Microsoft touts the smaller attack surface as one of the biggest benefits of using Server Core, compared to a Full installation of Windows Server 2008. Because a Server Core installation is optimized, it doesn’t include most of the vulnerabilities found in Full installations. A consequence of these optimizations is a Server Core installation might ...

You know, in terms of deploying servers in a smart way, so you can actually utilize them for as long as their economical lifecycle in a supported fashion without a need to reinstall them, I’ve made a stupid decision in advising IT Pros to deploy Server Core Domain Controllers in the last two years. The problem, you see, is the product team ...

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 came with built-in support for serial and USB connected Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) devices. From within the Power Options you could manage your UPS and the shutdown behavior of the box. About UPS Devices UPS devices help prevent loss of data from power loss (“black-outs) ...

Smart-X, the Israel-based company behind CoreConfigurator and former employer of Guy Teverovsky has released a new version of CoreConfigurator for Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008. And I must admit … I’m impressed!     CoreConfigurator 1.2.0.2 Last time I looked at Smart-X CoreConfigurator version 1.1.0.5. I ...

In the past I’ve mentioned a Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 is less susceptible to attacks than a full installation of Windows Server 2008: It has less code on disk and in memory, resulting in a smaller attack surface It requires less updates It doesn’t offer a built-in way to browse the web It is deployed by ...

I remember pretty well when Guy Teverovsky shared his CoreConfigurator tool, to help Server Core Systems Administrators perform everyday tasks through a Graphical User Interface (GUI). I still remember the buzz it generated throughout the blogosphere, I still remember the amount of kudos to Guy for building and sharing this tool, I still remember ...

One of Server Core's touted benefits is it requires less security updates. Jeff Jones did some interesting research a little while ago in which he compared a theoretical Windows Server 2003 Server Core edition to a Windows Server 2003 installation in terms of security updates. In the accompanying blogpost he concluded: […] looking at the ...

Since the launch of Windows Server 2008 a lot of configuration tools have been released to help administrators get the most out of Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 and Hyper-V Server 2008 installations. This blog post features free configuration tools and initiatives to develop this kind of tools for Server Core installations of ...

Microsoft's Hyper-V Server 2008 product comes with a wizard, that allows easy configuration of the Server Core-based subsystem.   This tool can be used on normal Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 too. This blogpost describes what files to copy from a US English Hyper-V Server 2008 installation, where to place them and how ...

Sometimes a Windows disk encounters an error. Luckily it doesn't happen a lot. A Windows-equipped hard disk is bound to become fragmented. Bits and bytes are placed, deleted and moved across the drive and is in the end effectively bringing your beloved Server Core box to a standstill. In fact: after installation the drive is already fragmented, ...