –ResetServerAddresses.

1.3 Join a domain

To join a domain

1. In Windows PowerShell, run Add-Computer. You will be prompted for both credentials to join the domain and the domain name.

2. If you need to add a domain user account to the local Administrators group, either use the Windows PowerShell cmdlets documented at https://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh826150.aspx, or at a command prompt, run the following command:

   net localgroup administrators /add <DomainName>\<UserName>

3. Restart the computer. You can do this in Windows PowerShell with the command Restart-Computer.

1.4 Rename the server

To rename the server

1. Determine the current name of the server with the hostname or ipconfig command.

2. In Windows PowerShell, run Rename-Computer.

3. Restart the computer.

1.5 Activate the server

In Windows PowerShell, run slmgr.vbs –ipk<productkey>. Then run slmgr.vbs –ato. If activation is successful, no message will return.

1.6 Configure Windows Firewall

You can configure Windows Firewall locally on the Server Core computer using Windows PowerShell cmdlets and scripts. See https://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh831755.aspx for documentation of basic Windows Firewall tasks using Windows PowerShell.

1.7. Enable Windows PowerShell remoting

You can enable Windows PowerShell Remoting, in which commands typed in Windows PowerShell on one computer run on another computer. Enable Windows PowerShell Remoting with Enable-PSRemoting.

For more information, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135183

See also

• Install Server Roles and Features on a Server Core Server

• Deploy a Server Core Server

• Configure and Manage Server Core Installations

• Windows Server Installation Options

• Evaluation Versions and Upgrade Options for Windows Server 2012