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Server Core is a minimalistic
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...
Windows Server Windows Server (formerly Windows NT Server) is a group of operating systems (OS) for servers that Microsoft has been developing since July 27, 1993. The first OS that was released for this platform was Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server. With the r ...
installation option, debuted in
Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2008 is the fourth release of the Windows Server operating system produced by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of the operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, and generally to retail on Fe ...
. Server Core provides a server environment with functionality scaled back to core server features, and because of limited features, it has reduced servicing and management requirements, attack surface, disk and memory usage.Microsoft Developer Network: What Is Server Core?
/ref>
/ref> Andrew Mason, a program manager on the Windows Server team, noted that a primary motivation for producing a Server Core variant of Windows Server 2008 was to reduce the
attack surface The attack surface of a software environment is the sum of the different points (for " attack vectors") where an unauthorized user (the "attacker") can try to enter data to or extract data from an environment. Keeping the attack surface as small a ...
of the operating system, and that about 70% of the security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows from the prior five years would not have affected Server Core. Most notably, no
Windows Explorer File Explorer, previously known as Windows Explorer, is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file ...
shell is installed. All configuration and maintenance is done entirely through
command-line interface A command-line interpreter or command-line processor uses a command-line interface (CLI) to receive commands from a user in the form of lines of text. This provides a means of setting parameters for the environment, invoking executables and pro ...
windows, or by connecting to the machine remotely using
Microsoft Management Console Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is a component of Microsoft Windows that provides system administrators and advanced users an interface for configuring and monitoring the system. It was first introduced in 1998 with the Option Pack for Window ...
(MMC), remote server administration tools, and
PowerShell PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management program from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell (computing), shell and the associated scripting language. Initially a Windows component only, known as Windows PowerShell, it ...
.


Configuration levels

As Server Core implementations matured, it has evolved from an installation option to a configuration level.WindowsITPro: Windows Server 2012 Installation Options
/ref> Server Core is less looked down as a stripped version, instead the full GUI version is being thought of having a rarely needed client layer on top of the server layer. In newer Windows versions there is more granularity in configuration levels:


History


Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 was the first Windows Server with the Server Core option (in all editions, except
IA-64 IA-64 (Intel Itanium architecture) is the instruction set architecture (ISA) of the Itanium family of 64-bit Intel microprocessors. The basic ISA specification originated at Hewlett-Packard (HP), and was subsequently implemented by Intel in coll ...
). Though no
Windows Explorer File Explorer, previously known as Windows Explorer, is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file ...
shell is installed,
Notepad A notebook (also known as a notepad, writing pad, drawing pad, or legal pad) is a book or stack of paper pages that are often Ruled paper, ruled and used for purposes such as note-taking, diary, journaling or other writing, drawing, or scrapbook ...
and some control panel applets, such as Regional Settings, are available. Server Core on Windows Server 2008 does not include the
Internet Explorer Internet Explorer (formerly Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows Internet Explorer, commonly abbreviated IE or MSIE) is a series of graphical user interface, graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft which was used in the Microsoft Wind ...
or many other features not related to core server features. A ''Server Core'' machine can be configured for several basic roles:
Active Directory Domain Services Active Directory (AD) is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems as a set of Process (computing), processes and Windows service, services. Initially, Active D ...
,
Active Directory Application Mode Active Directory (AD) is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems as a set of processes and services. Initially, Active Directory was used only for centralize ...
(ADAM),
DNS Server A name server refers to the server component of the Domain Name System (DNS), one of the two principal namespaces of the Internet. The most important function of DNS servers is the translation (resolution) of human-memorable domain names (example. ...
,
DHCP server The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network management protocol used on Internet Protocol (IP) networks for automatically assigning IP addresses and other communication parameters to devices connected to the network using a cli ...
,
file server In computing, a file server (or fileserver) is a computer attached to a network that provides a location for shared disk access, i.e. storage of computer files (such as text, image, sound, video) that can be accessed by the workstations that are ab ...
,
print server In computer networking, a print server, or printer server, is a type of server that connects printers to client computers over a network. It accepts print jobs from the computers and sends the jobs to the appropriate printers, queuing the jobs local ...
, Windows Media Server, IIS 7 web server and
Hyper-V Microsoft Hyper-V, codenamed Viridian, and briefly known before its release as Windows Server Virtualization, is a native hypervisor; it can create virtual machines on x86-64 systems running Windows. Starting with Windows 8, Hyper-V superseded W ...
virtual server. Server Core can also be used to create a
cluster may refer to: Science and technology Astronomy * Cluster (spacecraft), constellation of four European Space Agency spacecraft * Asteroid cluster, a small asteroid family * Cluster II (spacecraft), a European Space Agency mission to study t ...
with
high availability High availability (HA) is a characteristic of a system which aims to ensure an agreed level of operational performance, usually uptime, for a higher than normal period. Modernization has resulted in an increased reliance on these systems. Fo ...
using failover clustering or network load balancing. As Server Core is not a different version of Windows Server 2008, but simply an installation option, it has the same file versions and default configurations as the full server version. In Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2, if a server was installed as Server Core, it cannot be changed to the full GUI version and vice versa. To make administration of a Server Core machine easier, a Windows script called "scregedit.wsf" was included to make basic changes like turning
Automatic Updates Automatic may refer to: Music Bands * Automatic (band), Australian rock band * Automatic (American band), American rock band * The Automatic, a Welsh alternative rock band Albums * ''Automatic'' (Jack Bruce album), a 1983 electronic roc ...
on or off, turning Remote Desktop on or off and change page file settings.


Windows Server 2008 R2

In
Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 is the fifth version of the Windows Server operating system produced by Microsoft and released as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009, and became General av ...
, Server Core includes a subset of the .NET Framework, so that some applications (including
ASP.NET ASP.NET is an open-source, server-side web-application framework designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. It was developed by Microsoft to allow programmers to build dynamic web sites, applications and services. The name s ...
web sites and Windows PowerShell 2.0) can be used. Having .NET support, it is also the first Server Core version where
Microsoft SQL Server Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system developed by Microsoft. As a database server, it is a software product with the primary function of storing and retrieving data as requested by other software applications—which ma ...
can be installed (a supported scenario only with SQL Server 2012+). Server Manager has become remoteable. New roles had been enabled to run on Server Core, including Active Directory Certificate Services and the File Server Resource Manager component of the File Services role. WoW64 is available by default, but can be disabled. In addition to the
DISM Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK), formerly Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK or WAIK), is a collection of tools and technologies produced by Microsoft designed to help deploy Microsoft Windows operating system imag ...
command, a new command line Server Configuration tool (Sconfig.cmd) has arrived to configure and manage several common aspects of Server Core installations. Server Manager can be used to remotely administer a Server Core machine.


Windows Server 2012

Unlike its predecessors,
Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2012, codenamed "Windows Server 8", is the sixth version of the Windows Server operating system by Microsoft, as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It is the server version of Windows based on Windows 8 and succe ...
can switch between "Server Core" and server with a DE installation option without reinstallation. Server Core is now the default configuration level. There is also a new installation option, "minimal server interface" that allows some GUI elements such as MMC and Server Manager to run, but without the normal desktop,
shell Shell may refer to: Architecture and design * Shell (structure), a thin structure ** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses ** Thin-shell structure Science Biology * Seashell, a hard o ...
or default programs like
File Explorer File Explorer, previously known as Windows Explorer, is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file ...
. The "minimal server interface" is in fact a server role ''(Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra)'', the full GUI version contains the ''Server-Gui-Shell'' role as well. Some new roles are available, like
Windows Server Update Services Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), previously known as Software Update Services (SUS), is a computer program and network service developed by Microsoft Corporation that enables administrators to manage the distribution of updates and hot ...
(WSUS), Active Directory Rights Management Server, and Routing and Remote Access Server, and many new features as well.


Windows Server 2012 R2

In
Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2, codenamed "Windows Server 8.1" or "Windows Server Blue", is the seventh version of the Windows Server operating system by Microsoft, as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was unveiled on June 3, 2013 a ...
,
Windows Defender Microsoft Defender Antivirus (formerly Windows Defender) is an anti-malware component of Microsoft Windows. It was first released as a downloadable free anti-spyware program for Windows XP and was shipped with Windows Vista and Windows 7. It has ...
is available in a Server Core installation, and is installed and enabled by default.


Windows Server 2016

Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2016 is the eighth release of the Windows Server server operating system developed by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was developed concurrently with Windows 10 and is the successor to the Wind ...
has a minimal footprint installation option (smaller than Server Core) called Nano Server, optimized for Windows Server
Containers A container is any receptacle or enclosure for holding a product used in storage, packaging, and transportation, including shipping. Things kept inside of a container are protected on several sides by being inside of its structure. The term ...
and Hyper-V Containers, as well as other cloud-optimized scenarios. Microsoft removed the GUI stack, WoW64 and
Windows Installer Windows Installer (msiexec.exe, previously known as Microsoft Installer, codename Darwin) is a software component and application programming interface (API) of Microsoft Windows used for the installation, maintenance, and removal of software. ...
. There is no local logon or
Remote Desktop In computing, the term remote desktop refers to a software- or operating system feature that allows a personal computer's desktop environment to be run remotely off of one system (usually a PC, but the concept applies equally to a server or a ...
support. On installation, Server 2016 offers two options: Windows Server 2016 (which is Server Core) and Windows Server 2016 Desktop Experience. Switching between these versions, as is available in Server 2012, is not supported (the possibility was removed in Technical Preview 3).Windows Server Blog: Windows Server 2016 Installation Option Changes
/ref>


Supported GUI programs


Windows Server 2016


Some graphical programs supported in Core version

Subset of Control Panel *
control.exe The Control Panel is a component of Microsoft Windows that provides the ability to view and change system settings. It consists of a set of List of Control Panel applets (Windows), applets that include adding or removing Personal computer hardware, ...
intl.cpl - Region * control.exe timedate.cpl - Date and Time
regedit.exe The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores low-level settings for the Microsoft Windows operating system and for applications that opt to use the registry. The kernel, device drivers, services, Security Accounts Manager, and u ...
- Registry Editor
notepad.exe Windows Notepad is a simple text editor for Microsoft Windows, Windows; it creates and edits plain text documents. First released in 1983 to commercialize the computer mouse in MS-DOS, Notepad has been part of every version of Windows ever since. ...
- Notepad
cmd.exe Command Prompt, also known as cmd.exe or cmd, is the default command-line interpreter for the OS/2, eComStation, ArcaOS, Microsoft Windows (Windows NT family and Windows CE family), and ReactOS operating systems. On Windows CE .NET 4.2, Windo ...
- Command prompt
msinfo32.exe System Information (msinfo32.exe) is a system profiler included with Microsoft Windows that displays diagnostic and troubleshooting information related to the operating system, hardware and software. It has been bundled with Windows since Windows ...
- System Information
msiexec.exe Windows Installer (msiexec.exe, previously known as Microsoft Installer, List of Microsoft codenames, codename Darwin) is a software component and application programming interface (API) of Microsoft Windows used for the installation, maintenan ...
- Windows Installer taskmgr.exe - Task Manager powershell.exe - Windows PowerShell iscsicpl.exe - ISCSI Initiator Properties subset of Explorer function - all what can be done from File - Open dialog like * File Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete, make new Folder * Disk properties including tools on dialog like Error check


Other working programs with GUI

adexplorer.exe - Sysinternals Active Directory Explorer procexp.exe - Sysinternals Process Explorer
procmon.exe Process Monitor is a tool from Windows Sysinternals, part of the Microsoft TechNet website. The tool monitors and displays in real-time all file system activity on a Microsoft Windows or Unix-like operating system. It combines two older tools, '' ...
- Sysinternals Process Monitor tcpview.exe - Sysinternals TCPview vmmap.exe - Sysinternals VMMap rammap.exe - Sysinternals RamMap 1.50 portqueryui.exe - Microsoft PortQueryUI Version 1.0


See also

* MinWin


References


Further reading

* Mitch Tulloch, Windows Server Core Team at Microsoft (2008). ''Windows Server 2008 Server Core Administrator's Pocket Consultant''. ''Microsoft Press''. * John Paul Mueller (2008). ''Administering Windows Server 2008 Server Core''. ''John Wiley & Sons''.


External links


Microsoft Developer Network: What Is Server Core?

Microsoft Developer Network: Server Core for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012

Michael Pietroforte: Nano Server – Goodbye Windows Server?
{{Microsoft Windows components Windows Server Windows administration